Have you ever heard of the ripple effect? When you do something that sets an entire plan into motion, when you make a decision that will affect the rest of your life that ripples into other choices you make int he future. The ripple effect is when we do something that ripples into others lives, into your future, into the future of your children and even you grandchildren. The ripple begins with a decision that is made by you.

Decision making is the most important, life defining, memorable, crucial thing you will ever do in your life. The most important decision you’ve ever made (that I hope you have made) was to put your trust and life in the hands of God when you chose to make Him Lord of your life. The other decisions you will make are just important though. How you make them, how you follow through with them, and how they will define you is even more important.

The decisions we make are based on our dreams and desires; where we want to go in life, who we want to be, what we want to do.

The most important choices of our lives are based on these dreams and aspirations. When we are young and full of aspiring notions we can easily make the mistake of making  the wrong decisions.  Even if they aren’t huge decisions like choosing what college to go to, what career we want to have, what person we want to have a relationship with, ect, they will still effect our futures. We make decisions every day. Like what outfit to wear, what we want to do that evening and so on. But what about those little decisions that don’t seem worth worrying about until a little ways down the road when we regret not paying much attention to the facts.

The decisions we make in our day-to-day life are important. The decisions like who we hang out with, how we treat others, the words we speak into other people’s lives, the food we eat, how we spend our time, what we look at/read online and the list could go on and on. But we make all of these choices based on the long-term goals or aspirations that we have set in our minds.

So, boiling it down, our decisions aren’t what we should be worried about.

Our lifestyles, dreams, and desires are what should be the centered focus here. Our imaginations are powerful things. We imagine ourselves with the perfect life, the perfect hair (hehe), the perfect husband, the perfect *_______* ect. Then we try our very hardest to accomplish securing those things by the decisions we make, the way we treat others and so on. Even if we think we’ve surrendered to God everything in our lives and want what He wants for us we still have our dreams, we still have our imaginations. Don’t rule yourself out of that.

What happens when we are bent on having a boyfriend? We will base our choices, decisions and actions, i.e. flirting (which will eventually reveal our hearts and motives) on how to get a boyfriend! You see how this works? The same goes for anything we want and don’t have. Some of these imaginations and choices will bring destruction to our lives in some way or other. A heartbreak, an accident, unwanted drama, a ruined relationship with a close friend. Some of the bigger decisions we make may lead to bigger consequences. A divorce, a lawsuit, the loss of your job, trouble with the law or worse. Don’t let your imaginations conflict your conscience.

Now I know that not all the decisions we make will be bad! Not every decision we make will last into eternity. But this post was meant for help in making the right decisions and that comes by recognizing what prompts us to make the kind of choices we make. By examining our hearts. Examining where we are coming from. Where our heart’s desires are placed.

Don’t worry! I am not going to tell you that all of your dreams and desires and imaginations are bad!

God doesn’t want to squash all of your plans because they are not what you think He want’s you to be doing. He does not want you to become a nun! He wants your ultimate joy and happiness. Don’t give up on your dreams and interests, just examine them wisely and consider how they can be used for God’s glory. Try aligning them or measuring them by using this verse as a guide:

“For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.” James 3:16-17

 Is the choice you are faced with pure? Is the decision you are questioning peaceful? Is is considerate of others? Submissive and full of mercy and good fruit? Impartial and sincere? Whatever you are facing, apply this verse to it, then make your decision based on that wisdom. Remember God’s promise that whatever you ask for you will receive? Ask for wisdom in making your decisions. Ask Him for peace after you’ve made your decision. God will equip you to do the right thing.

Another great verse from James says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.”James 1:5

Don’t be pressured after reading this to be perfect and make all of your decisions as wisely as you possibly can then call yourself a failure if things go wrong. Decision making is a big and very important task given to everyone by God. But He doesn’t leave us alone to make them by ourselves then reap the consequences when we choose wrong. He is with us and supporting us. He is cheering for you and so am I! Let’s choose to bring glory to God with our dreams and desires.

Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known. Jeremiah 33:3