Four Biblical Principles for Making Godly Decisions

The way we go about making decisions is usually just as important as the decisions we make. If our decision-making process is flawed so will our decisions be.

Here are four Biblical principles for making Godly decisions that you can apply to just about any decision in life.

1. Always seek to glorify God. In everything we do and especially in our decisions – seek to glorify God. Matthew 5: 16 states, “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your father who is in heaven.” With every decision we make we should ask ourselves, “Will this glorify God?”

2. Pray for God’s clear guidance and direction. How many times do we just rush into a quick decision without even praying about it? Check out Proverbs 3:5-6. The Bible warns us against running out ahead of God and just relying on our own understanding. God desperately to help us, to love us, and to guide us through life’s toughest decisions.

3. Weigh every decision against God’s Word. Many believers struggle with this one simply because we do not take time to read and know God’s Word. God’s Word is suppose to abide in our hearts. If we don’t know ANYTHING
or just very little about God’s Word we’re going to make very bad decisions.

4. Consider the results and the consequences. How many times do we make short-sighted or quick decisions without really thinking them through? How many times do we make decisions without really weighing out what the results or the consequences may be. Check out Luke 14:28. God has given us a brain to use and the Holy Spirit to guide us! Before you make your next decision – think it ALL THE WAY through!!!

new book for the New Year

A few days ago Amazon.com had a great book sale so I ordered a couple of books that I’ve been wanting to read for several months now.

One of them is Today Matters by John Maxwell. The subtitle is: 12 Daily Practices to Guarantee Tomorrow’s Success. The premise or key point of the book is that all we have is today! We can’t go back and re-live yesterday and we can’t travel through time and determine tomorrow! So, Maxwell writes, “The secret of your success is determined by your daily agenda.” (p. 14)

Maxwell argues that if we set the right priorities, make the right decisions, and follow through with discipline TODAY. . . tomorrow will take care of itself!

If you are looking for a great book to kick off the New Year. . . I highly recommend Today Matters! I’m only on page 83 (out of 302) and I’m already sold!

Happy New Year!

lessons from Catalyst Conference 2009

Lessons I learned from the 2009 Catalyst Conference.

1. Pastors should not worry about who is on whose side. Instead, we should make every effort to get everyone on God’s side!
   
2. When a church grows to a certain point it has to change to a more collective leadership model.
   
3. Humility is a prerequisite for great leaders.
   
4. Joshua obeyed God fearlessly and so should we! (Joshua 1)
   
5. Focus, intensity and time are three keys to momentum in ministry! (Thanks Dave Ramsey!)
   
6. “Integrity eclipses image.” (Chuck Swindoll!)
   
7. “Trust is a decision you make.” (Andy Stanley)

Spiritual Leadership (part4)

One of the greatest challenges for spiritual leaders, particularly in local churches, is raising the expectations of those they lead.

The old adage, “You get what you expect” is certainly true when it comes to leadership and is even more true regarding spiritual leadership. Spiritual leaders set Godly expectations and lead by example. Raising expectations requires wisdom, determination, and patience.

Here are some considerations for spiritual leaders who hope to raise the expectations of those they lead.

1. Without spiritual leadership, expectations will fall.
When God’s people left Egypt heading for the land promised to them by God they followed Moses, their God-appointed leader. Their expectations were high! They had their sights set on freedom! But when Moses went up to the top of Mt. Sinai to receive God’s commandments leaving them alone, their expectations fell. When he returned they had turned their backs on him and on God. Without spiritual leadership, expectations will fall.

2. Expectations must be guided by God’s Word, not personal preferences.
Spiritual leaders must be able to clearly distinguish God’s direction, God’s agenda, and God’s will from their own. We all have personal preferences, but spiritual leaders must be able and willing to set clear expectations that are clearly guided by God’s Word.

3. New expectations are first modeled and then taught.
Spiritual leadership is not saying, “Do as I say, not as I do.” That is a model for failure. Spiritual leaders must model what the expectations are for those they lead and set an example. Only when the new expectations are seen and recognized can they be taught and expected of others.

4. Raising expectations always requires confrontation.
“People are creatures of habit.” This is especially true for churches and for this reason when spiritual leaders want to raise expectations they can expect confrontation. Often times, raising expectations means changing the power structure in a church, family, or organization. People who want to hold on to their power will resist raising their expectations. Spiritual leaders must confront power structures in order to raise expectations.

5. Setting higher expectations leads to growth!
When Jesus preached the ‘Sermon on the Mount’ he raised our expectations of what it means to be his followers and disciples. Some say that his message was just an ideal that we could never attain. I believe he simply took that opportunity to clearly lay out his expectations for anyone who wants to be his disciple! Jesus raised the bar morally and spiritually because he wants us to grow morally and spiritually! When spiritual leaders set higher expectations of those they lead we can expect to grow!

John Maxwell Interview

Dave Ramsey and John Maxwell discuss John’s new book: Put Your Dream to the Test.

John C. Maxwell on The Dave Ramsey Show from James Arnold on Vimeo.

Spiritual Leadership (part 3)

Who are spiritual leaders?

Spiritual leaders are men and women who. . .

• Listen quietly for God’s voice
• Read and meditate on God’s Word
• Actively and passionately pursue God’s agenda
• Place the Cross at the center of their lives
• Serve God daily
• Seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit in all decisions and matters
• Pray intensely
• Speak in love and truth
• Lead others to Jesus Christ
• Are able to discern God’s vision and direction and faithfully share it with others

Spiritual leaders are motivated by a deep yearning to do God’s will and to serve the people of God. Their leadership and authority is not based on their position, their power, or their authority. Rather, spiritual leaders lead from the heart and their authority is not given by people, but comes from God.

Spiritual leaders lead from various positions in life! Whether they are pastors, moms, dads, grandparents, teachers, deacons, doctors, missionaries, whatever – spiritual leaders lead no matter what their position in life is!