“Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision.”
I grew up in a Christian home with a godly father, who seemed to always have just the right advice. Many years ago, during a very difficult period in my life, which was a direct result of poor decision-making on my part, my father shared with me a bit of wisdom that I’ve carried with me for many years now.
He said to me, “Son, your life is a mess because you have chosen to make your own decisions apart from God’s divine direction.” My father helped me to see that day that God’s Word provides three very important things for His children: Protection, correction, and direction. Whenever we seek to direct our own lives or make our decisions apart from God’s loving guidelines, we are setting ourselves up for failure. God tells us that apart from Him we are incapable of directing our own lives (Jeremiah 10:23)
God doesn’t have to seek the opinions of others or guess at what’s best for us, He already knows! His Word is not arbitrary. He always knows what’s best for His children. Remember His ways are not our ways (Isaiah 55:8) His ways are perfect, while ours are flawed. He is all-knowing, while our knowledge is limited. He knows the end from the beginning, while we can only see the present.
In our text, the prophet, Joel, pictures for us a day in which everyone will stand before God to be judged. On that day, God will be the sole decision-maker. For now, however, we each stand in our own valley of decision. It’s the decisions we make while in life’s valley that not only affect our lives but also affect the lives of those we are connected to. Make no mistake about it, none of us is an island, our decisions affect others!
Today’s decisions determine tomorrow’s destiny. Where we are today is a direct result of yesterday’s choices. God wants to help us reach our expected end, so He has provided for us a spiritual GPS by giving us His Holy Spirit. He has also given us His Word which is the compass of the Christian life. Without God’s Word, it would be impossible to navigate the often-troubled sea of life. I’ve heard it said that He who is a slave to the compass is a master of the sea. That is never truer than it is for the child of God who lets God’s Word direct his or her life.
Do you find yourself in a difficult situation because of poor choices? Do you have an important decision to make, and you don’t know what to do? Turn to God’s Word for direction. The Psalmist said that God’s Word was a “lamp unto his feet and a light unto his path.” It will illuminate your way as well.
As you study God’s Word, you’ll find that there is a significant difference between worldly reason and counsel that comes straight from the living Word of God. The best decision you can make today is to start letting God help you make your decisions.
I challenge you to open your Bible every day and let God speak to you. Whether it be praise or correction, consider it joy that God would speak directly to you.
