If you're like me, everyday you're faced with a plethora of choices and decisons. From what you'll wear to work or school, what to eat for breakfast, what job or task will I do first, to what time will I slow down and go to bed. Then there are those life-changing choices and decisions we must make. Things like; what classes will I take, what school will I attend, who will I date or marry, will I stay in a relationship, what job, promotion, or position will I choose, to what does God want me to do with my life. We can't get around them, choices and decisions, it's part of our everyday life.

So how do we make those choices? What influences our thought process and leads us into action to walk out our choices, and live with the outcome of those choices and decisons?

When we're children, we usually make the choices our parents or other trusted adults believe are right. This is where we're learning values, morels, and the process of good decison making. As we get older, school age, our friends have a huge influence on our choices, equally as much, the mass media such as music, magazines, television, and the Internet. During this time of our lives we're beginning to take on more responsibility for our choices and actions, while still having the support of trustworthy adults. The next stage of our lives, adulthood, is the stage where we make most of our choices on our own. At this stage we're still influenced by other people, but we've developed our value and belief system which is the driving force for our decision making. We might ask advice, but the final choice is ours! However, if we ask the advice of other people, we need to ask ourselves two very important questions, "Do these people share the same beliefs and core values I do? How have their decisions worked out in their lives?" If these people don't believe in what you  truly believe as important, and their decisions haven't turned out to be benefitical for their lives, the chances are you shouldn't give ear to what they say.   

Past experiences though becomes one of the greatest influences in our future decisions. If during our lifetime, we have gone to church and been introduced to God, along with His plans and standard of living, we have another influence in our lives. The support of other people who share our beliefs, genuinely care about us, and want to lovingly help us, brings another deminsion of influence in our lives. When we're faced with the tough decisions of life, we first need to seek what pleases God and keeps us moving forward on the path He has designed for us specifically. We find out what God's standards are through His Word and through praying about our lives. Next we can seek out others who are walking out their faith and there's evidence of their Godly wisdom and ability to clearly choose what pleases God.
 
If you are facing some challenging choices and decisions in your life, I urge you to first seek God and what pleases Him. His plans for you are perfect and designed especially for you! He has already provided everything you need to succeed and live a life full of His favor and blessings. You already have natural abilities and the spiritual gifts neded to complete the purpose and mission He has created you for, for you to reach the destination selected for you, and for you to reach the people He has set up for you to connect with. Find a trustworthy Christ follower who will pray with you, help you find scriptures that speak to your situations, and then set your mind and heart to follow what God reveals to you. 

Here are two of my favorite scriptures about the plans and choices of life. I pray that God reveals Himself to you in amazing ways as you seek to fully and totally become His.