Session 7: Effective Decision Making and Prayer

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EFFECTIVE DECISION MAKING AND PRAYER

35,000!

THAT IS THE NUMBER OF DECISIONS THAT IS ESTIMATED THAT YOU MAKE EVERY DAY.

From the small to the big, each decision requires a level of effort with varying consequences. God told Joshua: to “Be strong and courageous”, “Be strong and courageous”, “Be strong and very courageous.” This was despite the promise, that God told him that He would give him every place that he set his foot upon. To walk in the promises of God takes courage and strength. Joshua faced many battles, suffered many losses, and had to make many decisions.

Sometimes difficulties we face tempt us to question the promises of God. The story of Joshua will show us that the promises of God are fulfilled only after walking a path requiring much strength, courage and decision-making! God promises the land to Joshua that he sets his foot upon, not the land that he will tap dance on, or walk around in circles on. Setting your foot upon a land is a conscious, definitive step.

JOSHUA 1:3-9

I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. 4 Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Mediterranean Sea in the west. 5 No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. 6 Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them. 7 “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

REFLECTION QUESTIONS:

• Is there a promise in your life that you have been tempted to give up due to the difficulties faced?
• With honest and sober reflection, where have you walked around in circles or tapped danced on when you could have been making an intentional and definitive step?
• What is one way that you can be “strong and courageous”?
• The word “decide” comes from a Latin verb meaning “to cut.” Another way of putting this is that effective decision-making means cutting off the options.
• Such “option cutting” will always involve strength and courage!