Monday, February 3, 2025
New Testament Reading Plan: John 21
We have all faced dilemmas in our lives. And many of us can likely remember a time when we struggled to decide which avenue would be the best to take in our situation.
Today, let’s use a hypothetical example. Have you ever seen the Geico commercial about how characters in horror movies make bad decisions? In the commercial, the young adults are being chased by a scary killer and are looking for a place of safety. Naturally, they are in panic mode and frantic for ideas to save their lives. One girl suggests they hop into a running car, but the others look at her in shock and proclaim, “Are you crazy?” Another suggests they hide in a shed behind the chainsaws, and off they go.
Bad decision, right?
While this is a comical example, in reality, we are faced with important decisions that can feel just as scary. It’s how we approach those decisions that makes all the difference, and one thing can be really helpful:
Pre-deciding paves the way to your preferred future.
In the Bible, Joshua was faced with a scary decision when he and the Israelites were on their way to the Promised Land. They would first have to conquer the city of Jericho.
Joshua 6:1-2
1 Now the gates of Jericho were tightly shut because the people were afraid of the Israelites. No one was allowed to go up out or in. 2 But the Lord said to Joshua, “I have given you Jericho, its king, and all its strong warriors.”
While this seemed like a great promise, God’s instructions on how they were to accomplish the mission sounded just as crazy as hiding from serial killers behind chainsaws. In verses 3-5, we find that God’s plan to collapse the city walls was for the Israelites to march around Jericho for seven days, and then on the seventh day, to blow horns and shout.
What would you have done in this situation?
God made Joshua a promise. Yes, the path forward sounded crazy, but Joshua had already pre-decided that he would blindly follow God’s plan and trust him with the outcome. Joshua knew that God’s way was the only way to the Promised Land, and it’s the same for us.
Have you pre-decided to follow God and trust his plan, even when things in your life get difficult and crazy?
Questions:
What process do you use when making important decisions in your life?
Do you take time to pre-decide before acting, or do you just rush in without a plan?
Next Steps:
Read Joshua chapter 6.
Read the rest of this week’s LIO to learn how to pre-decide to follow God.
Be sure to attend a CedarCreek campus next Sunday for an educational and fun-filled Preach Off.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, many times in this world I am faced with decisions that leave me scared of making a mistake. Please help me to be diligent in seeking your guidance and pre-deciding to trust in you and your plan for my life. I love you, thank you for being ever present in my life. Amen.
Series Theme Verse:
Romans 12:2
Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
This post was written by Ned Miller, a Findlay attendee and regular contributor to the LivingItOut.