is a miserable state to be in and certainly is not a fruit of the
simple life. Simplicity prays, seeks wisdom and decides. It doesn’t
waffle. It sticks with the decision it made unless there is a very good
reason to change it. The apostle James said the double-minded man is
unstable in all his ways and will not receive anything he asks from the
Lord.
How can God give us anything if we can never make up our minds concerning what we want?
Inevitably, our journeys through
life bring us to many unavoidable decisions, and we will always get
into trouble if we make them emotionally or according to what we think
or want. God wants us to make wise decisions. I believe having wisdom is
choosing to do now what we will be happy with later.
I love Proverbs 8:2-3: “On the
top of the heights beside the way, where the paths meet, stands Wisdom
[skillful and godly]; at the gates at the entrance of the town, at the
coming in at the doors, she cries out” (The Amplified Bible).
If you want to simplify your
life, you must think about the future and realize the choices you make
today will affect tomorrow. Some people are never able to relax and
enjoy life because every day they deal with messes resulting from not
walking in wisdom. I frequently hear people say, “I know I should not do
this, but … .”
It is foolish to do things we
know we shouldn’t do. How can anyone expect to get a right result if
they already know they are making a wrong decision?
They are gambling on things
turning out right anyway, but wisdom does not gamble; it invests. Making
the decision to do the right things now may not bring pleasure right
away, but it does later on. So many people pay a high price for a cheap
thrill, but you can make a decision right now to not be one of them.
It’s entirely possible that we
make a million decisions in our lifetime, and the wiser they are, the
better our lives will be. Simplifying your life requires that you really
think about your decisions before you make them. James 5:12 says, “But
above all [things], my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by
earth or by any other oath; but let your yes be [a simple] yes, and your
no be [a simple] no, so that you may not sin and fall under
condemnation.”
What James is saying is, “Make a
decision. Just say yes or no; and don’t keep changing your mind.” We
often labor over the choices before us when we just need to make a
decision and let it stand. This may be a simple example, but think
about it: When you stand in front of your closet in the morning looking
at all your clothes, just choose something and put it on. Do not go back
and forth until you make yourself late for work!
Let me encourage you to start
making decisions without second-guessing yourself or worrying about the
choices you make. Don’t be double-minded or wishy-washy because doubting
your decisions after you make them will steal the enjoyment from
everything you do. Make the best decisions you can and trust God with
the results. Do not be anxious or afraid of being wrong.
If your heart is right and you
make a decision not in accordance with God’s will, He will forgive you
and help you move on. Be decisive. Whatever you need to do in life, just
do it—and keep it simple. “Let go and let God be God” really is a good
idea. It immediately simplifies any situation, no matter how difficult.
We need to do what we can and then cast the rest, along with our cares,
on God.
The Bible says we should do what
the crisis requires and “having done all … to stand” (Eph. 6:13).
Work at having a simple approach to decision-making. Life is too short
to live it frustrated.
Joyce Meyer is the author of nearly 90 books, including Battlefield of the Mind and Power Thoughts (Hachette). She is the the host of Enjoying Everyday Life radio and TV programs.
James Lasher 
Abby Trivett 
