Tuesday - "Careful Thought"

From Haggai 1: "This is what the LORD Almighty says: 'Give careful thought to your ways."

At Flamingo Road Church, one of our values is "Thinking"...and the question is... "Do I think past the first idea..." In other words, we have to ask ourselves "Is this the best way to do it...?"

A good question to be sure. How often do we half-heartedly ponder something and do it without first considering possibly better alternatives? How many bad decisions could have been avoided?

In today's passage, God instructs His people to "Give careful thought to your ways." How can we do this better? How can we make sure that we make God-honoring decisions? Here are three simple steps:

1) Consider your decision in light of God's Word. Does it contradict God's instruction? Is it going to beneficial to our spiritual walk or growth?

2) Ask yourself "Is the Holy Spirit nudging me another direction?" If you are connected to God, His Holy Spirit will guide you. Some call it our "conscience." I believe many of us know that what we are deciding to do is wrong...but block out the leading of God and do it anyway.

3) Ask yourself "Is this the best possible solution?" Stay in the room until you've gone from your first instinct to the best answer...it takes extra time, but it is definitely worth it.

Praying that we will all "give careful thought" on our way to reaching our God-Potential.

Blessings!
Pastor Brian