Do you ever get caught up in trying to make a decision?
You want to make the “right” decision, and so you labor over what to do, perhaps weighing the pros and cons, feeling concerned about the outcome. This can take on endless forms, from being afraid of making a wrong business decision, to being unsure about how to handle a conflict with a family member, to wondering if a decision will leave you with enough money afterward. Maybe you always feel the need to bounce your ideas off of other people, only feeling more confident about making a decision once you’ve gotten input.
Or maybe you fall on the other side of the spectrum… you think you know exactly what you want! And so you’re not afraid to make a decision that will get you closer to where you want to be.
Does this mean that you cannot decide anything without consulting Him? No, indeed! That would hardly be practical, and it is the practical with which this course in most concerned. (Manual for Teachers, Section 29, Para.5)
What matters is that we start to build a habit of turning to the Holy Spirit, whenever we remember. If a whole day goes by and you realize you forgot to turn to the Holy Spirit and ask for guidance at all, that is okay. Choose again in that moment to turn within. Most importantly, don’t beat yourself up if you forget or feel unwilling, because guilt is only a way of keeping the ego going.
If you have made it a habit to ask for help when and where you can, you can be confident that wisdom will be given you when you need it. Prepare for this each morning, remember God when you can throughout the day, ask the Holy Spirit’s help when it is possible to do so, and thank Him for His guidance at night. And your confidence will be well founded indeed. (Manual for Teachers, Section 29, Para. 5)
Do you know what it feels like to hand a decision over? When was the last time you truly felt like you did so? Has there been a time when you felt complete trust that everything would work out as it should? Did you feel peace with being so open?
Think about 1 thing that you have to decide today. How willing are you to hand it over to the Holy Spirit? If you feel you’re not willing, are you willing to be willing? Find just a tiny bit of willingness and offer it to the Holy Spirit. Take some time to practice handing it over if you feel you keep taking it back. Listen to your heart, and when you’re ready you will hear your answer.
