Make Christ-centered Decisions as God Intended
One of the Ten Keys to an Intentional Home
God’s intention for the home is to be the launching pad for life. Our homes should be where we experience freedom to be ourselves, to feel that we matter, that we belong, and that forgiveness makes a difference.
When the basic needs of life are missed, people often grow up to feel like they’re out of place, or don’t fit in. That’s why the basic needs, the Ten Keys to an Intentional Home, are so important. We will explore the fifth key in this blog.
But, before you start reading, there’s a little bit of homework. As you reach the end of this blog, will you, together as a family:
- Talk about the questions presented.
- Pray.
- Give God an opportunity to show up in your family life.
Now let’s look at the fifth principle: “Make Christ-centered Decisions as God Intended.”
Decision making is the first step in the four-step process of Intentional Living.
- Make a decision.
- Do the next right ONE THING. Do one thing every day to reinforce and move you toward the direction of making that decision you’ve made a reality.
- Declutter something every day that’s holding you back from doing your ONE THING.
- Declare every day for God’s glory in your benefit and your progress. But the first step is to make Christ-centered decisions as God intended.
I have what I call Intentionals. It’s top ten lists on various topics. One of them is The Top Ten Intentionals for Making Important Decisions.
Ask the question about vision. This is a question for parents and for children.
Q: Will the decision I’m about to make move me closer to a life goal or toward solving a problem?
For little ones, that question may seem a little complex, but I say to teenagers in particular today, you’re going to be making decisions you have to live with for the rest of your life. Decisions about drugs, sex, education and friendships. These are important decisions, and your parents have probably shared this with you.
If you a picture in your heart and mind of what God placed in your heart for your future, and you keep that image in front of you, it will help you make better decisions.
Q2: What does God’s Word say about the decision I’m going to make? Does the Bible speak to this kind of decision?
A man called Intentional Living and said, “I’ve got to make a decision about moving from one state to another, and I wonder if you think it’s a good idea to move closer to my family.”
On the surface, it seemed like a pretty good decision, but when I asked him to tell me a little bit about why he was asking this question, he said, “Well, in the last year-and-a-half, I’ve lost five jobs.”
I asked him, “How’d that happen?”
He replied, “I’ve been fired five times, and so I’m in a place where I can move now.”
I said, “You know, I think you’re asking the wrong question. The question isn’t, should I move? The question is, why can’t I keep a job? Or why am I getting fired? What is it about me and my relationships with people that’s causing me to lose my job?”
In this case, being able to go back to God’s Word, he could’ve understood what God’s intention is for relationship and then he could ask better questions.
Another point in this top ten list is consequences.
Q3: How will the decision I’m about to make affect other people?
The late Dr. Steven Covey made this statement: “While we are free to choose our actions, we are not free to choose the consequences of our actions.” There will be unintended consequences in life for sure, so it’s important to ask this third question to be able to make Christ-centered decisions as God intended.
Now, here’s a ONE THING challenge for you as a family. As you think about making Christ-centered decisions as God intends: What decision have you made that you’re proud of and why?
Go around the room and have each member of the family, no matter what age they are or what the decision is, answer that question.
For more on the topic of Family as God Intended, check out “Love Each Other as God Intended.”
