Day 24 – Teen Devotion: How to Make a Decision

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When making decisions, you must be “in faith” about that decision, which is why the most critical question you will ever ask is, “Am I ‘in faith’ to (insert the thing you’re thinking about doing)?” I’m asking if you believe what you want to do is the right thing to do. How do you know it’s right? Why are you “in faith” to do it?

Read Rick’s 31-Day Devotions

• 31-Day Marriage Devotion
• 31-Day Parenting Devotion
• 31-Day Teen Devotion

Faith is like a stool upon which you sit. To be “in faith” is to make sure your stool has balance. That stool has four legs: Canon, Community, Conscience, and Comforter. If you place yourself in a context where these four means of grace are operative in your life, you will be safe to move forward with what you want to do. Let’s examine each one.

• Canon – What does the Bible say about what you want to do (2 Timothy 3:16-17)?
• Community – What do a few trusted, courageous, and wise friends say about what you want to do (Proverbs 11:14)?
• Conscience – What do you think about what you want to do (Romans 2:14-15)?
• Comforter – What does the Spirit of God say about what you want to do (John 16:13)?

Most poor decisions happen because the person who made the decision was not benefiting from these four means of grace that the Lord provides for us. They either did not know about this process or, even more sinister, they did not want to learn from one of them. One of the marks of humility is when a person will hold their ideas loosely while submitting them to God’s Word and His community for more careful analysis.

Time to Reflect

1. Which of the four means of grace is your most significant struggle?
2. What is your plan to change that?

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Rick Thomas

Rick launched the Life Over Coffee global training network in 2008 to bring hope and help for you and others by creating resources that spark conversations for transformation. His primary responsibilities are resource creation and leadership development, which he does through speaking, writing, podcasting, and educating.

In 1990 he earned a BA in Theology and, in 1991, a BS in Education. In 1993, he received his ordination into Christian ministry, and in 2000 he graduated with an MA in Counseling from The Master’s University. In 2006 he was recognized as a Fellow of the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors (ACBC).