Proactive Decision Making

Scripture Read: Esther 4:9-14 Hathach came back and related Mordecai’s words to Esther. ¹⁰ Then Esther spoke to Hathach and ordered him to reply to Mordecai: ¹¹ “All the king’s servants and the people of the king’s provinces know that for any man or woman who comes to the king to the inner court who is not summoned, he has but one law, that he be put to death, unless the king holds out to him the golden scepter so that he may live. And I have not been summoned to come to the king for these thirty days.” ¹² They related Esther’s words to Mordecai. ¹³ Then Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, “Do not imagine that you in the king’s palace can escape any more than all the Jews. ¹⁴ “For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place and you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this?”   

Application: This section is so rich with truth! Father we dare not hurry through it. Esther teaches us here another important truth. When we have to make a critical decision and desire to be mature and wise, we must deal with every facet facing the full reality of what we are endeavoring to do, no matter how ugly that reality is. Many of us try not to consider the harsh realities that may be involved in the decisions we are making. We sugar coat them or ignore the less desirable side of that decision. This is not healthy and will lead to failure, it also exposes a lack of maturity. How many of us make decisions without counting the cost only to realize half way in that we made a mistake or do not have what it takes to follow through on that decision. How sad it is that so many that marry today find themselves right here. They rushed into a relationship and now want out. 

Lord You warned us about sloppy decision-making. (Luke 14:28-32) The only way to properly make a mature, Spirit led decision is to examine all of the ramifications, not just the ones we like. Here Esther is spelling out to Mordecai the danger to her life that his request could place her into. She could easily die doing what he is asking her to do. This is not a lack of faith. It is right and proper to look at all the costs when we make decisions, though they are not the determining factor. God’s will must be that, to seek Him and to do what He has called us to do, that is the bottom line. However, if we count the cost first, we will arm ourselves against the push on our flesh from the enemy to quit because it costs too much. Our flesh is weak but I find if we have faced all of the reality that our decision might bring, we will be prepared for the tough part or the long part of the journey. Father, all of us need to face this with our life. If we give ourselves to You and call You Lord, our path can go so many directions. “Success”; “Failure”; “Applause”; “Persecution”; “Long Life”; “Martyrdom”; “Disease” and many more paths await the child of Yours. If we accept that “Your will be done” we will be prepared for whatever path You take us. Oh Lord, let us count the cost as we commit our ways to You.

Meditation Questions: When you make decisions, do you plan a time to plan the decision? Do you make a Pro/Con list? Even in a hurried circumstance how can you be more proactive about your decision? If the deal is sooo good it must be made immediately, what does that tell you? What does it mean to you to “count the cost”? Do you pray before you decide?