Article December 11, 1954 Issue

MAKING DECISIONS

ENNIS ST. CYR

Individuals desiring to make decisions that will bless them and promote their spiritual growth may do so by following the example of Jesus and purifying their motives. Jesus said (John 5:30), "I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me." He turned wholly to divine intelligence, Mind, God, for guidance, and he recognized that decisions made in obedience to divine direction are just and right.

When one feels impelled to proceed in a given direction, he may test this impulsion by asking himself these questions: "Am I impelled by God, divine Mind, or by mere human desire? Will this course honor God and bless mankind? In following it shall I be obeying the Golden Rule and growing spiritually? Is it normal, right, and good?" Decisions made from a selfish, hateful, or other wrong motive cannot pass this test.

To be led of God, divine intelligence, there must be both honesty of motive and sincerity of purpose. We must be willing to say with the Psalmist (Ps. 139:23, 24), "Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." Many individuals are capable of making right decisions based on honest motives, but because of human opposition to such rightly motivated action, they lack the courage to carry them through. They hesitate to take the necessary steps in obedience to divine directing for fear that they will offend someone, bring ridicule or scorn upon themselves, or adversely affect their activities.

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