Ifs, Ands or Maybes

"Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes' and 'No,' 'No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one. " - Matthew 5:37

When I was younger, and I wanted something, I knew exactly which tactics would produce the most desired outcomes. I had learned the tricks of the trade. I knew that mom would usually say ask dad, if you asked her first, and that dad would more than likely say yes. But mom, she had a number of answers: "maybe" (which meant no), "we'll see" (which meant she could be persuaded) and "probably" (which was a yes, but I will make you wait for it). Most of the time, mom said yes as well, she just took the longer route to getting there. In my youth, I did not care for this approach.

However, as an adult I have fully embraced it. Even if I don't say it, I think "maybe" or "we'll see" when it comes to decisions or paths in my way. The procrastinator in me takes over and steers me directly in to the path of unlimited grayness. And it is here that I like to sit and weigh my options, sort out the pros and cons and just refuse to make a decision. While this path is safe, it is not Biblical. Jesus has clearly instructed us to make a choice and to stand behind it. It is either "Yes" or "No", there is no room for the in between.

Making decisions is difficult sometimes because we often have conflict between our head and our heart, the facts and the feelings. And while it is good to wait on the Lord and to leave time to seek His face, it is not good to avoid making decisions. The time will come when a choice must be made. The Bible says to choose THIS day whom you will serve (Joshua 24:15). It does not say to wait for tomorrow (Matthew 6:34). It does not say to wait for more information. It says to choose service and to choose it NOW.

An old and wise man once told me, "don't let what you don't know rob you of what you do know". We may not get all the ducks to line up in a row. Occasionally, the pieces of the puzzle will not line up. But God doesn't want us in the gray, or the lukewarm (Revelation 3:16). He wants us to choose- this or that. But more than that, He wants us to choose Him and to be confident that this is the BEST choice (Proverbs 3:26, Jeremiah 29:11). Have you made your choice yet? What are you waiting for? What will you choose?