My Key Life Decisions

Photo courtesy of: Suat Eman, FreeDigitalPhotos.net

I enjoy serving at a Christian summer youth camp. Many of the young adults now serving the Lord made life-changing decisions while there. In my own life, I've made decisions that completely altered my course.

Let me share some of my key decisions:

Salvation—The most important decision anyone can make is for the salvation of his soul. Even though I was brought up in church and most would have considered me a “good girl,” I didn’t know Christ personally. In the spring when I was twelve, I was sitting in church and the pastor was preaching about the gospel. He was explaining how each person had to see that he was a sinner and that he needed a Savior. He explained how people needed to call on the Lord for salvation—to receive the gift Jesus paid for on the cross. I realized I had never done that, and there, in my place in the pew, I asked the Lord to save me. Since that day, I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day (2 Timothy 1:12b). (You can read my complete testimony here.) 

Service—The Bible says, Choose you this day whom ye will serve (from Joshua 24:15), whether it be God or another god. Choose spiritual service over fleshly desires. For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another (Galatians 5:13). I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service (Romans 12:1) As soon as I became a born-again Christian, I wanted to serve God. Two of the ladies in our church took me under their wings and helped me learn how to share Christ with others. I am grateful to them for letting a little girl tag along on home visits and encouraging me in my new faith. As the Apostle Paul said, I die daily,* meaning that putting spiritual priorities over our own desires. It's a daily process—sometimes an hourly process.

Surrender—Unconditionally following Jesus. When I was seventeen and a freshman in college, I heard a message from a student that challenged those listening to pray Isaiah’s prayer of submission: Here am I, send me (Isaiah 6:8). The student explained that true surrender meant we were willing to be used by God in any place and in any way. It was complete surrender to God’s will. Being the willful young lady I was and not understanding that God’s will is always for our good, I fought with God. In my heart, I knew I needed to completely surrender my will to His, but I didn’t trust God enough. There were places I didn’t want to go. I resisted for over two weeks. It was a fight within me that was as real as any fight on a battlefield. Yes. No. Yes, with conditions. No. Yes, but I can’t. No. Yes. No. Finally, my answer to God was yes. I was surrendered to Him. I would go wherever and do whatever. I prayed for God to send me—unconditionally. What joy and peace!

Marriage—When I met my husband the first time, I knew there was something different about him. I was immediately interested in this calm, steady, good-looking man with a low voice. Our first date was to a missions meeting, and three years later, we were married. Now, we’ve been married almost thirty-seven years, and he is definitely one the best decisions of my life. A committed partnership with this amazing man has changed me and molded me. I am privileged to share my life with him. We are surely heirs together of the grace of life (from 1 Peter 3:7).

Following God’s amazing leading—If you would ever have told a shy little girl from the middle of nowhere that she would pour her life out in Spain for over thirty years, she would have laughed out loud. I mean, Spain? But, He led my husband and me to make this life-changing decision in some awesome ways. He confirmed us in each step, and He made it crystal clear. We moved to Spain in August of 1984, our little girl in our arms. (Two years later, God blessed us with a baby boy, born in Spain.) After more than thirty years now, we look back on both good and bad times and God’s leadership, guidance, and sustaining power through them all. We’re very thankful that God led us here and that He continues to guide our steps.

Walking with God—This key decision is mine daily. I choose to maintain communication with the Lord all my waking hours. I think about His Word and strive to apply it to my life. I read the Bible. Walking with God is a partnership—God with me and my willingness to obey and allow Him to guide me. It is a fellowship—a two-way communication without ceasing,** as the Bible describes. Walking with God is a lifestyle, but it’s one that’s renewed every day.

Now that you know mine, I’m curious. What have been your life-changing key decisions? Please share!

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*1 Corinthians 15:31

** 1 Thessalonians 5:17