The Best Time to Make a Decision

Chris Kraft, NASA’s first flight director and the inventor of the mission control, was asked when was the best time to make a decision and said, “The best time to make a decision is before you have to.” He went on to explain that every possible thing that could happen regarding a mission was considered before the mission and a decision was made regarding the response to each. Therefore, when anything happened they had a response predetermined and did not have reason to rush and panic. 

It seems in his classic novel “Pilgrim’s Progress” John Bunyan had this concept in mind when he wrote: “Most Christians are not mortified and crucified to that world, not acquainted with God and the promises as they might be, nor so resolved to follow God, fully, as they ought, and therefore are so dejected and discontented when afflictions come.”

In his Old English style he continued, “So it must be our care to provide for afflictions; for to prevent them altogether we cannot; but prepare for them we may, and must, as was hinted before; to treasure up God’s promise, and store our souls with graces, and to bear up and hold on; we need be but to well shod our feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace.”

Like Kraft he acknowledges the inevitability of difficulties. Observation and experience teaches us most people are not as prepared as they should be when difficulties come. When God’s word is stored in our memory, it can be pulled out as a resource file in the face of stress-producing events.

Much can be gained by Scripture memorization. This must be followed by interpretation, gaining an understanding of the verse’s meaning. When a provisional promise is understood there is a better chance of its application.

Catalog concepts that confirm character in crisis.

The Psalmist gave us this pattern as a means for making advanced plans. 

“Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You.

Blessed are You, O Lord! Teach me Your statutes. With my lips I have declared All the judgments of Your mouth. I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies,

As much as in all riches. I will meditate on Your precepts, And contemplate Your ways. I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word.” (Psalm 119: 11 – 18)

An example of this is when you feel all alone you know you are not, for the Lord has said He will never leave us. Don’t act like it, act because of it.

There is an ancient prayer which states, “Slow me down, Lord, and inspire me to send my roots deep into the soil of life’s enduring values, that I may grow toward the stars on my great destiny.”