At the Crossroads

"Two roads diverged in a yellow wood/And sorry I could not travel both...I took the one less traveled by/And that has made all the difference." ~Robert Frost

You are probably familiar with these first and last poetic lines of the The Road Not Taken. It is one of my all-time favorites. In my high school English class, we had to memorize it for a grade. In choir, we sang the lines of this poem together in beautiful harmony. However, there comes a time when you simply must act on these prophetic words.

From the moment you say "I do," the decisions you face seem to double with each passing day. Where will we live? What will be our career paths? Our ministry? When will we have children? Each decision you make not only affects yourself, but also your spouse. It is easy to see why sometimes you hesitate at the crossroads a little longer because it is so important to make the right choice.

If you are facing a big decision in your marriage, you can have confidence that God will lead you every step of the way. If you are feeling overwhelmed, know that the most important decision that you have to make has already been made if you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. He will peacefully walk you through the process. God promises us that He will give us the wisdom we need as we humbly seek Him for guidance.

James 1:5 says, "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him." (NKJV, emphasis mine)

At times, the enemy will try to cloud your thoughts and tangle your emotions in effort to paralyze you from taking action. This is especially true of individuals who care so deeply about the decisions they make. If you are feeling confusion, you must first ask God to clear the spiritual atmosphere. You can be sure it is not from Him.

I Corinthians 14:33 says, "For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints." (NKJV, emphasis mine)

Next, if one of the choices you are considering conflicts with Biblical truth, you should eliminate it. A decision that is not from Him has a guaranteed dead-end. (if you have made one of these, don't despair, God will get you back on track).

Once you are aligned with His word, and are full of peace, expect to hear His voice! You will have to train yourself to have your spirit tuned in and turned up at all times. This is especially true if the decision you face seems to split into multiple paths.

Here are some questions you may want to ask as you listen for His voice.

1) If I make choice A, would it be out of fear or out of faith?
2) Does choice A coincide with God's revealed will for my life?
3) If I take choice A, will it allow the Lord to use me more or less for His Kingdom?
4) Will choice A have a positive or negative impact on my spouse?
5) Does choice A reflect my God-given talents and abilities?
6) Will choice A contribute or detract from fulfilling my purpose in life?
7) Do I have a desire to do choice A?

God rewards those who diligently seek Him. Jeremiah 29:13 promises, "And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart." (NKJV, emphasis mine)

If you believe that God has given you an answer, be sure to pray for confirmation. Sometimes, God will use individuals who are anointed with the Spirit of Counsel in your church to confirm what is already in your heart.

Also, be sensitive to God's established order for marriage. God may speak directly to your husband first. Once your husband shares his vision, it will be confirmed in your heart if you are flowing in unity. Submit joyfully, knowing that your husband has sought out what is best for the both of you.

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