Living the Seven Steps to Sanity

Living the Seven Steps to Sanity

February 18, 2008

By Jeff Tracy

It can really hurt. I have found making a difficult decision can be heart-wrenching and mind-boggling. For example, trying to please the woman you love without being a woman; or raising your children without a handbook!

I don't believe I am unique. Have you ever had to make a difficult decision? Have you ever wondered what the will of God is for you in a specific situation?

We make decisions every day--sometimes the wrong ones. Hopefully you haven't made decisions quite as horrific as the following examples.

Dr. John C. Maxwell, in an article entitled “Deciding Factors,” shares this story:

“In 2001, EMI Group's Virgin Records label signed pop diva Mariah Carey to one of the biggest recording contracts ever--an estimated $80 million for five albums, plus a $21-million signing bonus.

But when Carey's first album for Virgin Records--the soundtrack to the movie Glitter--flopped, the already struggling company decided to pay her $28 million to end her contract. Since Carey was allowed to keep her signing bonus, EMI essentially paid her $49 million for the soundtrack to a box-office bomb.”

Ouch! Or how about this for a bad decision:

A 77-year-old Japanese woman sewed two million yen (more than $24,000) into the sash of a kimono to keep it safe from thieves, and then absent-mindedly gave the garment away. I don't know about you, but I feel better already: they really messed up.

Simple Choices, Difficult Choices

We make choices everyday. Some choices are not so important (such as what to wear, what to eat, what book or magazine we will read), while other choices are important--they are choices that determine our destiny (whether to do drugs or not, to have sex before marriage, who our friends will be).

Then there are the difficult choices, when you must choose between several good options: Should I go to college, and, if so, which one? Who should I date? Should I get married? If so, to whom and when? What should my career be?

Later in life, a new set of questions appear: Which job should I take? To go into debt or to save up for my house, and/or my car? Should I move my family to another town or city? How do I raise my children? What are my obligations to my elderly parents and siblings? Is that pain in my chest serious? Does my life actually matter?

Choosing Sanity First

The stress and pressure of making decisions like this can destroy our sanity and the sanity of those around us. If you would allow me, I would like to share with you what I call Seven Steps to Sanity. These hard-won guidelines cost me a lot of pain and hurt to discover. I trust that you will find them helpful when the time comes to make your difficult decisions.

First, if you are truly serious about knowing what God has to say, you will need to lay a foundation for understanding where I'm coming from. I realize what I am about to ask can be dangerous in a “give me a pill to fix it, Doc” culture, but I'm feeling brave today. Take a few minutes to read several passages of scripture: Romans 12:1-2, Ephesians 1:7-9, I Thessalonians 4:1-8, Philippians 4:6-7, and John 10:27. (So, does God approve of your most recent choice to study or not to study?)

Understanding Good Decisions

Do you know the basics for making a good decision? Let me briefly share this list from the New Believers Bible (NLT):

Unconditionally surrender.
Realize that God has a plan for your life.
Act upon what God has already revealed in scripture.
Trust God completely.
Listen for God's voice.

Make sure you believe and are trying to implement those basics before you move forward. Then you're ready.

I have personalized these basic principles into a process I call my Seven Steps to Sanity.

The 7 Steps to Sanity

Prayer--Not about the situation, but until I find peace that everything is in His hands.

Purpose--What is God's purpose in my life? Does this line up with the vision God has given me? (Know thyself)

Priorities--How does this fit with my priorities? Where would I put it on the list of what I know is necessary to be pleasing to God? (Look at: God, family, ministry, church, career.)

Price--What will it cost me? What will the stress factor be?

Preparation--Is this an investment in my ministry, my calling, my purpose?

People--The counsel of wise people who have my best interests at heart: people like my pastor or parents. What do those I trust say?

Prayer--Having God centered in my life, I talk to Him about each of these things and search for my motives and His direction.

I have found that when something is God's will, doors open; if it's not, doors close. When you are in tune with God and following your priorities correctly, these decisions usually become obvious. If they don't, then I would take that as a warning. Your perfect peace and harmony in the Holy Spirit is the final sign of a correct decision.

Oops! Before you go, it might be important to take a look at the most important example of making difficult choices: Jesus. As Matthew wrote: “He went on a little farther and fell face down on the ground, praying, "My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will, not mine" (Matthew 26:39, NLT). Notice, the number one challenge in making the right choice is “my will,” just like it was for Jesus.

It's not always easy to follow through with the process of making the best decision in a difficult time. However, it is without a doubt worth it. After all, it's only your eternal destiny that's ultimately at stake. Not to add any extra pressure, of course.

Well, it's back to the prayer closet for me; I need a dose of His reality to get back my sanity.

ninetyandnine.com

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Jeff Tracy, residing in St. Louis, Missouri, is husband of one, father of two, servant of many, and lover of One. His not-so-secret fatal weakness is a love of all things chocolate, especially the deep, dark kind, which weight he daily chooses not to lay aside.