Every day we make decisions – what to wear, what to eat and what to do. There are little decisions and big decisions. Perhaps, for most people, the biggest decisions in life are about relationships, marriage (whether to marry and whom to marry) and work.

When you hear the gospel you have to make the most important decision of your life. Do you respond with faith and believe? Or do you respond by hardening your heart and disobeying? But these decisions pale into insignificance beside the great decision. The great decision is how you respond to God.

Decide to meet with God first. I intend always to read and pray immediately when I get up in order to be prepared for the battles each day brings.’ I have not always succeeded in doing this. However, that decision has made a huge difference to my life.

Decide to believe God’s promises. Are you experiencing ‘God’s rest’ in your life? Or are you worn out trying to control everything and everyone around you? Maybe it is time to resign as general manager of the universe and start believing God’s promises and trusting God to do what only he can do. The way to find ‘rest’ for your soul is to listen to God’s promises, believe them and show that you believe them by living in obedience to the word of God. God’s promise to everyone who believes in the gospel is that they will enter his rest ‘If we believe… we’ll experience that state of resting’ 

In this life, there will always be trials and testing. It is never going to be without times of turmoil. 

One day, every human being will have to give an account before God: ‘Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account’ 

Others may have discriminated against you, but God does not discriminate on the basis of your age, gender or situation in life. There are many still in the ‘valley of decision’ (Joel 3:14). 

The decision of whether or not to call on the name of the Lord. God makes a remarkable promise ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved’

God promises us ‘double for our trouble’. He restores, redeems, renews and revives us by his Spirit. He promises, ‘In that day the mountains will drip with new wine, and the hills will flow with milk; all the ravines of Judah will run with water. A fountain will flow out of the Lord’s house’ (John 7:37–39).

This is all wonderful, good news that we need to bring to those who are in the valley of decision.