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Intentional, Value-Based Decision-making

Faith is an intentional, deliberate decision to act in a way that will bring your hope to fruition. To achieve the desire of your hope, you need to act consistently within the boundaries of the standards that fulfill the hope, whether or not the requirements are something you like to do. We all have faith in something. For the Christian, faith implies a belief in supremacy of God and in Jesus Christ’s atonement for our sin on the cross. In other words, His sacrifice was on our behalf so that we could gain a relationship with a Holy God. For the atheist, there is the belief that neither God nor “sin” exists. Whether you believe in the Christian God or you are an atheist, your belief is the common denominator; both of these belief’s require faith in order to act on their claim to truth. In both cases, when you believe, your faith is seen by the decisions you make on how to act. This is how your faith is proven. 

Who or what is at the center of your motive?

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Natural consequences reveal the wisdom of your decisions, the priorities of your values and the integrity of your actions. For a Christian who believes in the supernatural workings of a supreme God, unhealthy addiction can be overcome by acting consistently between spirit, soul and body. When you eventually become aware that your addiction has become an all-consuming priority in life and is driving you further away from what you say you value, you'll remember God and hope is birthed. When you have "hit the bottom", you awaken the desire to change your unhealthy, unproductive, thinking and acting patterns. Integrity describes a person who acts consistently with values, resulting in consistent and predictable moral action. Because values are unique to each person, individuals choose and prioritize the values that are important to them and then use those values to guide their decision-making process and resulting behavior.

  • For a more in-depth look into behavioral integrity, read Appendix 1S.

  • For an example of making cognitively consistent decisions, read Appendix 2M.

 

Decisions that are not made consistently eventually result in uneasy feelings, discontentment and/or emptiness stemming from cognitive dissonance. Making value-based decisions (rather than being motivated by immediate gratification) and acting them out in public is the way to rid yourself of anxiety. For example, when you honor and value God more than yourself or anyone else, you can feel at peace with your behavioral decisions, even in an environment that doesn't support your decisions. ​As a Christian, a Spirit-filled believer, when you act on Godly values, your decision and actions bring you cognitive consistency and peace (Proverbs 10:9, 11:3). If you don’t act on it, anxiety results in your body and mind, producing Christian cognitive dissonance. The Apostle James says that when we think one way but act another we are being “double minded” (James 1:8, 4:8). God-honoring, single-minded decisions stem from a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ as evidenced by acting out value-based decisions.

 

​When a Christian says that God is their first priority in life, their decisions on how to act needs to show this, otherwise peace will be elusive. Take prayer as an example. A Christian who holds to the value of prayer in their Christian life, will pray regularly.

 

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Be humble, remember God is the source of your strength. Ask Him to help you navigate, day by day, through a sinful world (Luke 11:8-10).

  • Is your value for prayer reflected in your daily schedule?

  • Do you decide to make time to pray despite a busy schedule?

  • Do you have a regular time period carved out of your day for prayer? (Or are you just praying when there’s an immediate problem?) 

  • Do you even believe that God hears your prayers? If not, why do you deny the truth of the Bible and instead hold to your own belief(s)?

  • Do you respect God's timing or do you operate with an "on demand" mentality? 

A proper reverence for God stimulates Christian cognitive consistency. This attitude is reflected in doing the behavior that proves your belief (James 2:17). Christian action aligned with intentional decision-making that is displayed in your attitude and actions produces both inner peace and a recognizable Christian. God hears our prayers (Proverbs 15:29). He forgives our wrongs (Colossians 3:13). He teaches us the way of righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16, 1 Peter 3:12). Do you believe this? Do you wait expectantly for God to orchestrate the results? Are you trusting in the Word of God as shown by praying, doing what you know is the next RIGHT thing to do (in God’s eyes), and then waiting on the Lord with hope (Psalm 24:3-5, 37:7)?

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A Christlike attitude motivates behavior that reflects God’s truth. This new thinking trains the physical body to comply to God’s standards (Luke 6:20, 1 Timothy 4:6-8, Titus 2:12). God will fill you with power from the Holy Spirit to walk in His truth when you ask for this in prayer (Luke 11:13, 24:49, John 16:13, James 4:2). Prayer is simply carving time out to talk to God. Asking for the Spirit's power to flow through you, brings you the strength to conquer the tidal wave of addiction so you can swim over it, rather than being tossed around and knocked down by it. Don’t be tempted to rest in your own knowledge or the opinions of others.

 

Watch out for the human tendency to ask your friends for their advice and after they give it, if you value it higher than God’s, you are no longer in single-minded pursuit of the truth that will set you free (James 3:13-18). Job is an example of how to stand firm when friends give advice that negates the Word of God (Jeremiah 23:16-17, 23:32). ​

Life is a sum of your choices! Intentionally establish healthy boundaries and productive behavioral habits (2 Peter 1:4, 8). Be aware of your desires for control and instant gratification. Don't allow bad habits and undisciplined impulses to lead your behavior. Remember God in all you do (1 Corinthians 10:31). Discipline yourself by taking an extra second to evaluate your thoughts against God's Word so you choose behavioral options that both please God and lead to the fulfillment of your priorities and your long-term goals. Don't get distracted by unfiltered desires!​ His Word will help you generate and select healthy options (Ephesians 6:13, 1 Corinthians 10:13, Hebrews 4:16). Read more on decision-making in Appendix 2M.

 

Be sure to evaluate each option before making your final decision! Ask yourself:

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(Benefits your spiritual growth?)

Intentionally make daily decisions that are consistent with your new goals. To achieve Christian cognitive consistency and confidently manage yourself in a social world, make the decision to act in line with Godly values so you can live out your spiritual righteousness (Hosea 10:12)! 

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