de·ci sive·ness n.
Synonyms: decisive, conclusive, crucial, definitive, determinative
These adjectives mean determining or having the power to determine an outcome: the decisive vote; a conclusive reason; crucial experiments; a definitive verdict; the determinative battle.

Lately the power of our decisiveness has been on my mind a great deal. I have seen many people in both my personal and professional life operating decisively in ways that have been overwhelmingly spectacular or overwhelmingly dangerous. Let me explain by saying the Lord has begun to show me the power of our decisiveness. The definition describes decisiveness as “the power to determine the outcome”. The power of this word really resonates in my spirit and my mind. I have seen the power of decision making in the human mind. I have seen couples determined that they are not going to remain married, teens determined to change schools, and individuals determined to end their lives, the power of these decisions is stronger than you could imagine.

We each have the ability to choose and make decisions but what we do with that ability is what could make or break us. The Holy Spirit showed me that so many people allow their decisions to take up all of the room in their mind leaving no room for any other influence. This is where it gets dangerous. If there is no room for the Holy Spirit or any other method of reason then that can cause us to make poor decisions. A married man deciding he wants to remain with his mistress instead of his wife, is a powerful decision. It leaves little room for influence or persuasion. The Lord gave me a vision of a room with many windows and related it to our mind. The decision is like a large balloon that just keeps expanding. Eventually the windows will bust out and there is no room for anything but that decision. It is a strange image but if you can picture it you can see how there would be no room for inside or outside influence to stop the process. By allowing room for influence and input a decision doesn’t take over because there is room for it to be used in the proper way. The Lord has been teaching me about these things, because I used to be the worst when it comes to decisions. If I decided I wanted to buy something new, change my hair, or go somewhere I just set my mind that I was going to do that very thing. It became very difficult to convince me otherwise. The Lord has taught me that each decision needs to be weighed and there always needs to be room for wise counsel from any source.

Now don’t get me wrong, much power exists in making a decision and sticking with it. Many of the goals I have accomplished have been a result of decisiveness and the ability to stay focused on the goal. The thing is, even in those decisions there needs to be room for the Holy Spirit to influence and guide us. Let me share a story of a season where I started a doctoral program other than the one I ultimately graduated from. I was determined; I was walking toward the goal. One Friday night the Lord asked me if I would be willing to lay it down. I couldn’t believe it. I wanted nothing but to finish this endeavor. Reversing the decision that I had made, I did just what He asked. I laid it down, and quit after that semester. Some of you know that was the best thing for me, because I ended up starting in a different program, and completed my degree in the same amount of time.
If I would have allowed my decision to take up my entire being I would have completed a degree that would have little worth and I would be in a very different position than I am in today. I needed the “room” to allow the Holy Spirit to move me where and when He wanted to.

The Webster’s definition uses “the determinative battle”. I know that many of you are facing decisions, as you read this one or many came to your mind. I want you to understand the power of these decisions. You never know which decisions are parts of the determinative battle for your destiny. It is up to you to leave “room” to allow the Holy Spirit, wise counsel, and your own reasoning to be sure that this decision is in your absolute best interest. I challenge you to be decisive, but leave room for those decisions to be altered. Allow yourself to be determined but not so determined that your will takes over your ability to hear the Holy Spirit, think rationally, or allow individuals to speak truth into your life.