Decisions: Take Responsibilty

“Some of these individuals amassed great fortunes, but money wasn’t what inspired me about them.  I wanted to find people who enjoyed contentment, happiness, and success in life as parents, friends, business owners, or leaders.”  —Andy Andrews

“Somewhere in that library, my self-pity turned to passion.  I was on a mission to find out how they did it.”  —Andy Andrews

Decision — "the act of making up one's mind."

Indecision — "hesitates, wavers, vacillates between opinions.”

James 1:6-8 (NLT) But when you ask Him, be sure that your faith is in God alone.  Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. 7 Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do. 

Decision #1 — Take responsibility  

Genesis 3:11-13 (NLT) "Who told you that you were naked?" the Lord God asked.  "Have you eaten from the tree whose fruit I commanded you not to eat?" 12 The man replied, "It was the woman You gave me who gave me the fruit, and I ate it.” 13 Then the Lord God asked the woman, "What have you done?"  “The serpent deceived me," she replied, "That's why I ate.”

-Sarai blamed Abram (Gen. 16)

-Esau blamed Jacob (Gen. 27)

-Aaron blamed Moses and the people (Ex. 32)

-Saul blamed the people (1 Sam. 15)

  

Passing the Buck — "to transfer responsibility or blame from oneself onto another, to deny responsibility for a circumstance or action.”  

We will no longer make excuses for…

-current situation                   -emotions and attitudes

-background                         -relationships or finances

-behavior and personality   -insecurities and baggage

-actions and reactions          -walk with God

-thought life                            -past

-words and tone

“Life is 10% of what happens to you, the other 90% is what you do with life.” 

1.  It allows us to repent

2.  It allows us to be healed

3.  It allows us to grow

Romans 12:2 (NLT) …but let God transform you into a new person… 

4.  It allows us to be responsible for our future

  • Responsibility is about two things:  hope and authority.  

  • When we consistently blame —  we are giving up our authority to choose something different for our future. 

“Until we take responsibility for where we are at there will be no basis for us to move forward with God.”

We get the privilege of stewarding…

-God-given identity

-the measure of faith

-revelation

-grace, favor, and anointing

-gifts and talents

-blessings and provision

-spiritual growth and development

-relationships

Aubrie Mason