But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.” Matthew 1:20
REFERENCE
Matthew 1:18-25
Can you imagine how Joseph felt when his fiancée Mary told him she was pregnant? He knew he wasn’t responsible for her pregnancy, so he must have felt all sorts of emotions. Maybe he felt betrayed, angry, rejected, and relegated. Perhaps, he thought to disgrace her publicly as payback for her betrayal; but being a godly and thoughtful man, he decided to break the engagement privately.
Thankfully, Joseph was not hasty with his decision to send Mary away, having heard about her ‘mysterious pregnancy.’ Instead, he took out time to think it through/ponder over it; this he must have prayerfully done.
While he was at it, God sent an angel to make things clearer to him and instruct him about the next step to take. Joseph’s exemplary action is a profound lesson in decision-making. You must not be brash and hasty in taking decisions. Proverbs 19:2b says, “Haste makes mistakes.”
Therefore, you must learn to mull things in your heart, turn them over to the Lord for guidance and direction. Give decisions time before they are made. Constantly commit your concerns to God in prayers and listen to hear Him give counsel. Do not be swayed by what seems to be the norm or popular opinion, but weigh the consequences and likely outcomes of your decisions. Set your mind to think; for it is the thoughtful, not the unthinking that God will guide.
Joseph would have missed out on the opportunity of being Jesus’ earthly father if he hadn’t pondered on the situation, given it time or listened to God’s take on it. Likewise, your life is a product of the regular decisions you make; so think things through!
ADDITIONAL STUDY
Proverbs 3:5-6, 19:20, & Romans 12:2.
REFLECTION
+ Do you find it easy to think things through? What are some challenges that pose as distractions?
+ Are there some hasty decisions you have taken in the past? Can some be remedied? How do you avoid the same in the future?
PHOTO QUOTE
Father, help me to aknowledge you in all my ways for I know you will direct my path!