Decide.

Such a hard word to figure out, isn’t it?

To decide on something feels so permanent. Final. Like crossing a line you can’t come back from. And yet, in reality, we change our minds all the time. That’s part of being human. Still, we often make the mistake of evaluating our decisions through the lens of absolutes...using words like always and never.

We look at the future as if one choice locks in our path forever. Or when something changes, we assume what once was will never return. That’s where the phrase “burn the ships” comes in.

The phrase originates from the story of Hernán Cortés, the Spanish conquistador who landed in Mexico in 1519. Faced with unrest among his crew and fear of retreat, Cortés ordered the ships to be scuttled and burned. There would be no turning back. His men had one choice: move forward.

Most of us aren’t landing in a foreign land preparing for conquest, but we are faced with decisions every day that shape our direction. So the question becomes:

• Which decisions should I commit to long term?

• Which decisions should I hold with flexibility and revise as I go?

• And how can I stop thinking in absolutes and start living in a daily posture of trust in God?
   

1. What should I commit to long term?

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment.
And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
— Matthew 22:37–40

This is the one decision you can stake your life on: Love God and love others. There’s no expiration date on that. No scenario where it goes sour. Jesus said everything else hangs on this. If you’re looking for a rock-solid commitment to build around, this is it.

2. Which decisions should I be willing to revise daily?

“A man had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’
‘I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.
Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go.
Which of the two did what his father wanted?”  The First.
— Matthew 21:28–31

We’ve all made impulsive choices. We've said things we didn’t follow through on. Sometimes we commit too quickly, other times not quickly enough. The good news? God gives grace and space to change your mind.

It’s not weakness. It’s maturity. The son who reversed course did the Father’s will. So should we—whenever our hearts tell us it’s time to make things right.

3. How can I think less in absolutes and more in a posture of daily trust in God?

“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
— Matthew 6:34 

Here’s a truth we all know deep down: Change is one of the only guarantees in life. We resist it, we fear it—but it keeps showing up. Jesus reminds us to stop living in tomorrow and start showing up for today.

So take a breath. Slow down. Walk with God today. Give this 24 hours your full attention and effort. Leave space for God to work in tomorrow’s unknown. Easier said than done, yes, but often all we need is a little reminder.

So—Decide.

Your decisions matter. They shape your life, your relationships, and your walk with God. Some decisions deserve bold, lifelong commitment. Others need to be held with humility and surrendered to the Spirit’s correction.

If you’re facing a crossroads today, don’t move forward alone. Ask Jesus to guide you through His words in Matthew. He still speaks, and He still leads for those who ask.

-Mark