LESSON 05: DECISION

STEP 3
"We made a decision to turn our lives and our wills over to the care of our Lord Jesus DECISION
Christ.”

Deuteronomy 30:19
I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the
blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants.

THINK ABOUT IT
Most of us acquired a distorted image of God as a result of our early life experiences especially
those involving our parents and other significant people in our environment. These images
influence us more powerfully than do our ideas or doctrinal statements about Him because
these images are rooted in our powerful emotional experiences.
The process of mending these distorted images involves replacing them with a biblically
accurate imagery of God.

A. GOD AS WE UNDERSTOOD HIM

We all come from dysfunctional families, of which can be found in varying degrees. Some of us
have parents or family members who are emotionally distant, unreliable, abusive, unrealistic in
their expectations, inattentive, or abandoning. Our experiences with them may have lasted for a
short time, and longer for others, but they significantly influenced our view of God. Such painful
experiences confused our mind and shaped our “understanding" of God.
Romans 1:21-22
Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn't worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they
began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and
confused. Claiming to be Wise, they instead became utter fools.
Man's moral decline stemmed from his attempt to reduce God into “manageable” proportions.
One of the most important aspects of recovery is to change that distorted view of God into an
accurate image based on the Bible. Only then will this translate into a change in behavior

B. CORRECTING DISTORTION
We must first connect the distortion with the childhood experience from which it developed and
then identify the concepts we acquired while growing up and the feelings that contributed to our
wrong view of God.
1. Unrealistic Expectations
a. The God of Impossible Expectations
 Children have a tremendous need for approval from parents. Unfortunately,
some parents speak only to correct and criticize. Children take this negative
message in and apply it in their environment, not only about themselves but also
about God. As a result, they see God as one who is never pleased. His
standards impossible and His expectations beyond reach.

b. The God of Realistic Expectations

Psalm 103:8
The LORD is compassionate and gracious; slow to anger and abounding in
loving kindness. Just as a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD
has compassion on those who fear Him. For He Himself knows our frame; He is
mindful that we are but dust.

Believing that God expects us to be perfect can make us resent God and develop
a vicious cycle of self-condemnation. We can go into adulthood fighting a
disturbing emotional battle with self-condemnation and even last our whole
lifetime. Healing from perfectionism is not an easy journey.

2. Emotionally Distant
a. The Emotionally Distant God
Many parents successfully provide for physical needs but fail to meet emotional
needs.

b. The God Who Sympathizes With Us

He offers us an intimacy with Himself and the emotional closeness we long tor.

Hebrews 4:14-16.
For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses,
but One who has been tempted in all things as we are yet without sin...

3. Disinterested
a. The Disinterested God
Parents can be too busy people to stop and listen to their children. They are full
of anxiety about work, money, and relationships. They work long hours. They are
tired. Sometimes they are depressed.

b. The God Who Pay Attention

Psalm 139:1-6
O Lord, You have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and
when rise up. You understand my thought from afar. You scrutinize intimately
my path and my laying down, and are intimately acquainted with all my ways.
Even before there is a word on my tongue, Behold, and O Lord, You know it all.
 You have enclosed me behind and before, and laid Your hand upon me. Such
knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is too high, I cannot attain to it."

Our experience has been that others watch out for causing our mistakes, causing
us to be fearful of relationships. As defense, we tend to be critical, judgmental,
and skeptical. However, when we learn and realize that God watches over us to
help, protect, to be and teach us, we learn then to be gracious and helpful us,
others.

4. Abusive
a. The Abusive God
Children silently ask their parents, "Do you love me? In reply, children hear
violent words from their parents, words convincing them that they are not lovable,
valuable, or capable. Unfortunately, many children experience abuse instead
many of affection, and punishment instead of guidance.

b. God Desires To Heal Us And Not Harm Us

Matthew 20:30-34
And two blind men sitting by the road, hearing that Jesus was passing by, cried
out, "Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David! The crowd sternly told them to be
quiet, but they cried out all more, "Lord, Son David, have mercy on us!" And
Jesus stopped and called them, and said, "What do you want Me to do for you?"
They said to Him, "Lord, we want our eyes to be opened." Moved with
compassion, Jesus touched their eyes; and immediately they regained their sight
and followed Him."

The God of the Bible is not abusive or easily angered. He is moved with
compassion and He is ready to act on our behalf. Jesus' heart went out to the
blind men and He showed that He was able to suffer with them.

5. Unreliable
a. The Unreliable God
Adults make promises they don’t keep. They get angry when there seems to be
nothing to be angry about. At times, they may be loving, attentive, and kind; but
at other times hostile, inattentive, and unkind.

b. God's Faithfulness
Psalm 145:14-16
The LORD sustains all who fall and raises up all who are bowed down. The eyes
of all look to you their food You, and You give them their food in due times. You
open your hand and satisfy the desire living of everything.
 This passage pictures God like a king who faithfully provides for the people in His
kingdom. He has compassion on the people He created and especially toward
those who fail.

6. Abandons
a. The God Who Abandons
For a child, separation, divorce, death, prolonged hospitalization of a parent,
parents endless hours at the bar, socializing, and busyness at work are
experiences of abandonment. This can destroy the child's sense of security and
leave a deep fear that people they love may also leave them. Out of this
insecurity and fear who grows an image of a God who will abandon them.

b. God Pursues His Relationship With Us

The Bible tells us that God will never leave who or forsake us, for He is a God
who will be with until the end.

Deuteronomy 31:6
Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the Lord your
God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you.

C. HOW DO WE APPLY THIS LESSON?

To turn our lives and our will over to God is a tough decision to make especially if we grew up
witnessing much dysfunction within our family.
God gave us the Bible to serve as an accurate resource of who He really is. His word has
withstood time and trial as some of the people here can attest to. Given this alternative, of this
lesson the we must make a choice because the output of this lesson is the action we will choose
to take. This is also crucial because our decision will impact the lives or our descendants.

Deuteronomy 30:19
I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death,
the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants.