How to become a determined person?

Some days ago a young man came to me and asked for my advice, asking me the question that I have put as the title of this article. I have found useful to make up an article based on the advice I had to give to him. So, how to become a determined person? Before we may understand how to become a determined person, we have to realize what is its definition.

What is a determined person?

The word “determined” is used very frequently in the Bible, but the word “doubleminded” (undetermined) is used only once in the next passage:

But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. (Epistle of James 1:5–8)(NASB)

According to this passage:

• When a determined man makes a decision he has sufficeint faith to see this decision fulfilled.
• A determined man trusts in God and is not defeated by doubt, he doesn’t change his made decision.
• A determined man is not influenced by circumstances more than by God’s promises. The surf of the sea doesn’t have its direction and a stable point, it is driven and tossed by the wind. An unstable man is similar to it, driven by circumstances and he can’t lay firmly on God’s promises.
• A determined man is stable in all his ways. So, an undetermined man is not stable, he can’t lay firmly on his decisions and he can’t finish the begun work, because he changes his mind very often.
• The determined man is pleasant and to God and fruitful, if he is led by the Word of God, but the doublemined and unstable one ought not to expect anything from the Lord, because he will not get and accomplish anything.

I would also add that doubleminded persons are very difficult and are not trustworthy. You  can’t trust in them because they can change their decisions and promised words very quickly and often.

Don’t hasten when making important decisions

There is a proverb that says: “Measure twice, cut but once”. Some people are very hurried when they make decisions or when they promise something. Don’t hurry to make decisions and don’t make decisions under the pressure of the people who hasten you, especially if there are no serious reasons to hurry up. Very many people are sorry for the decisions made unthoughtfully and hasty, as the Word of God says:

The plans of the diligent lead surely to advantage, but everyone who is hasty comes surely to poverty. (Proverbs of Solomon 21:5)(NASB)

Don’t make yourself important through the way you make decisions

On the other side, I saw how some people have much discussion and give much importance to the things that are less important. I mean those that see an old woman carrying a water pot and they, being “superspiritual ” say that they have firstly “to pray and to wait for God’s will, if they have or not to help that old woman carry the water pot”. Haven’t you seen such super-spiritual persons? I had the chance to meet and to hear about them. These past days I was told how a superspiritual man had begun a discussion concerning physical force, etc. And he had done so only for the sake of the pan. Then, one had asked him: “And if you walk on a street and see how someone rapes a woman, how will you act, as a Christian?” The super spiritual said: “Firstly I have to find out what kind of woman she is and why such thing has happened to her…” Through his answer that man showed how mean he was, and not spiritual.

Make decisions in accord with the Word of God

Correct decisions are those taken in accord to the wisdom of God’s Word. One who doesn’t study and know the Bible can not make wise decisions. Joshua spent very much time near Moses and he heard much from the Word of God, he learnt the wise way how Moses was making decisions. But, after Moses’ death, when he was called by God the leader of Israel, he received this commandment:

This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success. (Joshua 1:8)(NASB)

The leader has to make a lot of decisions always and then he will be praised or cursed for the decions he has made. If he makes good decisions, people rejoice and prosper, but if he makes wrong and not wise decisions, the whole nation will have to suffer and he will have a bad name.

Be a determined man. Put all your trust in God, think well the things, advise with wise people, but don’t make yourself important by the way you make decisions. Serve people and be ready for courageous deeds.

Translated by Djugostran Felicia

About: Rev. Vasile Filat: Pastoring the Good News Church in Chisinau, Moldova, I want to serve people from all over the world and have written 1868 articles which have been translated into Romanian (1868), Russian (843), English (786) and French (translation in progress). You are welcome to read my extended biography or to ask me a question.