The tricky thing is, if I don’t wake up at that third BEEP BEEP, my entire morning routine gets thrown off. I’m such a creature of routine that my morning routine is the same every day almost down to the minute. It’s actually crazy how I literally end up clocking into work at the same time each morning, within a 2-3 minute window of time. But it all starts with that third BEEP BEEP. If I don’t get up when I’m supposed to, then I won’t have the right amount of time to do my regular exercise routine, and everything will snowball from there.

This morning, I had a little “a ha moment.” I realized, it really comes down to the decision I make in that ONE MOMENT. …because once I’m up and out of bed, I’m awake, alert and ready to tackle the day! After I’ve made the decision to get up, there’s no turning back. I don’t regret it, I don’t second guess it, and I don’t complain about it. I’m up!! It’s simply a matter of what I do in that ONE MOMENT when that third BEEP BEEP sounds. 

Split second decisions. Numerous sources say humans make about 35,000 decisions every day. Researchers at Cornell University estimate we make 226.7 decisions each day on food alone. We are constantly deciding what to eat, wear, say, think and do. But those 35,000 daily decisions are also considered to be “remotely conscious” decisions. You are thinking about them, but at the same time, you’re really not. Does that make sense? 

But some decisions we make aren’t remotely conscious, they’re fully conscious decisions. My third BEEP BEEP decision? Even though I’m in the process of waking up, that is a fully conscious decision I’m making each morning. If I choose to go back to sleep and wait for the fourth BEEP BEEP to sound, I know exactly what I’m doing. I’m very purposely pushing snooze yet again and laying my head back down on that pillow. To get my day started on the right track, all it takes is making one right decision in that ONE MOMENT. 

So I got to thinking… How many times have I made a decision in ONE MOMENT that changed the course of a certain situation? a certain relationship? or maybe even my life? I can think back on many different times when I was waffling—you know what I mean. I was going back and forth and back and forth, immobilized because something inside me refused to just make the decision. Maybe it was fear, worry, uncertainty, indecisiveness, panic, stress or even apathy. It can often take courage, strength and confidence to make a difficult decision. But then, once it’s made? Everything gets set in motion.

How long do you think Moses thought about it before he raised his hands to split the sea?

How long do you think Noah thought about it before he decisively shut the door of the ark? 

How long do you think Abram thought about it before telling his family it was time to pick up and move? 

How long do you think David thought about it before picking up that stone and putting it into his sling? 

How long do you think Joseph thought about it before revealing his identity to his brothers? 

These folks were all humans, just like you and me. If we place ourselves in their shoes, it feels realistic and likely to assume that they stutter-stepped for a few minutes (or hours?) before making some of these monumental decisions. But then, once they did—in that ONE MOMENT—everything changed.

What might change for you if you decided to finally make that phone call? submit that application? have that hard conversation? forgive that friend? buy a ticket for that conference? sign up for that service opportunity? Today, the Holy Spirit might be telling you that you’ve thought about it and prayed about it long enough. It’s time to MOVE. All it takes is one decision in one moment, and a whole chain of events can be set into motion. 

Are you panicking that the choice you’re pondering will be wrong? Don’t forget, no matter which way you turn, Jesus will still be with you. Stay near to Him. He will be actively at work no matter what decision you make. Whether you step this way or that way, He won’t abandon you for turning one way over the other. 

Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” -Isaiah 30:21

Last fall, I felt God calling me to plan a retreat for women, a time for gals to gather in a fun little corner of the world for Bible study and Christian fellowship. I prayed and prayed about it. Then, I scrolled past an Airbnb listing that seemed like the perfect place to host such a gathering. It was a beautiful historic house in Ellsworth, Maine, that had plenty of bedrooms, a long dining room table, a piano, a fire pit and lots of little nooks and crannies where people could cozy up with their Bibles to spend time in the Word. I was so certain of the Holy Spirit’s prompting to book the house, even though I hadn’t invited anybody yet and had no idea how many people might even be interested in coming. …or available on those dates, for that matter. I prayed and prayed about it. And stalled. And prayed and prayed about it. I was stuck in a holding pattern, waiting to reach 100% certainty that this was God’s desire.

And then? I finally arrived at that ONE MOMENT when I decided to pull the trigger. I booked the house, and there was no turning back from there. With one click of a button, after making one conscious choice, I set into motion a huge plan that I could not accomplish on my own. So guess what? I had no choice but to depend on God every step of the way over the next several months, and I exercised my faith muscles like never before. Did every little detail work out perfectly along the way? Nope. But did God provide beautifully and abundantly? Yes He did. 

Now I’m left wondering… What’s the decision God is waiting on you to make? When will you finally say, Okay, this is my ONE MOMENT?! Let’s do this!

Maybe your moment is right now.