Persuaded: Five Minute Friday

This post is part of Five Minute Fridays Link-Ups. This week’s writing prompt is “Persuade.”

Time begins now….

What does it take to persuade you to make a decision? If you are anything like me, you may need a lot of time and a very clear list of pros and cons, plus maybe a gentle nudge from a trusted person to make a final decision on something. I like to keep my options open. 😉

This week our family had to make a big decision about buying a “new to us” car. We carefully weighed the pros and cons, the timing, the potentially greater cost of waiting, the different makes and models and mileage, etc. But after much thought, conversation, prayer, and a few test drives, we were persuaded that now was the right time and this was the right vehicle.

Now there are much greater decisions in life than buying a car, and there is no greater choice than the choice to live for Christ, to trust in His saving work on the cross and forsake the world’s temptations. What will persuade a person to give up everything and follow Jesus? As I am reading through Amy Carmichael’s biography, A Chance to Die, I have been struck by how willing she was to give up every comfort and safety net because she was persuaded that He had called her to take the gospel to people of every nation, tribe, and tongue. I have been convicted that I am not that committed in my daily life.

Time’s up….but let’s pray to be so strongly persuaded of Christ’s preeminence in all things that we would be willing, like Carmichael, to give up everything and follow His call.