The Daily CHEW™
Chew on God’s Love. Live Transformed. Multiply Hope.
It’s quietly humming under my skin today—the pressure to make a call. My mind runs circles around the decision: Should I say yes to one more big project, should my wife and I go to Castine, Maine without the kids next year since they’re just starting jobs (and would that hurt them that they can’t join us), or should I just stay put while everyone watches?
That driven, first-born Achiever in me wants to perform, please, control the outcome so no one is disappointed—especially me. I want my family to see me as capable, my clients to get my very best, and—if I’m honest—my heart to finally feel a little more Significance.
But underneath all the options and scenarios, there’s an ache: What if the real struggle is not which decision I make, but the longing and fear behind my anxious planning? My mind says, “Get this right and everyone wins.” My heart whispers, “What if you’re letting someone down?” Here’s where my “doing” and performing—my self-reliant scripts—leave me restless.
I have to pause, admit I’m circling, and let myself CHEW. So I slow down for a Decision CHEW™:
I confess to God: “Lord, here I go again—torn between saying yes, making the right call for my family, and worrying I might mess it up. I see the old pattern: work harder, please more, control the outcome, earn love and safety and, maybe, a little more significance. But I’m exhausted, and fear is driving me.”
I hear in the quiet: If I’m as loved as the Cross declares—if, right now, my value isn’t on the line—what becomes wise? Jesus didn’t prove Himself through perfect scheduling or people-pleasing. The Cross means I am loved, secured, and seen, even when my decisions aren’t flawless. His love for me and my family isn’t threatened by my limits or even a hard choice.
I exchange the old script—“If I choose well, I’ll finally matter, finally not let anyone down”—for the Gospel script: My worth is settled, my family is loved, I can choose with freedom, not fear. Maybe the best choice isn’t the most impressive, but the one anchored in peace and honesty. Maybe asking my wife what her heart longs for—outside of my own pressure—would be the most loving next step.
So I walk forward today with a simple move: I’ll have a heart-to-heart with my wife, not from a place of nervous over-responsibility, but quiet trust. I don’t have to impress or rescue. We can weigh it together. If we go to Maine, it will be as beloved, not as burden-bearers; if we don’t, it will be as a family safe in real love.
The head-to-heart turning point? There’s no “trophy” for the right answer—just a glimmer of relief, peace, and connection, experiencing together (not just alone) that God’s love is big enough for everyone’s needs, including mine.
Decision CHEW™ (5 Minutes) Template
Use this anytime you face a tough choice—a small fork-in-the-road or a major life decision.
1. What decision am I facing?
- Name the situation honestly. What’s at stake? What’s tugging at your heart?
2. If I’m as loved as the Cross proves, what’s the wisest choice?
- Let Gospel truth and God’s love speak louder than fear, pride, or pressure.
3. What step honors that love?
- Take (or name) a small step that reflects security—not striving. Choose, decline, or wait “from” love—not for it.
How this template helps:
Most of us make decisions from pressure, not peace. The Decision CHEW™ lets you pause, bring the ache and the driver (like Significance or control) into the open, and put the Gospel—God’s unwavering love—at the center of your process. Instead of being driven by fear or people-pleasing, you move toward a choice that honors God’s love for you and others. It’s less about getting it “right,” more about learning to trust, rest, and act as one who is already beloved.
CHEW On This™:
What if your next big (or small) decision wasn’t about proving your worth or rescuing anyone, but simply trusting that you’re already as loved as the Cross declares? How would that change your answer—or free your heart?
Community Invitation:
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Learn how to make CHEWing a daily rhythm in CHEW Groups and beyond at https://1stprinciplegroup.com/chew-on-this/
Chew on God’s Love. Live Transformed. Multiply Hope.
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