Week 2 Day 5

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On Making the Right Decisions

His delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

Psalm 1:2

I love in solitude to shed

The penitential tear;

And all his promises to plead,

When none but God is near.

I love to think on mercies past,

And future good implore;

And all my cares and sorrows cast

On him whom I adore.

Sometimes it’s hard to make the right decision, especially if it might not be the popular decision in the eyes of other people. President Lincoln, however, made decisions based on what was right and what he knew to be true. In August 1864 he called for five hundred thousand more soldiers. The Union was depressed as the Confederates had, with a comparatively small force, almost beaten them. With election time nearing, many thought another call for men would injure, if not destroy, Lincoln’s chances for reelection. A friend warned him, and Lincoln replied, “As to my reelection, it matters not. We must have the men. If I go down, I intend to go, like the Cumberland, with my colors flying!” If Lincoln had based his decision only on what other people might think, he would have lost both his reelection campaign and the war. Instead, he won both.