My word is "CHOOSE"
by Shera Wilcox
(A Guest Author from Denver, Colorado;
We will feature other authors often)
Psalm 119:30
“I have chosen the faithful way;
I have placed Your ordinances before me.”
Psalm 119:173
“Let Your hand be
ready to help me,
For I have chosen
Your precepts."
"Attitude is a choice. Happiness is a choice. Optimism is a choice. Kindness is a choice. Giving is a choice. Respect is a choice. Whatever choice you make makes you. Choose wisely." --Roy T. Bennett
Have you ever thought what an amazing power we have represented by the 2 words “I CHOOSE?" From man’s earliest history in the Garden of Eden, our ability to choose was present, and seemingly, for a while at least, pretty easy. Then slithers in temptation, forcing a choice that hopefully we are prepared for.
Joshua 24:15 "But if it is disagreeable in your sight to
serve the Lord, choose for yourselves today whom
you will serve...but as for me…
[I] will serve the Lord.”
Being prepared to make a choice. Interesting thought. Instead of flying through life by the seat of our pants, we need to think about the hard things and the easy ones, so that we are prepared to make choices that make us better people. God's people. Prepare early to…say NO to drugs. To say YES to good. To say NO to the slithering serpent's suggestions. To say YES to God.
“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12:21) Though the word choice is not there, saying YES to good is making a choice!
So this year, 2021, on the heels of all the difficulties of last year, I choose to choose.
I choose God. I choose joy. I choose to have good days.
I choose to work at living. I choose to be present.
I choose God's Word as the ultimate truth. I choose to work to know it better.
Luke 10:38-42
“…Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to
His teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to Him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”
I choose the good portion.
I also choose to respect the offices of government, and I choose God’s will over that.
I choose personal respect and love for people, regardless of differences.
I choose to strive to get and stay healthy, and to protect my health to the best of my ability.
Deuteronomy 30:19
“I call heaven and earth to
witness against you today,
that I have set before you
life and death, the blessing
and the curse. So choose
life in order that you
may live…"
Every decision is a choice. From what we get on our pizza, to Whom we're going to entrust our souls. Will we listen to the Dark Side, or stay in the Light?
Daniel 3:18
“If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”
And should we come face-to-face with a demand to deny our God, we may have to make the hardest choice we'll ever know. If we have already decided what that response will be, we won't be shaken when it comes at us.
Even, and maybe especially, when we find our lives are not turning out as we thought/planned/expected, our ability to make a biblically-trained-conscience choice results not only in inner peace, but also peace with our Designer and Savior.
“Whom have I in heaven but You?
And besides You, I desire nothing on earth.
My flesh and my heart may fail,
But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever
Psalm 73:25, 26
_________________________________
