Monday, April 5, 2010

The Choice is Yours

My firm belief is that we have the power to choose. In our lives, we can choose this or we can choose that. We can choose to buy a red car, or a green car, these jeans or those shorts, this career or that job.

We may not always get a choice as to what happens to us. Some things just plain suck. Like if someone runs up the back of your car when you’re driving. Or your parents get divorced. Or your boyfriend breaks up with you.

Whilst we don’t choose for these things to happen to us, we do choose how we respond to these circumstances.

We can respond with bitterness, anger and resentment, which develops into unforgiveness. We can respond with apathy, not the best way to handle life’s curveballs. We can respond with detachment and distance, sometimes a safe option but inadvertently an isolating action.

We can respond with forgiveness, maybe the hardest three syllables to outwork. We can choose to extend the hand of compassion and mercy. We can choose to not remain angry at people and instead embrace.

Nobody can tell us what to think. You choose what to spend precious mental energy on. You can choose to believe what everyone else says about you, maybe they call you loser or idiot. You can choose what you believe about yourself. You can choose to believe you are no good, worthless and a mistake.

Or you can choose to believe that you were born for such a time as this, with a purpose and destiny designed personally for you by a loving God who created you. You can choose to believe that what his word says about you is true, that you’re more than a conqueror, you’re loved beyond measure and worth more than any precious gem.

You can choose to believe that God is a good God and that he wants to bless you and prosper you, and that he actually really does care about your life.

You see, you have the power to choose. Deut 30:19 says “Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses…Oh, that you would choose life…”

So what are you gonna choose?

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