We're created in the image of God. Part of being created in His image means we have the ability and freedom to make choices.

Our lives are full of choices. There are seemingly minor choices, like " Should I hit the snooze alarm one more time? (I confess I hit it three times this morning) or "What should I make for dinner?". There are huge "Who should I marry?" or "What do I want to do with my life?". There are many choices which are somewhere in between.

God didn't create His people to be mindless robots. He created us with the ability to choose. We can choose to accept Him or reject Him. We can choose to love or to hate. We can choose to forgive or remain bitter.

Choices of course carry consequences. If there isn't really any consequence (positive or negative) to the choice it isn't a true choice. My choice to hit the snooze three times this morning meant I got a few extra minutes of sleep, but it also meant that my day started later and I felt a little behind the gun in terms of time pressure. And so it goes with all choices.

Some choices are better than others. Some choices bring contentment and joy and others bring hurt and anger. We can't always choose what life throws at us, but we can choose how we respond.

As Genni the wonder dog and I walked around the lake yesterday, soaking up the sunshine and listening to the songs of the geese and ducks who are arriving in droves, I meditated on a piece of Old Testament Scripture that deals with choices.

This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the LORD is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Deuteronomy 30:19-20

As I walked I took a few minutes and recommitted some choices I had already made to the Lord. I prayed a prayer along the lines of:

Father

I commit my life to you and your purposes. My desire is to be in the center of your will. Forgive me for the times I have stepped out of that center in search of my own desires or comfort.

Where there is hurt in my heart, I choose to forgive.

Where there is pride, I choose humility.

Where I have uttered curses with my thoughts or words, I renounce those curses and in their place I ask seven fold blessings.

Where my heart is hard, I ask you to break it and soften it.

Where my eyes see through the lenses of the world, I ask you change the lenses to be yours.

Where I have chosen paths that are not pleasing to you, I ask your forgiveness and that you place me back on the right path.

Lord, I choose you and your desires.

Amen

It's ironic in many ways that we have the choice of saying no to the Lord of the universe. No Lord is an oxymoron. If we say no, He must not be Lord.

What choices are you facing in your life? Will you choose the ones that are pleasing to Him? Is He really Lord of all your life?

Until next time, may all your choices be for Him.

Be blessed.

Hallelu Yah (Praise God)!

Kevin

http://gleaningsfromtheword.com/

Once you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, you are cared for.

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
1 Peter 5:7 NIV

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