Choose your future

Do you know that you can change your life and that God will help you do it? Today, we will focus on the next step in the process of life transformation: choices. Remember that you interpret everything you experience, hear, see, and feel. Interpretation leads to feelings and feelings to options. From this list of options, choices must be made. 

Here’s a massive warning: if your interpretation is wrong, your feelings will be wrong, and your options will emerge from your feelings. Can you imagine the limited set of options that will emerge from your messed-up feelings?

Eventually, we will need to make choices to move forward in our lives, businesses, and families. If your options are limited, you may make the wrong decision and invest time and energy in the wrong direction. Yikes! Choices are important. That’s why the Bible consistently challenges you and me to choose correctly. 

Moses challenged the Israelites to choose life: “‘This day I call the heavens and the 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…’” (Deuteronomy 30:19-20, NIV).

Joshua followed Moses’ lead at a crossroads in the life of his nation: “‘…then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.’” (Joshua 24:15, NIV)

David also realized that his future was in the power of choices: “I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I have set my heart on Your laws.” (Psalms 119:30, NIV)

I’m afraid to admit that I’ve made many bad decisions. I’ve suffered because of it, and I’ve hurt others. I have even made choices that hindered my relationship with God. Ouch! “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” (Ephesians 4:30, NIV) But I have good news. Even though you and I may have failed ten thousand times, God has made a few important choices that are good for you to remember: 

1. He chose you: “‘You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in My name the Father will give you.’” (John 15:16, NIV)  
2. He chooses to be generous with you: “…Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom He promised those who love Him?” (James 2:5, NIV)
3. He chooses to forgive all of your mistakes and bad choices: “Who is a God like You, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of His inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy.” (Micah 7:18, NIV)

Now that’s great news! God chose you because you are a miracle, and He loves you more than the great forests of the Earth.