Deuteronomy 30:19

¹⁹ I call heaven and earth to witness this day against you that I have set before you life and death, the blessings and the curses; therefore choose life, that you and your descendants may live.

Choose life

Every day we have a choice. In fact it is moment by moment, hour by hour we choose which path to take in our thinking, our speaking and our actions. Since meditating on the scripture this week I found I had countless choices each day to choose life. When someone said something critical, spoken without thought, I had a very rapid choice to make. I could choose life and forgiveness and forgetfulness or I could allow myself to become offended and judge them. It had to be a fast and furious choice! If I did not choose life I could, for that moment, have been caught in the trap of the enemy.

When I had dinner with new neighbors and met a very negative woman who was also outspoken I knew I had to make a quick choice. I could get swept into the negativity and wish I was back home or I could choose to only speak life and change the atmosphere. Of course you know what happened, life always wins over death. By the end of the evening she got on the life boat and wanted to plan golf with me ! We all had a wonderful evening as the atmosphere changed dramatically.

Choose Joy

There are times when we must also choose joy. There are so many little things that can steal our joy. This weekend I really wanted to invite my dear friends over for dinner. However, I had just had a really wonderful but exhausting weekend. Jam was made, golf played, dinners served. But my friends would only be here Sunday night so I cleaned when my weekend guests left and set to work with a joyful heart. The only problem was when I started cooking things did not go well. My gluten free cupcakes were horrible and ended up in the trash. Then while whipping my cauliflower in the Vitamix, in my fatigue, I hit the wrong button and it exploded all over me and all over my kitchen. OK, for a moment I did not choose joy…but I did catch myself and realized I was allowing circumstances to steal my joy. I know enough by now that the quickest remedy when our joy begins to vanish is to start a quick grateful list. So in my mind I just cleaned up and thanked God for the guests who just left, and those who were coming. I choose life and gratitude for the ability to offer my home to those I love, even when everything was not perfect. I chose love and joy over fatigue and frustration. The dinner was not perfect but the company was and we had a great time.

Exploding cauliflower caused frustration but much greater trials produce pain. We cannot avoid either pain or frustration, but we can choose how we will react to each.

James 1:2-3

² Consider it wholly joyful, my brethren, whenever you are enveloped in or encounter trials of any sort or fall into various temptations.

³ Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience.

How we react to a trail demonstrates where our faith is. If we find it lacking rather than berate ourselves we simply need to turn to Jesus.

Hebrews 12:2

Looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus, Who is the Leader and the Source of our faith [giving the first incentive for our belief] and is also its Finisher [bringing it to maturity and perfection]. He, for the joy [of obtaining the prize] that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising and ignoring the shame, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Everyday there are things that distract us from Jesus. Our job is simply to turn away from the distraction, the frustration or the pain, to Jesus. In the case of pain we choose to bring it before the Lord for healing but not allow it to swallow us up.  He is our example. He knew what was on the other side of the cross. He saw beyond the shame and what others thought of him to the truth of what He was doing and what lay ahead.

We are able to share this perspective because we know who we are and who God is. He is good, all the time. He loves us and is always faithful. We are in covenant with him and all of his promises are yes and Amen.

However, we have to choose faith and not fear.

Choose Faith

Romans 12:17

¹⁷ So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

When we know what the word of God says we become filled with courage. That courage enables us to stretch upwards, trusting God for the impossible.

Knowing that we can boldly come into the throne room and that Jesus is our intercessor motivates us to take our heaviest burdens to Him in prayer.

Fear can paralyze us but faith is energizing when we put God’s word into action. The more we step out in faith and watch Him be true to His promises the further fear will ebb into the background.

By choosing the Word of God, we choose faith over fear. We choose to believe His word over the lies of the enemy.

This week I am pitching 3 very exciting searches. Just a few years ago I would have been begging God for His provision. But I found myself just resting this week. God has proved himself faithful so many times I know this time will be the same. I prayed of course but this time my prayer for was the work He chose for me, the work He would complete. I realized I had simply chosen to trust Him, I was choosing faith over fear. The result was joy and peace!

Lets take one more look at our first verse:

Deuteronomy 30:19

¹⁹ I call heaven and earth to witness this day against you that I have set before you life and death, the blessings and the curses; therefore choose life, that you and your descendants may live.

I believe that as we choose life, speak life, choose joy and faith not only will we enjoy the abundant life that Jesus promises us but our children will as well. We are a constant role model to them of the faithfulness of God. They are always watching and listening and modeling…Our opportunity to choose life and share it is boundless.