Choices

Good morning, dear ones,

I have something on my heart to share, but I need to make this brief.

I want you to think for a moment about actions in our every day behavior. For instance, do you find when you are thirsty you go for a glass of water or do you go for soda, tea, or coffee? How about when you are hungry? Do you go for an apple or do you go for nabs or a cookie?

While we convince ourselves the little actions matter very little, actually, it is the little actions in life that tell us a lot about ourselves. We can easily say we believe God, that His way is best, that we are submitted to walking the way He would have us walk; but when we look to the small actions in life, do those actions confirm our words?

In the two questions I posed to you earlier, the core difference is who made what. The water and the apple are creations of God. The latter substances in both questions are man made. Who knows best about what we need? Obviously God does, but do our selections line up with that belief, or have we convinced ourselves that we can independently select, regardless if our selection be that of impulse or willful choice, something counter to what God has provided for us and still thrive and mature in Him?

I encourage you now to begin taking a hard look at each action you make every day, and ask yourself, "Do my actions confirm what I say I believe about God, His authority, and His wisdom; or do they ultimately confirm a belief that I can do what I want and somehow skirt the consequences?"

As hard as it may be, take the hard look today.... and tomorrow... and the next day. If our desire is truly to be perfected into His likeness, we have to lay down the "toddler I wants" and flesh impulses and begin making choices (actions made with cognitive thought), and yes, especially the smaller choices, that line up with His desire for us.

I Corinthians 4:2 says "Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful." We, as believers, are stewards of many things, from 'the mysteries of God' as stated within the text of I Corinthians 4, to our body, to our resources, to our family, to our obedience, to the Gospel, and on and on.

The definition of faithful is "steadfast following." Meditate on that for a minute.

Question: Who is the "who" your actions testify you are following? Self or God? Are you steadfast following Him, even in the least of your actions? Or do you find you ping pong back and forth between His ways and your wants?

Surely we are all going to slip and miss some times, but "choice" implies a cognitive decision, meaning real thought... not impulse... was put behind the choice before action followed. The goal is for our choices to be Godly choices. So let's commit to being diligent in thinking through our daily choices, and with the diligence of thought, let us determine to do our best to truly line our actions up with God.

Much love to each of you!
Deborah