Choices

Over the last few years, I have begun to realize the volume and gravity of our choices.  I always knew we had millions of choices each day.  Many could be grouped into these catagories: insignificant or important.  I never fully grasped until recently how many other choices we have that significantly impact our lives in ways we don't realize.


For instance, we all know that choosing a career or who to marry will impact our lives forever.  Whereas, choosing what shirt to wear would be insignificant to our greater good.  However, I'm not talking about those types of choices.  I'm talking about the types of choices we don't even realize exist.  How many times have you thought you had a choice in how to react to a situation or how to feel?  I always assumed that those responses were just a natural part of life, like breathing.  You couldn't just respond a certain way, because that is not part of your personality or how you were raised, etc.  However, God has been moving in our midst in a way that has made me aware of just how much my responses are controlled by those choices I don't know are there.


Fear is a natural response when facing something uncertain.  Anger is a natural response when facing something frustrating or insulting.  Sorrow is a natural response to a loss.  I have to wonder, just because they may be natural responses, are they right...just...or even righteous?  Once again, when faced with life's questions, I look to the bible for whatever wisdom I can glean.  


I have begun to realize that even though these responses may be in our human nature, we are not destined or doomed to continue them.  I propose that you have a choice by which you can make to determine your response.  If you are gripped with fear, you choose faith instead.  If you are gripped with anger, choose forgiveness instead.  If you are gripped with sorrow, choose joy.  How you might ask...by meditating on God's word until it becomes an attitude in your life.  

For as long as I can remember, I thought my anger was a natural response that I could not control.  Since having children, I have realized that it is actually just a huge temper tantrum.  It is the inability to control my emotions for whatever reason.  If it is not acceptable for my children to shout, hit, kick, and scream when they don't get their way, then why would it be OK for me, the mom, to do it?  


As we have tried to teach our girls how to control themselves and act appropriately, we ourselves have had to do the same.  We are no longer allowing ourselves the selfish indulgence of emotional outbursts, but choosing to restrain ourselves in a dignified manner.  This is not an easy task...AT ALL!  However, we have found that meditating on scripture and allowing it to flow within our minds freely has changed how we think and respond.


Colossians 4:6, "Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone."  When we face those times when our mouths want to convey "what we're really thinking," we take a breath and remember that our example is more important than a momentary "win."   The lasting impact of how we behave in front of our girls, is more important than any momentary release of emotion.  The value of watching our girls grow up in the training and instruction of the Lord (Eph 6:4) is much more rewarding.



As we have faced fear in this time of wandering when and how God will provide for our family during Dave's unemployment and our 3rd child's impending birth, we have had to stop and think on Phil. 4:8, "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things."  Fear and worry are not noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent or praiseworthy things.  If God's word commands us to "think about such things," then we must choose to fill our thoughts on the things that meet these criteria.   When Dave and I find ourselves dwelling on fears or worries, we stop ourselves and replace those thoughts with praiseworthy things: God's promises, God's blessings, and/or God's provision.  What an amazing difference that can make with just a little practice!

James tells us in James 1:3-4, "because the testing of your faith develops perseverance.  Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."  Perseverance is like exercising the use of faith.  Just as our bodies cannot compete unless we exercise them in practice, neither can our faith be successful unless we practice perseverance.  Dave and I are far from perfect!  However, we can say that practicing perseverance by exercising our faith by our choice to believe in God's promises has made life much less stressful, much more enjoyable, and amazingly worth while. 


What kind of choice are you going to make today?