A Choice Moment

As I sit and reflect over my young life, I wonder how it is that we so effortlessly get things wrong, and so arduously get them right.  Or, is that just me?  I've made countless mistakes in the mere 31 years I've been alive, and will make plenty more in the years to come, but I wonder what would happen if we stopped and stood still in each of our moments, just long enough to recognize that in everything, we're given a choice.  I was faced earlier with a moment where I did just that.  After asking God for His help during a four day time of need, I finally felt the strong Hand of both love and conviction reach down inside of me and halt me where I stood.  I suddenly remembered that what I was in wasn't just a moment; it was a choice, and what I chose would either draw me closer to Him or pull me further away.  I chose Him.

We rarely stop to think about the choices we make the moment we're faced with making them, yet a foundational truth about the outcome of our choices is this - in each one, we're either drawn closer to God or pulled further away.  Before I made a commitment to serve the Lord, I scarcely gave Him a thought.  In fact, on even my best days I rarely gave thought to anyone but myself.  It seems selfishness is the preferred method of operation for most people, myself included, but I'm learning that to choose God, I have to completely deny myself - quite the hard pill to swallow when selfishness is but all I've known.  I have a dear friend who once told me she wished she could "flip the switch" to suddenly believe in God, thus denying her claims to Atheism.  Interestingly, I've had days when I wished I could also flip a switch, but for the reversal of hers.  It saddens and pains me to even acknowledge that I've felt that at times, but the truth remains - the life lived out for God is far from easy; on the contrary, I've never lived a more challenging life.

The difference is, I have the beautiful gift of eternal life with my maker, but isn't it interesting that even that came down to a matter of personal choice? I chose this life and I chose to believe in Him, His Son, and the gift of the cross. As an extension of that, I chose to live a life of servitude to Him, and although I often get it wrong, the few times I get it right bring a joy and peace that can't even compare to what I knew before I "flipped the switch" of choosing to know Him.  Even flipping the switch was a choice. Though my most recent posts have reflected an internal turmoil and struggle, I wouldn't have my life any other way.  God always gets me through what I can't get through on my own.  Growing with and in Him is the most amazing process I've ever experienced, but I would be lying if I said it didn't have its dark days.  It's part of the journey, and at the end of the day, as long as I know I chose Him, I'll always be okay.

Live your life in a constant state of awareness over the choices you make.  Every choice, no matter how small, takes you in a direction either towards God or away from Him.  Learn to see each of your daily moments as a choice, but don't ever hold on to regrets when you choose the wrong thing.  Simply choose what's right in the next moment. Be made better by your choices, both the good and the bad, and know that only with God is this possible (Matthew 19:26).  Examine your crossroads and choose wisely. Only one path leads to God.

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.  Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.  James 1:2-4    



 Top photo taken from http://www.pravsworld.com/content/inspiration/270/life-is-about-choices

Bottom Photo from http://blog.self-improvement-saga.com/2010/10/inspirational-words-choices/