Choice. A simple enough concept in life really. You can decide to do or not do something (that is the question ;)). It can be liberating and confusing all in one moment. You’ve heard the saying, “You are free to choose but you are not free from the consequences of your choice”?
That’s where we land today.
I was thinking of some not great choices I have made in the past and this saying just hit me in a new way. Maybe for the first time, I was truly understanding it in the way the speaker initially intended it to be understood. Honestly, I have no idea who to give credit to for this particular nugget of wisdom but I do know who allows for the understanding of it.
You see I have been on a journey, some of which you will read about here, some of it is just for me and God. This journey has forced me to look at my choices and not only how they have impacted me but also impacted those around me. For a time I made choices based on what I felt was the best choice for me at the time. I didn’t give much thought to who would like this choice or agree with me. I didn’t think about how a particular choice would feel a year down the road. I also thought I was protecting myself by making certain choices.
Here’s what struck me differently on the particular day I mentioned above- making choices involves the risk to be vulnerable. Let me explain.
I am not good at taking risks ESPECIALLY emotional risk. I try to protect myself by always erroring on the side of caution or by pulling back completely and making a choice that jeopardizes what I’m afraid of taking a risk on. Obviously, this has typically applied to romantic relationships but it has applied to how I’ve risked in my career as well. Hey, it’s also applied to how I’ve interacted in friendships or other social gatherings. That is what hit me differently on the day in question.
I’ve been playing it too safe and made choices based out of fear.
Here’s the other side of that saying- I’m paying for the “safety” of my choices by living with an unfulfilling career, broken relationships, cheating, loneliness, low self-esteem/worth, etc. It’s not fun. It’s not what God intended for my life. It’s not what God says about me. He doesn’t intend it for your life either.
So here I am with this Truth bomb and it’s crazy. I’m learning what comes from the Holy Spirit and God and embracing that Truth. I have criteria now for my thoughts and my choices to evaluate against what God says is the fruit of the Spirit and what is from the enemy.
You see the enemy wants us to keep playing small. Keep making the decisions that will keep us in the dark and keep us doubting God’s love for us. He tells us lies that sound like our own voice and we buy into it hook, line and sinker. If the enemy can keep us out of the ring long enough, he thinks he will win the battle.
Friend- DON’T BUY INTO IT!
God tells us not to fear and to not trust our feelings because they are fleeting. He tells us to TRUST in HIM and believe He is working everything out for our good. God tells us the fruit of the Spirit is joy, love, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, forgiveness, gentleness and self-control. (Gal 5:22-23 NIV)
If what you are thinking does not fall into one of those categories, then it’s the enemy trying to distract you. God warns us to renew our minds and to think about His law. God has a purpose for your life to grow His Kingdom. Embrace it and enjoy it!
Spend some time meditating on the following verses for God’s word on renewing your mind.
Isaiah 26:3-4 “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast because they trust in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord himself is the Rock eternal.” (NIV)
Romans 8:6-7 “The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so.” (NIV)
Romans 12:2 “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (NIV)
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