The Choice

I read something in my devotional this morning that I thought was worth sharing.  Too often we go around acting as if stuff has happened to us, and sometimes it does, but most of the time it is how we choose to react.  We can choose to live life with love or hate, joy or sorrow, peace or turmoil.  At the end it is our choices, not the circumstances, that matter.

I'm constantly amazed by the resilence of the human spirit and the awesome hand of God at work in our lives.  No matter what you are going through at this very moment I invite you to choose.

I choose love...

No occasion justifies hatred; no injustice warrants bitterness.  I choose love.  Today I will love God and what God loves.

I choose joy...

I will invite God to be the God of circumstance.  I will refuse the temptation to be cynical...the tool of the lazy thinker.  I will refuse to see people as anything less than human beings, created by God.  I will refuse to see any problem as anything less than an opportunity to see God.

I choose peace...

I will live forgiven.  I will forgive so that I may live.

I choose patience...

I will overlook the incoviencce of the world.  Instead of cursing the one who takes my place, I'll invite him to do so.  Rather than complain that the wait is too long, I will thank God for a moment to pray.  Instead of clinching my fist at new assignments, I will face them with joy and courage.

I choose kindness...

I will be kind to the poor, for they are alone.  Kind to the rich, for they are afraid.  And kind to to the unkind, for such is how God has treated me.

I choose goodness...

I will go without a dollar before I take a dishonest one.  I will be overlooked before I will boast.  I will confess before I accuse.  I choose goodness.

I choose faithfulness...

Today I will keep my promises.  My debtors will not regret their trust.  My associates will not question my word.  My wife will not question my love.  And my children will never fear that their father will not come home.

I choose gentleness...

Nothing is won by force.  I choose to be gentle.  If I raise my voice may it only be in praise.  If I clench my fist, may it only be in prayer.  If I make a demand, may it be only of myself.

I choose self-control...

I am a spiritual being.  After this body is dead, my spirit will soar.  I refuse to let what will rot, rule the eternal.  I choose self-control.  I will be drunk only by joy, I will be impassioned only by my faith.  I will be influenced only by God.  I will be taught only by Christ.  I choose self-control.

Love, joy, peace, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  To these I commit my day.  If I succeed, I will give thanks.  If I fail, I will seek His grace.  And then, when this day is done, I will place my head on my pillow and rest.