Choices

Everyday, we are faced with choices.  Some are easy and do not require much thought.  Some are life changing.  However, there are some things that we approach with the thought that that is how we are or there is nothing I can do about it.  But even deciding not to address something is a choice. 
When we wake up in the morning, we do have to choose to get out of bed, get dressed, eat and to do things throughout the day.  But how do you start your day?  That alone could be the most important decision that you will make.  Will you approach the day with joy and hope or will you choose to face the day with the attitude that it is going to be a bad day, nothing will go right, or with no thought at all on how you will approach your day?

When life happens, and it will, what will you choose?  If you haven't already decided how you will approach your day, you will more easily be caught off guard and not respond in the best way.  I can yell and scream when something bad happens such as a car accident, or I can choose to be at peace knowing that God is with me and He is not caught off guard when it happens.  I know that with Him I can handle anything.  I may not like it and wished that it didn't happen.  I may never know why it had to happen.  Wouldn't it be nice if nothing bad ever happened?  Why didn't I get the promotion, why did I lose my job, why did I have these medical issues?  I tried to do the right thing, I tried to take care of myself and eat right, but I ended up with this problem anyway.  Do I get angry?  Do I take it out on others?  Do I have a pity party?  Why me?  But what if I take a second and remember God's promises, that He would never leave me nor forsake me; that He will never give me more than I can handle, that I can do all things (ALL things) through Christ.  I can then approach the problem with hope and faith.   It doesn't change the facts of what is happening, but it changes me.  

I think sometimes I am better at handling the drastic issues because I know I can't do it without God so I turn to Him quickly.  But what about the little irritants during the day.  A driver cuts me off, I can get upset or I can just let it go.  And if I feel I really have to do something then I can do something positive like praying that they would drive safer.   When I pray for them, I can't continue to be angry.  I notice being negative effects how I view the incidents, the actions of others, and even conversations.  

I would also like to suggest that we do choose to love.  Some may say that it is just a feeling, you either have it or you don't.  But anyone that has been in a relationship for any length of time will know that sometimes it is harder to love the other person than at other times.  They do things that irritate you.  And they can be "unlovable".  But love is not just based on feelings.  I feel like loving you today.  Oh, I don't feel like loving you anymore.  We do hear that relationships take work.  Why would it take work if it was easy?  I propose that when they are unlovable, when they have hurt you, that we need to choose to love them.  We don't give up.  If we base our love on how they act, then our love has become conditional.   And it is not just in the times that they act badly, we also judge them on whether they are acting loving to us.  If they loved me, they would do _____ (fill in the blank).  But the greatest love of all is unconditional love.  Our love should not be based on what the other person does or does not do.  And my being loved is not based on what I do.  It is because of who I am.  And this is so clearly demonstrated in that I am loved by God who knows me completely.   As God loves us, we are to love others.  And God also tells us to love our enemies as we love ourselves.  There are no exceptions as to who we are to love.  How much more blatant can it be that we have to choose to love?  Loving our enemies is not natural.  Our first inclination is to, at the very least, avoid them or to hate them back.  Truly loving them can only be done with God's love in us.  We are to choose to act in love.

So I challenge you to be aware of the choices you are making throughout your day.  I pray that you will choose to love and see God's work in your life.