Choices

Have you ever thought about how almost everything that happens in your life was a choice? You choose your clothes, you choose to wear your hair a certain way (not a choice for me!) You can choose a school, a course of study, a mate, a type of car, your friends, your church, the list is never ending. I read once that you can choose to be sick, or, healthy! What!! Some people will actually choose a cat over a dog? Crazy! Ha! The other day, while driving to DIA, I chose not to listen to Siri’s advice and take another route instead of my favorite I-70. Doing it “my way,” I ran into construction that cost me a 30 minute delay in picking up my friend.

During my time working with Fire/Rescue, I witnessed many people making some very bizarre choices. Those choices were usually made worse by drugs or alcohol. Many times, these choices proved to be life changing or even lethal. Choices that would hurt or take the life of someone else were always difficult to understand.  

When we really get ourselves in a jam, is when we decide that our way is better than God’s way. Just ask Jonah, (Jonah 1:1-17) God asked Jonah to go to Nineveh. Jonah wanted no part of that, so he decided to flee to Tarshish to “get away from the presence of the Lord” (like that’s going to work). As I’m sure you remember, Jonah ended up as fish food until God had the “great fish” puke him up. (gross)

We all want to be in charge of our own lives. We all seem to think that we know what is best for us. We don’t want God, or anyone else for that matter, telling us what to do.  How wonderful and peaceful would life be if everyone would follow God’s will or commands.  What is it about the Ten Commandments that people struggle with? I wonder which one of the ten don’t they agree with? Proverbs 12:15 tells us, “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice.”  We need to “trust in the Lord with all our hearts and not lean on our own understanding”. Prov. 3:5.

Listen to Him, trust in Him, remember Psalm 32:8;  “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go. I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.”  Make God a part of all the important choices that you make. Sometimes it may not feel right, (similar to my experience with Siri), but rest assured, if the voice is telling you something contrary to the Word of God, contrary to His will, it’s not from God.  

Like a bumper sticker said, “CHOOSE GOD”  what great advise!!

Blessings to you,

Kent patton, Operations Manager