“Choices”

I have chosen to be faithful; I have determined to live by your regulations.

Psalm 119:30 NLT

What choices and decisions are in front of you today, Sister?

Realizing that this is a loaded question, I only share with you because my spiritual eyes and ears have seen and heard from so many who express a heaviness of heart and a wearisome soul ~~ to you, Girlfriend, wherever you are in your Journey, no matter the intensity of your situation, God knows and sees your pain and anguish. And He is there with you and for you.

Over the years, having experienced the consequences of bad choices on my part I can only say that I wish that I could go back in time to undo those bad choices and decisions ~~ to spare myself from the pain that ensued afterwards.

Don’t we all?

But as time and life experiences reveal, that our Merciful Lord makes all things work together for our good …

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

Romans 8:28 NLT.

So even while we consciously make those bad choices, since God has already been down our Journey, knowing that we would do such, He makes a way for us to still “recover” (for lack of a better word). For me, that is beyond comprehension.

I truly believe that in all the life experiences of poor decision-making, God’s Love transcends and permeates where you and I cannot even begin to imagine. Seriously think about this: if left to our own selves, we would have simply met our doom a long time ago.

But God (savour those two words) …

In His Love and Mercy, has a Plan that includes us (yes, ALL of us, Girlfriend). And so while we even “blow it big time,” He sees fit to redeem us from ourselves ~~ and those bad choices.

So what are we to do? What’s the remedy for moving forward to lessen the occurrence of poor choices? (You know you will always need that “eraser,” so perfection and error-free are not part of the vocabulary here.)

Let’s take a look at more of the Scripture passage …

I lie in the dust; revive me by your word. I told you my plans, and you answered. Now teach me your decrees. Help me understand the meaning of your commandments, and I will meditate on your wonderful deeds. I weep with sorrow; encourage me by your word. Keep me from lying to myself; give me the privilege of knowing your instructions. I have chosen to be faithful; I have determined to live by your regulations. I cling to your laws. Lord, don’t let me be put to shame! I will pursue your commands, for you expand my understanding. Teach me your decrees, O Lord; I will keep them to the end. Give me understanding and I will obey your instructions; I will put them into practice with all my heart. Make me walk along the path of your commands, for that is where my happiness is found. Give me an eagerness for your laws rather than a love for money! Turn my eyes from worthless things, and give me life through your word. Reassure me of your promise, made to those who fear you. Help me abandon my shameful ways; for your regulations are good. I long to obey your commandments! Renew my life with your goodness.

Psalm 119:25-40 NLT

Commitment to be Disciplined by His Word.

There’s effort on my part to be taught by The Living God ~~ His Word breathes life into my soul and will keep me safe from myself (and my bad choices in life).

I have to commit to following through on what God’s Word says for me to do ~~ obedience is the key that unlocks the door to understanding His Perfect Will for my life.

Have you had enough ~~ enough pain, sorrow, anguish ~~ from bad choices? The opportunity for decisions will never go away ~~ not while we’re on this side of Paradise. But while we are privileged to see the awesome workings of God in our life, being proactive by deciding to live according to His Precepts will spare us from the fallout of bad choices.

Maybe we need to remember the Goodness of God more often ~~ to trigger how many times He’s (seemingly) fixed our ugly situations. I know that I come up red-faced when I even begin to consider the things I’ve chosen to do in the recent past (starting with yesterday) ~~ much less the far past (like last month); so I won’t even mention year’s ago!

Heaven help me ~~ I only hope that the humans within close proximity of observation have granted me a place in their “memory lapse.” And I won’t even go into the direct impact onto others in my realm ~~ hands over eyes! Can anyone relate?

The Psalmist seems to resonate my groaning ~~ he verbalizes the cry of my heart to do right by God and for God. And that’s where it begins, Girlfriend, in our ♥️.

Are you ready to commit to better choices by committing to the disciplines of God’s Word?

Let’s take up the Blessed opportunity to live life according to His Commands through our choice to being obedient, and I’m persuaded that He will not disappoint.

Allow me to close with a favorite phrase that my dear friend, Jo, always shares with me when I’m down: “Trust God to do ‘it’ (whatever it may be at the time), and He will blow your mind!“

And she’s so right!

I love you to Heaven and Back, Girlfriend ~~

LindaRJohnson

T2T Visionary