I eat *that* food knowing it's not going to provide the nutrients I need, but instead drag me down physically and emotionally (and tip the scale in the wrong direction.)
I let *that* excuse keep me from getting up and moving and using exercise to improve my health.
I let *that* person's comment penetrate deeper than I know it should.
I let *that* person's attitude sour mine.
I let *that* person's lack of response shake my self worth.
I let *that* person's compliment wrongly inflate my pride.
I let *that* social media infection into my heart and rob me of my own joy and peace about my choices.
I let *that* pinterest infection interfere with my contentment.
I let *that* parenting issue shake my confidence.
I let *that* marriage issue drag up trust issues or resolved issues.
I let....
I let...
I let.....
It is a choice.
I let *that* insecurity cause me to not walk in obedience to something He has asked of me.
I let *that* slow to resolve situation rock my faith that God is in control.
I let....
I've made a choice.
I have the freedom to choose. I make the choice of how I use my time. Wasting it on things that are trivial and rob time from other things is my choice. The food I put in my mouth is my choice. The way I react to situations is my choice. I may not can control situations that happen in life, but I choose how I respond. I have the choice to grow or stay the same, or even backtrack. I have the choice to embrace joy or embody resentment.
I have the choice to drink alcohol or not.
I have the choice to watch movies that include immorality, inappropriate language, nudity, violence, etc...or to watch only things that are free from the previous list.
I have the choice to read a variety of countless books.
I have the choice to dress modestly or immodestly.
I have the choice to listen to song lyrics that are worldly or those that uplift the name of Christ.
I have the choice to put my priorities in proper order or not.
I have the choice to walk in forgiveness or bitterness.
I have the choice to reject His leading in my life or accept it.
I have the choice to respond to my children with grace and patience or anger and frustration.
I have the choice to encourage. lift up, and respect my husband or to cause division.
I have the choice to spend money selfishly or give generously.
I have the choice to listen to the truth of Christ or the lies of satan.
Oh, how the list can go on and on.
I have a choice.
1 Corinthians 10:23 is a vital verse in my life and in my spiritual growth.
"I have the right to do anything," you say--but not everything is beneficial. "I have the right to do anything," you say---but not everything is constructive.
Yes, I can do most anything....but....
Is it beneficial?
Is it constructive?
I am free to make a choice, but I'm not free from the consequences of those choices.
Is that choice I make going to benefit and contribute to my growth or destruction? Is it going to draw me to Christ or is it going to cause me to be distracted or drawn from Him? Is it going to build up or break down?
Taking that verse a step deeper in study, I looked it up in different versions (mine is quoted from NIV) to see what other ways it was presented.
Words such as permissible, lawful, legal are used to describe the "freedom" of choice. Not much of significance in those words beyond my initial reading in NIV. All in all, they bring freedom. They say "go for it". Life your life.
However, the other words are the ones that remarkable change the way I look at the choices I make. Other versions say not everything is:
- good for you
- helpful
- builds up
- profitable
- edifies
- expedient
- advantageous
- encourages growth
- builds others up
Those words change everything.
Verse 24 goes on to say:
"No one should seek their own good, but the good of others."
Backing up to chapter 6:12, it says the same basic thing, that "I have the right to do anything", but I will not be mastered by anything.
Do the choices I make lead to addictions of any kind? on any unhealthy level?
Addictions don't have to be illegal to be wrong and not beneficial! Addictions can be in countless forms.
It all comes down to this:
Today, I will make COUNTLESS choices. Those choices are either going to build someone up or bring someone down. It may happen slowly or quickly. That person may be me. That person may be my child, a friend, my husband, or a stranger. But one way or another, my choices either build or destroy.
My choices are either going to bring me better health or take away from it. Not necessarily 100% talking only about physical health.
My choices today will bring me closer to Christ and allow me to hear and see Him more clearly. Or my choices will cloud my vision and distract.
My choices today will either allow Christ to radiate from me---or not.
My choices matter.
Each day brings about many failures in making the best choices. I may have failed in my own weaknesses and flesh, flat out walked in sin/disobedience, or just not measured up. Thank you JESUS for grace, mercy, and forgiveness. Each day brings about countless opportunities to grow, even if by the smallest little step. Each day brings about an opportunity to start fresh and try again. Thank you Jesus, for loving me in the middle of my mess,but loving me enough to not leaving me there.
My choice is to follow hard after Him. Even when I fail. Even when it's hard. Even when it doesn't feel as if it's making a difference. Even when it's hard to find Him in the chaos.
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