Choices for a Changed Life

In Genesis 1:26, God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness.” I don’t believe our creation in the image of God has anything to do with our physical features. Instead, one of the characteristics of being created in God’s image is that we have the power of choice.

The Lord didn’t create us to be like robots or like puppets on a string. We’re not designed to worship or draw near to Him because He pulls some kind of cosmic string that makes us do so. It’s a matter of our choice.

The freedom to choose is a precious gift. Throughout our life, God sets choices before us. Although He gladly reveals His will, we have the power to make our own decisions.

Not a Forced Love Affair

This means that if we love God, worship Him, praise Him, seek Him, and take time to be in His presence, it’s because we’ve chosen to—not because there’s some kind of mystical, unseen hand that has forced our compliance.

After all, no one wants a forced love affair.

Because God created you with the ability to seek Him, you can have as close of a relationship with Him as you would like. Every day, you can experience as much of His presence as you want.

So ask yourself today, how intimate of a relationship with God would you like to have? The choice is yours. You can experience as much or as little of God as you choose.

Do you want to just know about the Lord? Are you content to just be His casual acquaintance? Or are you intent on drawing near to Him, discovering a place of true friendship and intimacy

Investing Your Time

Your Heavenly Father longs for an intimate relationship with you. But intimate relationships take time. You can’t possibly have an intimate relationship with someone you only see or talk to once a year, once a month, or even once a week. Relationships develop as a result of deliberately choosing to spend time together.

Every day, you face a choice about your relationship with your Heavenly Father. What kind of a relationship do you want with Him? Do you hunger for ever-deepening intimacy with Him?

Today, I pray you will make a commitment to spend daily time with the Lord. Time in His Word…time in prayer…time in worship…time alone with Him. He will nourish you on “daily bread” as you bask in His presence.

Your New Beginning

Some breakthroughs in your life can happen instantaneously, but more often they take time and require a process.

However, in almost every case, there is a turnaround point before the breakthrough comes. Before God can give us the new beginning we seek, He first brings us to a place of new commitment.

This is exactly what the Lord told the Israelites. He said He wanted to give them supernatural abundance, yet they had a DECISION to make:

I have set before you today  life and prosperity, and death and adversity…that the Lord your God may bless you in the land where you are entering to possess it…So choose life…by obeying His voice, and by holding fast to Him; for this is your life and the length of your days (Deuteronomy 30:15-20).

Do you see how powerful this statement is? God declares His great desire to bless His people. He wanted to bring them into a good land of peace and prosperity. But in order for that wonderful plan to unfold, they needed to make a decision to draw near and obey Him.

If you’re going through a difficult “winter season” in your life right now, this can be the day your turnaround begins. Your springtime can seem far away, but it’s actually just around the corner. And the more difficult your winter season has been, the deeper your roots have grown, and the greater your fruitfulness can be in the months ahead!

I am praying for a breakthrough in your life—a new beginning filled with renewed joy…peace…and victory in Christ. As you await your turnaround, continue trusting in Him. Continue crying out to Him. Continue believing Him when He promises to work ALL things together for your good (Romans 8:28).

God is saying to you today: “Forget the past. Forget the failures. Forget the mistakes. Just come and walk closely with Me, and I will help you walk in triumph and abundance.” How can you resist a loving God like that?

Resolve this year that you will build a stronger foundation, built on Christ’s love and faithfulness. Then when storms hit, you will not collapse but will stand firm in the knowledge, safety, and protection of your Lord and Savior.

Friend, I believe you are at the crossroads. God is setting before you a life of incredible blessing, abundance, and impact. But the choice is yours.

God bless you!