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The Power of Choice
Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life… (Deuteronomy 30:19, NLT).
God said, “I am giving you two choices.” One is a path to life and one is a path to death.
- One path brings Jesus into the situation. One path allows the enemy to work.
- One way releases light, the other is filled with darkness.
- One choice brings blessings, and the other brings curses.
Every choice we make places a door in front of us that opens an unfolding pathway.
The choices we make that are righteous, good, pure, and of God unfold for us a path of life. This path brings to us God’s blessing, anointing, His will, and His purpose. Finding God’s purpose and will in our life becomes a progressive unfolding of events, as we make choices that are pleasing to Him.
The choices we make that are wrong, disobedient to God, or against the inner voice of the Holy Spirit will bring the death process. Those choices release the demonic emissaries—spirits of darkness to work his havoc. They bring pain, devastation, suffering, and hurtful, lasting consequences.
We have the power to decide which we will have.
There are two paths; life and death.
There are two masters; Christ and Satan.
There are two forces; light and dark.
- We choose the attitude we will embrace.
- We choose to live in a Christ-like manner.
- We choose to love, reject, forgive, or harbor.
- We choose our actions, deeds, and behaviors.
- We choose what we meditate on, look at, think on, and believe in.
- We choose the direction we take, our work, and the use of our time, talent and treasure.
Let me give you 5 facets on making a choice:
1. Every choice you make develops your spirit man or your carnal man.
Decision disciplines are habit forming. Either we strengthen our sensitivity to the voice of the Holy Spirit and learn how to be led by God, or we lose sensitivity to God, strengthen the desire of the flesh, and allow the downward pull of carnality to fortify against us.
When we choose life, we give a dynamic blow to Satan and his schemes. When we choose death—those decisions not according to God’s word—we resist the work of the Holy Spirit and unleash darkness.
Don’t forget the devil has a powerful, alluring, enticing plan for your life. It looks good. It looks fun. But it leads to destruction.
2. Not making a choice is still choosing.
Apathy and procrastination are killers. Imagine being on a football team and the quarterback can’t decide on a play. The whistle blows and the defense is coming to tackle you, you will get hurt.
You better be prepared to make a choice. The apostle Peter writes:
But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer (1 Peter 3:15).
When you set apart Christ as Lord, it will be easier to make the right choices. “God, what do you want?” Choosing is a part of life and we must learn how to make good decisions. The “sweep it under the rug and it will go away” philosophy will only hurt you. Waiting on God is important, but living in “do-nothing denial” is dangerous.
The writers of Proverbs declares, “A little extra sleep, a little more slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, then poverty will pounce on you like a bandit; scarcity will attack you like an armed robber” (Prov. 24:33-34, NLT).
To overcome procrastination:
- Remove fear from the equation – faith is required to please God (Hebrews 11:6).
- Recite your vision – What has God called me to? What am I passionate about? Does it align with where am I headed?
- Remember to check with God’s word. Does this decision line up with Scripture? Is it permissible?
- Rely on deadlines to stay motivated. Due dates are your friends.
3. Choosing is easier when you live a life connected by prayer and communion.
You can’t always deliberate over every choice you make. Some decisions are made in an instant. Some are made without any thought given to them. But when you live a life that is in communion with God, you will be in tune with His Spirit. He will protect you from making a wrong choice by the checking of his Holy Spirit. If you don’t know which way to go, or you have made a wrong choice, the Holy Spirit will lead into all truth (John 16:13).
4.The choices we make today determine our tomorrow.
Every choice has consequences. Some good, some bad. Every choice we make effects our today and our tomorrow and those around us, even your children.
Our choice either opens up doors with more options to us, or they close doors and limit our options. The sad news is that most of us have not thought out the consequences of our choices well enough.
Have your parents ever said to you, “What were you thinking!” Maybe you weren’t thinking. Or perhaps you thought “it won’t happen to me.” But we need to stop thinking that “it couldn’t happen to me” because sometimes it does. Some consequences can never be undone. They can all be forgiven, and they can all be redeemed – or made into something beautiful. But they cannot all be undone.
5. It’s never too late to choose life.
If you’re on a wrong path right now because of a bad choice, stop where you are and choose to make a right choice. Only repentance can get you onto the right path. The very word “repent” means “a change of mind, turning and going the other way.”
God will get you going again on the right path. You may even avoid, by his grace, some consequence that is waiting just around the bend for you. If you don’t change your mind, thus changing your course, you may encounter a painful event that will forever effect your life.
So where are you today? Are you ready to choose life? If so, the Holy Spirit is ready to empower you to walk in the light and to experience life and that more abundantly (John 10:10).
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Dawn Scott Damon
Dawn Scott Damon is a pastor, speaker, radio host, and award-winning author. Ordained with the Wesleyan Church, Dawn is Lead Pastor of a multi-cultural Church called Tribes in the North Grand Rapids area, where she lives with her husband Paul and their family. Learn more at dawnscottdamon.com
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