AI
Thursday, July 04, 2019 3:09:37 AM
Freedom is a Choice
“Therefore, fear the Lord and worship Him in sincerity and truth. Get rid of the gods your fathers worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and worship Yahweh. But if it doesn’t please you to worship Yahweh, choose for yourselves today the one you will worship: ...As for me and my family, we will worship Yahweh.” ~ Joshua 24:14-15
In America, every year July 4th brings with it festivities, fun, food, family and friends, and fireworks — all as a celebration of national freedom. But even with all the celebrating and fun, many Americans are still caught in the web of bondage on a mental, emotional, relational, financial, vocational or spiritual level. Most often, we ourselves create the chains that bind us by making poor or sinful choices.
The longer I live, the more convinced I am that life is a series of choices, each choice has a consequence, and we must live with the consequences of our choices. In order to have true freedom in your life, then, you must make wise choices...
• Will you choose good over evil?
"Turn away from evil and do what is good; seek peace and pursue it." ~ Psalm 34:14
"Do not be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good." ~ Romans 12:21
• Obedience over rebellion?
"A wise heart accepts commands, but foolish lips will be destroyed." ~ Proverbs 10:8
"Obey your spiritual leaders, and do what they say. Their work is to watch over your souls, and they are accountable to God. Give them reason to do this with joy and not with sorrow. That would certainly not be for your benefit." ~ Hebrews 13:17
• Truth over deceit?
"But now you must also put away all the following: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and filthy language from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old self [the person before conversion] with its practices and have put on the new self. You are being renewed in knowledge according to the image of your Creator." ~ Colossians 3:8-10
"The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in those who tell the truth." ~ Proverbs 12:22
• Kindness over dishonor?
"No foul language is to come from your mouth, but only what is good for building up someone in need, so that it gives grace to those who hear. And don’t grieve God’s Holy Spirit, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. All bitterness, anger and wrath, shouting and slander must be removed from you, along with all malice. And be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave us in Christ." ~ Ephesians 4:29-32
"Whoever lives with integrity fears the Lord, but the one who is devious in their ways despise Him." ~ Proverbs 14:2
Every day you make hundreds of choices and these form the basis for your lifestyle. Seek God’s wisdom in all of your decisions, not the wisdom of the world, the flesh or the devil.
"But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and the fruit of good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere. And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness." ~ James 3:17-18
Take the sometimes difficult step of saying, “I’ll do it God’s way!” even though it may mean avoiding the easy road. In the long run, the freedom that comes with making godly choices is definitely something to celebrate!
Lord, we lift to You our praise and adoration for the blessings You give us each day as we choose to walk Your way.
~ By Ann Shorb, ©Copyright Ann Shorb, 2010
~ To receive The Daily Encourager FREE each weekday, click on the following link:
http://go.netatlantic.com/read/all_forums/subscribe?name=thedailyencourager
“Therefore, fear the Lord and worship Him in sincerity and truth. Get rid of the gods your fathers worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and worship Yahweh. But if it doesn’t please you to worship Yahweh, choose for yourselves today the one you will worship: ...As for me and my family, we will worship Yahweh.” ~ Joshua 24:14-15
In America, every year July 4th brings with it festivities, fun, food, family and friends, and fireworks — all as a celebration of national freedom. But even with all the celebrating and fun, many Americans are still caught in the web of bondage on a mental, emotional, relational, financial, vocational or spiritual level. Most often, we ourselves create the chains that bind us by making poor or sinful choices.
The longer I live, the more convinced I am that life is a series of choices, each choice has a consequence, and we must live with the consequences of our choices. In order to have true freedom in your life, then, you must make wise choices...
• Will you choose good over evil?
"Turn away from evil and do what is good; seek peace and pursue it." ~ Psalm 34:14
"Do not be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good." ~ Romans 12:21
• Obedience over rebellion?
"A wise heart accepts commands, but foolish lips will be destroyed." ~ Proverbs 10:8
"Obey your spiritual leaders, and do what they say. Their work is to watch over your souls, and they are accountable to God. Give them reason to do this with joy and not with sorrow. That would certainly not be for your benefit." ~ Hebrews 13:17
• Truth over deceit?
"But now you must also put away all the following: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and filthy language from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old self [the person before conversion] with its practices and have put on the new self. You are being renewed in knowledge according to the image of your Creator." ~ Colossians 3:8-10
"The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in those who tell the truth." ~ Proverbs 12:22
• Kindness over dishonor?
"No foul language is to come from your mouth, but only what is good for building up someone in need, so that it gives grace to those who hear. And don’t grieve God’s Holy Spirit, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. All bitterness, anger and wrath, shouting and slander must be removed from you, along with all malice. And be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave us in Christ." ~ Ephesians 4:29-32
"Whoever lives with integrity fears the Lord, but the one who is devious in their ways despise Him." ~ Proverbs 14:2
Every day you make hundreds of choices and these form the basis for your lifestyle. Seek God’s wisdom in all of your decisions, not the wisdom of the world, the flesh or the devil.
"But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and the fruit of good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere. And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness." ~ James 3:17-18
Take the sometimes difficult step of saying, “I’ll do it God’s way!” even though it may mean avoiding the easy road. In the long run, the freedom that comes with making godly choices is definitely something to celebrate!
Lord, we lift to You our praise and adoration for the blessings You give us each day as we choose to walk Your way.
~ By Ann Shorb, ©Copyright Ann Shorb, 2010
~ To receive The Daily Encourager FREE each weekday, click on the following link:
http://go.netatlantic.com/read/all_forums/subscribe?name=thedailyencourager
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