Choices

God granted us all free will when we entered the world. He gave us the freedom to make our own decisions. He doesn't force us to do anything. If He did, we would basically be puppets. However, God knows the choices we will make before we even make them. Our story was written before we were even born. Interesting right?

"You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed." - Psalm 139:16

Every day we are faced with choices and decisions to make. Some are tough and some are easy, but we have to make them.  I saw a quote this past week that was thought provoking and very fitting of this topic:

“We are all one choice away from a completely different life.” - Rob Hill Sr.

Although God has already written our stories, we still have the ability to choose which path we take in life. We can choose a life full of heartache, pain and sorrow, or we can choose a life full of triumph, victory and promise. We each hold in our hands the freedom to live our lives God's way or our own way. Most of the circumstances we find ourselves in, whether good or bad are a direct result of the choices we make.

Even though God will not force us to do anything, He allows us to experience the consequences of our choices. Sometimes He interjects to protect us from disaster, and other times He sits back and allows us to make the choice we choose in order to teach us a lesson. God often does this to help refine and mature us. He tends to put us in a situation where we feel the need to call on Him for help. It is through those helpless times that our relationship with God has the potential to be strengthened and taken to a more intimate level.

I can admit that most of my spiritual growth is a result of me calling on The Lord for help in the most difficult times in my life. Break ups, loss, financial struggles... God blessed me with the strength to call on Him in those low moments. It was through those moments that I learned that God heals. It was through the darkest hours in my life that I learned that God restores. Even though those times in my life were the most difficult, I often look back and thank God for them because I grew up. I matured tremendously and I learned even more about God's character. I can honestly say that even this blog is a by-product of those trying moments in my life. It gave me something to talk about. It gave me something to share. The victory of overcoming those rough times motivated me to want to show others the way to achieving that same victory while experiencing the love of God in a new way. 

Even now I still have trouble making choices for myself for the fear of making the wrong decision and possibly ending up in a situation that I may not be proud of. But one thing I do know is that although the choice is mine, God directs and orchestrates everything. He has given me His Holy Spirit to guide me when I need help. And as long as I make my decisions based off of the leading of the Holy Spirit and not by my own head knowledge or emotions, I know that God will take care of everything that follows.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, 
and he will show you which path to take." - Proverbs 3:5-6 

Love.
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