Personal choices, making decisions that work, that last, that add solidarity to your life can be very challenging for some folks. It doesn’t have to be that way. However, to lesson the stress and burden of making choices, you will need to learn a life changing lesson. It’s learning to consistently think about what you’re planning to do, with God at the center of your decision making process.
Our choices and decisions can be condensed down to two questions: first, does my choice [an action or opportunity] reflect who I am in Christ? Second, does my choice/decision bring me closer to the purposes for which I was created? Coming to terms with these two questions, and using them as the filter through which we make our life choices, frees us from the paralysis of poor life choices.
Many of us are stuck, sometimes paralyzed, when it comes to making choices because we’ve never taken the time to figure out who we are and determine where we're going.
As a Christ-follower, a Christian, we know ourselves best when we are immersed in a relationship with Jesus Christ. We must be constantly seeking Him and allowing the Holy Spirit to transform us into creatures worthy of the spiritual relationship God has extended to us. In getting to know Christ, we come to know ourselves and our limitations. This liberates us to live authentic lives, free from the false freedom of choices based on worldly philosophies and flawed wisdom, that distract us from a life of meaning and purpose “in step” with Christ.
What you believe about God affects the way you approach life—often in ways you don’t even realize. Worldly wisdom does not come close to defining true freedom. When we make choices and decisions based on the things, the desires and the pursuits of a fallen world, we are rejecting God’s wise counsel and protection of our souls. Do you at times feel as if God limits you, or liberates you? Do you think He is more interested in correcting you or connecting with you? And when you hit a rough spot and start looking for help, do you believe God is against you or on your side? In all of life’s situations and circumstances, driven by the desires of the heart, we either make the path forward easier or more complicated than it needs to be, based on the criteria we use to make our choices.
God’s Word opens our eyes to everything He does and want to do for and with us. When you live in God’s purpose, enveloped by His identity, you will find your own true identity, your true value, and your unique purpose on earth.
Maybe its time to stop trying to be someone else and enjoy being yourself as you join with God in doing the work of His kingdom. When God looks at you He always says “yes” but you might not be listening, because you’ve not immersed yourself in getting to know Him in ways that reveal who you really are and how much you need His help.
It’s time to live like you know it.
