Day 72 - Choice

Thoughts that have come from various quotes taken from the book, "Victor - Breaking Free From a Victim Based Society" by John H. Hovis. Click here to link directly to the audio file.

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"Choice plays such a critical role in how we live, particularly when bad times strike. We can choose to live as victims or as victors. Bad things in our lives are a stark reminder of where our heart is focused, and of how easy it is to be deceived into thinking that our relationship with God isn’t all that it should be."

As quoted from the book “Victor - Breaking Free From a Victim-Based Society” by John H. Hovis Page 149.

The power to choose is such an underestimated and overlooked benefit we have in our lives. Just think what life would be like if we didn't have the gift of choice. 

Problem is that choice is what one might call, a double edged sword. We have the ability to choose good for our lives as well as bad. The power of choice is often misused in ways that can cause us or those around us difficulties. That's when victim thinking can really work in ways where victimization is a real possibility. 

The power of choice is particularly useful and/or damaging when bad times hit. It is when we face difficulties in life that what we choose to do, act, say and even think can really have lasting impact in our lives. Good news is that even when we make bad choices as we face challenging times we still have the power to choose and get our lives on a track where victor living can still be experienced.

In a perfect world we would always choose to do, say, act and think in ways that build ourselves and others up. That's the perfect use of the power of choice. Think back to the last challenging time you had in your life. How perfect were you in using the power of choice to build yourself or your loved ones up? If you are anything like me you fell short in using your power of choice for the good of yourself and others.

Good news is that God knows that we will fall short from time to time in all we do. This is particularly the case with the power of choice. That fact doesn't seem to bother him. It surely doesn't make it so that He feels He needs to punish us or somehow withhold love from His precious children. If you think that is the case it is time to get to know this God a little better and use that knowledge to choose to think differently about this God that loves you so. 

Very little challenges the ability of us all to live this life as the victors God has called us to be than to choose to wallow in the muck and mire of self abased pity. I'm in no way saying it is wrong to feel sorry for ourselves due to the badness that happens in all our lives. What I'm saying is that by choosing to remaining in a place of self-focused denial about who we are based on our circumstances is a recipe for victim thinking that just can't be ignored. 

Today's Bible reading is a familiar and often times quoted and taught on scripture. It speaks to the power of choice, particularly in the bad times. It says,

"But if you refuse to serve the LORD, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the LORD." Joshua 24:15

Notice the multiple times the issue of choice is brought up in today's reading. The words refuse, choose, prefer and the word or are all words that have strong connection to our power of choice. If I refuse to do something, I'm choosing to do what I want to do. When I prefer something, I typically choose to do that thing. 

Joshua is making a statement about the kinds of choices that all lead back to the same, ultimate choice - whether to follow God or not. He made this statement at a time when the Nation Israel was in the middle of some turbulent and troubling times. They had to choose as to whether they were going to follow God's leading in spite of their circumstances or to turn their back on the God that had been there every step of the way. Not an easy choice to make in the face of turmoil and tribulation. 

Our enemy is pretty easy to figure out. He really has only one play in his playbook. All he can really do is to stir up things in such a way so that we are tempted to turn our backs on God. The crazy thing is that God is powerless to stop us from doing so. Choice means that God can't interfere with our ability to choose, even when we choose to do something personally damaging. If he messed with our power of choice then He wouldn't be able to trust our devotion to Him. Love based on obligation isn't a love that holds a candle to love based on choice. 

As you go about your day today, you will be faced with choice after choice. Most of your choices will have very little consequence as to how you feel about yourself or how you feel about God. Some of your choices will actually be turning points in your journey of throwing off victim thinking and living the life of a victor God has made available for you to enjoy. Often times we have no way of knowing which of the choices are which in our lives when we make those choices. 

Because that is the case I suggest you start your day a little differently. Make the bold statement Joshua professed in our reading today over your life and over the lives of everyone in your family. Say out loud, "But as for me and my family, we will serve the LORD" . Say this over and over again as your day progresses. Let each and every choice you make be empowered with your determination to be part of the powerful and unchanging plan of God no matter what the outcome of your choices might bring. Then, and only then, can you rest in your status as a victor as you live out this life as God's beloved child.