CHOICES

Often we pray and then we feel we're in a game show where you have to pick a certain door to win the prize. The "prize for us would be to know that we know the will of God. The Bible assures us that "the steps of the righteous are ordered of the Lord," but we want to know that we have a vision of His will to 'follow.'

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I recently found a wonderful devotional...not from Bob Gass for a change but rather from the Checklist for Life for Women.

Beyond Fear

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God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV

God gave us the gift of free will. We have the power to choose. We may not have a choice about what happens to us in certain situations, but we can choose how we respond. No matter what we face in life, God enables us to learn and grow from our choices. "Good and evil both increase at compound interest. That's why the little decisions you and I make every day are of such infinite importance, " C. S. Lewis said. "Every time you make a choice you are turning the central part of you, the part that chooses, into something a little different than it was before."

For instance, you might feel trapped in your job. No matter how many excuses you may find to believe in your own powerlessness, you have more power than you give yourself credit for. You can choose to develop new skills, seek out different opportunities in the company, or search for a better job. Start by seeing what you can do to make your current job interesting and satisfying. Sometimes an attitude change is all it takes. If that doesn't work, perhaps you need to meet with a career counselor to sign up for a class to enhance your skills. You may feel like you're stuck in a dead-end job, but the truth is that if you don't do something to change that, then you are choosing to stay stuck.

Life can bring suffering, limitations, and restrictions, but no one has the ability to restrict or demean your spirit unless you agree to it. Remember the 1989 student uprising in Tiananmen Square? The world saw the haunting but powerful image of a single unarmed student standing up to a battalion of Chinese tanks--an unforgettable picture of free choice in whatever situation you confront. Victor Frankl, survivor of the Nazi death camps, wrote, "We who lived in concentration camps can remember the men who walked through the huts comforting others, giving away their last piece of bread. They may have been few in number, but they offer sufficient proof that everything can be taken away from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms--to choose one's attitude in any set of given circumstances, to choose one's own way."

Over and over God says to his people, "Do not fear." God gives us the courage to face our fears and empowers us to make right choices. Fear of rejection or of others' disapproval causes us to compromise what we believe. Many times a woman will compromise her integrity in a misguided effort to placate or please others. Instead of molding yourself to fit models of femininity based on extremes of passiveness or aggressiveness, you can discover a more balanced and powerful image of what it means to be a woman of faith. Meditating on God's word can help you make wise choices that lead to holy living. God promises that He will give you the strength and wisdom you need.

It is your choice whether or not you will stand up for your highest ideals, develop your God-given gifts, and create a satisfying and productive life.

Here are some questions to help you think about how you are exercising your power of choice in daily life. Do you speak your mind openly or keep silence for fear of offending others? Do you involve yourself with things that are important to you? Are you able to communicate your needs clearly? Do you feel satisfied with the choices you are making in your life? What do you need to stop doing? What do you need to do more of? What are you willing to do to make positive changes in your life?

The ability to make wise choices will help you stay faithful and become the woman God created you to be. You can focus on what is truly important, choosing behaviors and actions that align with God's highest will for you. You can make courageous choices that will result in positive change, healthy self-esteem, spiritual stamina, and a more fulfilling life.

Perfect love expels all fear.

--1 John 4:18 NLT