...I have set before you life and death, the blessings and the curses; therefore choose life, that you and your descendants may live. Deuteronomy 30:19
Look at the Scripture above. According to this Scripture, our decisions and choices not only affect us, but our descendants....our children and our grandchildren and so on. Do you want the best for your children and your children's children? Of course! So we must seek God's wisdom in all our choices and decisions...we must think, before we act. Many people live in bad circumstances, and too often they blame their situation on something or somebody else. But most of the time, once we are grown, we find ourselves in a mess because of wrong choices we've made in the past. Galatians 6:8 says, ...he who sows to his own flesh (lower nature, sensuality) will from the flesh reap decay and ruin and destruction, but he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. If I make wise choices, then I will reap the benefits of wisdom. But if I do a lot of foolish things, I'm going to reap the consequences of foolishness. The foolishness of man subverts his way (ruins his affairs)...(Proverbs 19:3). It is man's own foolishness that ruins his life. Part 1 Choose Carefully There's only one way to overcome the result of a series of bad choices, and that is through a series of good choices. We are free to choose what we think, what we do, what we say, the people we want to be around, and many other things...and that is an absolutely awesome privilege. But along with every privilege comes a responsibility. While we should recognize and appreciate the right we have as individuals to choose for ourselves, we must be careful that we don't make decisions based solely on how we feel or what we think we want. We also need to be careful about listening to advice from other people. People often try to control or manipulate us into making choices that may not be right for us. We may be tempted to allow others to control us out of timidity or insecurity. Fear may keep us from confronting the situation and putting a stop to it. I have seen the results of someone controlling, abusing, and manipulating someone. My oldest daughter was in this type of marriage for about 9 years. This ministers death to your spirit, mind, emotions, and every part of your life. So if you want to choose life, you must choose to confront those people who try to control you. And, of course, your must be careful that you're not trying to control others. We must also make sure that we're not overly concerned about what people think of us. Colossians 3:22 says we are to serve God with singleness of heart, not as men pleasers but as God pleasers. It's time to break free from the tyranny of what other people think of us. We must get past people's judgment, criticism, and controlling power and start making our own decisions based on God's will for our lives...We must obey God rather than men (Acts 5:29). We must want God's will more than we want to be popular with people. We can benefit from the wise counsel that is available to us in the Bible and from the Holy Ghost. Good counsel may also come from godly leaders and Christian friends, but always take each question and choice to God and seek His help in making a good decision. When God gives you peace about a decision, then you can be bold about stepping out to do what He's told you to do. We also need to beware of those who show up just at that moment to give you advise. When David went out against Goliath with only a few stones and a slingshot, everyone was laughing at him and telling him it was impossible. But David had heard from God and was comfortable with the choice he had made. So he boldly prophesied what he was going to do: This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will smite you and cut off your head. And I will give the corpses of the army of the Philistines this day to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel (1 Samuel 17:46). Then in the power of God, David went out and killed the giant. You can choose to do that too. When you know that you've heard from God, you can disregard when others laugh or say it's impossible and go out to kill some giants!! So take the time with every decision and choice you make, to seek God's wisdom...He will not mislead you or let you down. Man will. Even if their intentions are good...they don't mean to mislead you, but they don't know God's plan and will for you...so always seek God first. Allow Him to give you peace with the decision you are facing.
Part 2 Choose Boldness Instead of Fear Some people are so afraid they'll fail, they choose to do nothing...and because of it, they live powerless lives. They say, "But I'm afraid, and I just can't help it." I know because I used to be one of them. The truth is, we can help it. Fear is an evil spirit that causes adverse feelings, but it's not a good idea to follow your feelings. Just because you feel fear doesn't mean you can't do the thing you're afraid to do. You may need to learn to do some things even though you're afraid. The only way to conquer fear is to confront it. As long as you're running from it, fear has the best of you. Jesus died so we wouldn't have to be afraid and run from difficult situations. Ephesians 6 tells us about the armor that God provided for us so we can withstand all the fiery darts of the enemy. But there is no armor for the backside, which means God never intended for us to run from the enemy! So choose to be bold. We must use the spiritual weapons that He has given us, (His Word, the blood of Jesus, and the Name of Jesus) if we are going to be world conquerors, the way God meant for us to be. I believe if we really listen when we're approaching new things, we will hear God saying, "Fear not. Don't get in fear, because if you do, satan is going to steal your destiny from you." It is not wrong for us to feel fear , but we must not get in fear. There's a major difference between feeling fear and following fear. Most of us feel fear at some time in our lives, but we don't have to live there. Fear a powerful spirit...a major evil force. But it does not come from the Lord...God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but (He has given us a spirit) of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control (2 Timothy 1:7) If you'll go around speaking out of your faith instead of speaking out of your fear, you'll get a breakthrough. So, put on the whole armor of God and don't take it off. With you behind the armor, satan will never know that it isn't Jesus Himself there. But for goodness sake, don't lift the face shield on your helmet of salvation, to peek out to see if satan is gone.....that would kinda be like opening a door for satan to come through. As the midi that is playing says, "Fear Not My Child"! So put on the whole armor of God and stand firm on 2 Timothy 1:7...don't doubt, don't walk by sight, speak God's Word out your mouth....the victory is ours, if we only trust and obey...there's victory in Jesus.
Part 3 Count the Cost In the past two days we have discussed "Making Right Choices". So far we have covered "Choose Carefully" and Choose Boldness Instead of Fear". Today, is over the costs of what our choices are. Second Kings 5 tells us about the greed of Gehazi and how his love of money caused him to make a choice that affected not only him but also generations after him. And it's still true today that the choices we make affect many things in our lives...even our children. Many people lose their families because of the love of money and "things". But true happiness doesn't come by acquiring more material things. It comes from having good relationships...with God and with your family. And it involves making good choices and refusing to get caught up in the world's system. First Timothy 6:7 says, For we brought nothing into the world, and obviously we cannot take anything out of the world. So get a revelation that all that stuff you've accumulated will stay here when you're gone...you can't take it with you. It's okay to like it, enjoy it, and bless other people with it...but don't love it! I have also learned that God didn't give to me for me to keep everything to myself...we are to give in return. What I have isn't mine anyway...it's His. I'm just managing it for Him on this earth, until He returns. We need to quite looking at our stuff as ours...starts seeing and thinking of it as His...we are just the stewards over it. Mark 10 tells about a wealthy man who approached Jesus, asking how he might inherit eternal life. When Jesus instructed him to sell all he had and give the money to the poor,...the man's countenance fell and was gloomy, and he went away grieved and sorrowing, for he was holding great possessions (verse 22). Like this man, you may want a deeper walk with God, but when He tries to deal with you about material things, you're not willing to let go of them. You will have to let go of some lower things in order to take hold of something on a higher level. Colossians 3:1-2 says, If then you have been raised with Christ (to a new life...), aim at and seek the (rich, eternal treasures) that are above...And set your minds and keep them set on what is above (the higher things), not on the things that are on the earth. I had to learn to set my mind and keep it set on higher things instead of on everything around me. And I discovered that higher is better. So consider that and make some good choices. Some folks want their lives changed but not their lifestyles. Christianity is a lifestyle, and it starts with a prayer of committing our lives to Christ. Then as we increase in the knowledge of the truth of God's Word, we're able to confront the lies of satan. We should pray for a tender conscience so we can have a godly standard in our lives. Christianity must become a lifestyle. So think about your choices before you carry them out. Count your costs. Seek God... asking Him to show you what, in your life, you need to let go of, in order to move to a higher level with Him. Some things we already know...we don't really even need to ask God...we know. Give it up...what you will get in return from your heavenly Father, will have boundless worth and as it says in Psalm 23:6...Surely goodness, mercy, and unfailing love shall follow me all the days of my life, and through the length of my days the house of the Lord (and His presence) shall be my dwelling place.
Part 4 Choose Faith Instead of Fear How is it possible for us to not be afraid? Look at Isaiah 43:5: Fear not, for I am with you... If you don't know that, you need to mediate on it until it becomes a reality in your life. God is with us, and He will lead us through the rough places of life. The Bible says we are to put no confidence in the flesh, but to put all of our confidence in Christ. We are anointed, and God promises to lead us and guide us...and that's very comforting. If you're in a new place, boldly, confront the future. The great I Am lives in you, so don't be afraid. Isaiah 30:21 says, And you ears will bear a word behind you, saying, This is the way: walk in it, when you turn to the right hand and when you turn to the left. We must learn to really listen and be sensitive to God. Isaiah 45:2 says, I will go before you and level the mountains (to make the crooked places straight); I will break in pieces the doors of bronze and cut asunder the bars of iron. Satan has laid a very crooked path in front of us, but God wants us to believe His promises because that's what will bring them to pass in our lives. As long as we're speaking fear, doubt, and unbelief out our our mouths, we are blocking God from be able to help us. Sometimes God leads us into hard places, and we wonder why. But it is in the hard places that we grow up and learn to exercise faith. God is not always going to lead us into a place that is comfortable, but He will always be in the midst of it to deliver us from it. You don't have to let fear stop you...you can decide to choose boldness. Just make up your mind that you're going to have faith and refuse to let fear rule you anymore. When I was first born again, God told me that I was going to be a teacher. Now when we are all babies, it's easy to believe what your Father tells you and you are very eager to do things for Him, but after a little while, you start to think, "Me? What do I know? I can't teach...I have so much to learn myself." Well, doubt just stepped in and right behind it, here comes fear. Yes, I held back for a long time...thinking I couldn't do it...I didn't know enough. But praise God, that we have a Father that is faithful, even when we aren't. He kept after me, until I finally said "Okay God!! I can't continue like I am...I surrender all. I'll do as You want. I only want You and Your will for my life". That was the the beginning of this ministry...Our God Reigns. We must realize...it isn't us...it isn't our knowledge...it's Him, it's His!! So step out in faith in Him to carry out His high call for your life...trust Him...let Him lead. He never fails.
Part 5 Choose to Follow Wisdom Prize wisdom highly and exalt her, and ...she will bring you to honor when you embrace her...I have taught you in the way of skillful and godly Wisdom (which is comprehensive insight in to the ways and purposes of God); I have led you in paths of uprightness. When you walk, your steps shall not be hampered (your path will be clear and open): and when you run, you shall not stumble. (Proverbs 4:8,11,12) Wisdom is having a deep understanding of the ways and purposes of God. If you walk in wisdom, your path will be clear and open. You won't be confused all the time, not knowing what to do. The Word tells us that Jesus has been made unto us wisdom (see I Corinthians 1:30). If Jesus Christ lives on the inside of you, then His wisdom is constantly available for you to use. At the critical times in your life, wisdom stands there crying out, "Listen to me. Don't do what you feel like doing or say whatever you feel like saying. Follow God and His Word." Have you made too many bad decisions? Don't mourn and grieve about it! It's time to choose wisdom and start living a victorious life. Walking in victory doesn't mean you'll have a problem-free life...it just means that when problems come, you'll be able to be an overcomer by making right choices. Make the firm decision today, that no matter what, you are going to glorify our Lord Jesus by standing on His promises to us, trusting wholly in Him. When we allow fear, doubt, or anything else that is against God's Word, we bring no glory and honor to Him. Start today, making "right choices", and let God whip out the consequences of all those bad choices of the past. He can and will take the bad and use it to our good....but we must trust and obey Him. Start today. God loves you more than your carnal mind could ever comprehend and He wants to open the windows of heaven and pour out His blessings on you....it's your choice. This is the end of this Devotional. I pray that what God has given to us in it, has helped you and will inspire you to let go of the bad choices and today, start listening to wisdom and make the right ones...God will sustain you. 
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