"Excellent people make excellent choices"
Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, that you and your descendants might live (Deut. 30:19). God gives you choices every day and He is anxious that you make wise choices that will bring you abundant life.
Seven choices for successful living:
1. CHOOSE A GOAL- Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you. Mark out a straight path for your feet; then stick to the path and stay safe. Don't get sidetracked; keep your feet from following evil (Prov. 4: 25-27) ? List the personal goals - realistic and obtainable - you want to accomplish in the next year, in the next five years, and in the next 10 years. What needs to be done in your daily routine to accomplish some of these goals?
2. CHOOSE TO USE WISDOM- Wisdom is responding to life from God's perspective. It is, knowing what, how, and when to deal with all the things in your life. You can get wisdom by reading your Bible and praying. If you need wisdom and you want to know what God wants you to do, ask Him and He will gladly tell you (James 1:5). ? Write a prayer to God asking Him for wisdom in every area of your life.
3. CHOOSE HOW YOU WILL SPEND YOUR TIME- For everything there is a season and a time for every matter under heaven (Ecc. 3:1). Look at what you have today, during this season, and how God can use that for His Kingdom. Don't schedule things that don't fit with your priorities. ? Look at your weekly schedule. What needs to be edited out of your time schedule to build a better you (TV, Internet, people, time-consuming projects, sports, etc.)?
4. CHOOSE YOUR BATTLES- Save your time and energy fighting for the things worth fighting for. Avoiding a fight is a mark of honor; only fools insist on quarreling (Prov. 20:3). ? What things have you wasted your time and energy fighting about?
5. CHOOSE YOUR WORDS- Your words can build up or tear down, comfort or discourage, heal or hurt, make or break a person or situation. What you read, watch, and listen to will affect everything you say because what goes into your mind goes through your heart and out your mouth. Take control of what I say, O Lord, and keep my lips sealed (Ps. 141:3). ? Write a prayer of confession about words you've used to hurt others. Write, call, or go in person and ask for forgiveness.
6. CHOOSE YOUR FRIENDS- Whoever walks with the wise will become wise; whoever walks with fools will suffer harm (Prov. 13:20). Choose friends who love God and who love you. Choose friends who tell the truth and who hold you accountable to do what is right. ? List your four best friends. Then describe what effect - positive or negative - they have on you.
7. CHOOSE YOUR ATTITUDE- Your choice of attitude can decide the outcome of your life. Always be full of joy in the Lord; I say it again, rejoice (Phil. 4:4). Negative thoughts have no power unless you empower them. ? Write a list of blessings and keep them handy to read when you are attacked with negative thoughts.
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May God Bless You... |
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