Making The Right Choices

Each new day comes with a multitude of choices. Will I get up the first time the alarm clock ringsm or will I hit the sloth button? What will I wear? Choices concerning breakfast, what will I eat, or will I eat at all? How will I drive on my way to work? What will I do concerning that rude driver who cut me off? What route will I take. Will I break the speed limit, flow with traffic, or lead the pack. What will my attitude be like at work? Will I snub the co-worker who threw me under the bus (figuratively speaking) last week? Will I do my best, and work harder and smarter? Or will I be a complainer like some others are, always griping about something that doesn't suit me? King David made a bold statement about his daily choices. The said, “I have chosen the way of truth; I have set my heart on your laws,” (Psalm 119:30). Choosing the "way of truth." begins with knowing the One who is the "Way, the Truth and the Life." When we know Jesus then we are attracted to the Word of Truth which is the Scriptures. Walking in the Word is necessary in order to know what truth is. As we surrender to the Lord we are filled with the Spirit of Truth, The Spirit of Truth is the Holy Spirit. He is the One who Jesus said would "Teach us all things." We are also to be a part of the Local Church which is the "Pillar and ground of the Truth." Freedom comes from knowing God's Truth. "You shall know the Truth and the Truth shall set you free." This speaks of an experiential knowledge of the truth. In other words it is more than a head knowledge, it is knowledge that lives in the heart. Years ago there was a gospel tract called "He missed heaven by 18 inches." The idea was a man knew all about Jesus and the blood of the cross in his head, but he had not received Jesus in his heart. David went on to state "I have set my heart on your laws." The laws of God are good. Why? Because God's law points out violations of love. Jesus said the Great Commandment was to "love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength and to love your neighbor as yourself, on these two commandment hang all the Law and Prophets." How did King David come to the conclusion that choosing the way (path) of truth is best? He learned this by experience. There were times he wandered from the path of truth and paid a terrible price. One thing remarkable about David, he always repented and returned to the path of truth. The questions each of us must face daily is what path will I choose to walk on today. For the believer that path must be the "Way of Truth."

Spiritual warfare and personal choices - Copley

For many believers forgiving those who have hurt them is a difficult task. The Scriptures tell us we are not ready to receive forgiveness of our sins unless we have forgiven others (Matt. 6:15). We will have great difficulty forgiving others if we do not understand how great our own forgiveness is (Matt. 18:21-34). If there is any single problem holding more people in spiritual bondage than any other, unforgiveness towards those who have hurt them is that problem. What does forgiving others involve? First let's look at some of Satan's lie and then God's truth about forgiveness. Satan's lie. I cannot forgive because... God truth. God forgives us through Christ; we forgive others in response to His work. Satan's lie. If I can understand or explain why they hurt me, then I do not need to forgive. God's truth. Understanding is not the same as forgiving, neither is explaining or excusing. Satan's lie. If I just wait long enough, time will heal the pain and I will not need to forgive. God's truth. Time does not heal the wounds-that is why they still hurt. Satan's lie. In forgiving, I become nothing more than a doormat and let them off the hook. God's truth. Personal forgiveness is not the same as judicial pardon. Satan's lie. I do not need to forgive someone until they ask me. God's truth. I am glad Jesus did not wait. Satan's lie. If I still remember, then I have not really forgiven. God's truth. True forgiveness involves living with the consequences of the action(s) of another whether we remember them or not. Satan's lie. I cannot forgive someone if they do not want it. God's truth. Forgiveness is between you and God-the other person can be forgiven whether or not they want it. Satan's lie. To forgive someone, I must tell them all the ways they have hurt me. God's truth. This is a nice way of getting revenge. As used in the Scriptures there is a range of ways the term "forgiveness" may be understood. "Set aside, leave, let go, leave behind, abandon, take away, wipe out, blot out, pass over, allow, permit, let go unpunished, make no account of, dismiss, release from guilt (or punishment), pardon, cover, conceal. Forgiving does not involve being content with asking God to help. It does involve recognizing that God does help, but I must make the choice; it is a crisis of my will. Forgiving does not involve forgetting what happened or denying the truth of my hurt or letting time heal everything. It does involve honestly admitting my pain. Forgiving does not involve justifying or excusing or tolerating what happened. It does involve being strong enough to hold the offender accountable, recognizing that debt comes with pain. Forgiving does not involve waiting until the offender apologizes or taking revenge before you forgive. It does involve agreeing to live with the consequences of another person's sin by freely choosing to release the debt and accept the pain that comes with its release. Forgiveness is so critical because it is at the core of Christ's work on the cross-it is an unnatural act for fallen people. We have been fully forgiven, and one reason is so that we may in turn forgive others. It is part of what He means when He tells us to take up our cross daily. Forgiveness short-circuits several areas of attack. When I forgive myself, I can recognize my identity as a child of God and I do not have to wallow in self-pity (all too often disguised as self-hatred). When I forgive others, they no longer have emotional holds on me-holds that disrupt the process of my maturing as a Christ-follower. It leaves revenge in the hands of the One person who will handle it justly, and frees us to focus on the true issues of maturing in Christ. Forgiveness affects two areas of spiritual conflict. It affects our minds, we are freed from mental/emotional bondage to those who have hurt us. It also affects our service. We do not have personal issues dragging us down, and we are free to look beyond ourselves so as to serve more effectively in the lives of others. Forgiveness is part of the total reconciliation process. If we are to live in community with each other, forgiveness is a necessity. Do I need to forgive someone? Here are several questions we need to ask if we are unsure as to whether there is someone we need to forgive. Is the pain still there? Does it in any way continue to shape or even define my life? Can you wish them well-and even rejoice when good things happen to them? Am I looking for ways to get even and repay the pain they have caused me? Bear in mind that revenge can be active (striking out) or passive (withdrawing, ignoring). How can I forgive? We need to begin by recognizing the injury. Whom do you need to forgive? How have they hurt or injured you? Describe what happened. Identify the emotions involved. List some of the feelings you have about what happened. Examples of things to consider. I am afraid to look at this because. I feel guilty about... I feel ashamed and humiliated by... I am angry that... I am afraid to look at this because... I feel guilty about... I feel ashamed and humiliated by... I am angry that... Then express your hurt and anger "If I could say what I wanted to this person (or these people), I would tell him (her, them). Set boundaries to protect yourself. List what you can do to protect yourself, both now and in the future. This should be done with someone you trust who will help you be realistic. Cancel the debt. When you have released the other person from your own expectations, you are ready to forgive-to cancel the debt. Write down something you can do to symbolize your willingness to forgive. You will need a time for private reflection. Do not be afraid to get away to ensure that you will not be interrupted. Pray, asking God to reveal to you anyone you need to forgive. Make a list of the names He brings to mind. Walk through the list, announcing your pain, hurt, anger, even hatred. Choose to release them verbally announcing your release. "I choose to forgive________for the time they________and accept the pain that comes with releasing them from their debt to me." I strongly encourage a verbal renunciation because verbal pronouncements involve a more conscious and deliberate commitment of your will. Consider the possibility of reconciliation. Why do you want reconciliation? If you approach the other person(s), what do you think will be their response? Can you accept the worst possible response? How can you check to see if the other person (or persons) are open to working through their part of the reconciliation process? We are commanded to forgive others as Christ has forgiven us. Should we refuse to do so, we will live in spiritual bongage. Please read prayerfully Matt. 18:25-35. Meditate on verse 35 "So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if you from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses."

Spiritual warfare & CHOICES - Copley

In warfare teaching it's always necessary to explore the human will as it involves making choices. Our enemy would have us make choices based on sinful habits rather than thoughtful reflection on Biblical truth. He desires that we deny or ignore our ability to choose. Or if the above fails he would want us to choose some form of distortion of the truth. Our common enemy was a liar from the beginning and he will go to great lengths to keep us from the truth. Our mandate as believers is to choose to glorify God through commitment to His truth. This means we are to choose right "programming" based on the truth and exercise our choosing ability in the areas of: Loving God (repenting before Him, believing in Him, submitting to Him in obedience, enjoying Him, pursuing Him. communing with Him through prayer and worship, fearing Him and trusting and thanking Him in all of life's circumstances). It also means that we ought to be loving others as we love ourselves (being filled by the Spirit stripping off the old self and putting on the new, walking in the light, fellow-shipping, taming our tongues). This really means living in a Scriptural manner, taking God's Word seriously enough to practice it in our daily living. At the heart of spiritual warfare is understanding that we face choices and that, being made in God's image and empowered by the Spirit, we are able to make correct choices. This is a critical area, it is essentially the application of the basic truths that we learn through the study of God's word. It is important to distinguish between desiring (wanting) and choosing (commitment). An example of this would be I want to quit smoking, desire (or want). Or I choose to quit smoking (commit). Or I desire to lose weight (or want). Or I am going on a great eating place and going to work out three times a week (commit). God has set us free in Christ to choose what is right; but He leaves the actual choices up to us. Satan on the other hand, would have us make choices based on sinful habits rather than reflection or deny and ignore our ability to choose or choose some form of a distortion of the truth rather than God's truth. God has empowered us to make the right choices, and He desires that we use that power for righteous choosing. God does not dress us in the morning, and He generally does not tell us what we must wear when we get dressed in the morning-He wants us to choose and do because we are made in His image. The choice we must make is that of the person we will glorify. We must exercise our choice of who we will glorify by glorifying God. We glorify God by consciously acknowledging His sovereignty with our lips, in our hearts, and through our feet. The choice to glorify God, or not is made through out the day. We do this by choosing the right "programming" (through learning God's Word and its correct application). We must learn to walk in the Word. A believer who is saturated with the Scriptures will be better able to discern right and wrong. David said the Scriptures were his counselors. This begins by our believing in God. "Believing in" is more than believing in what He said; it involves assenting to the truth of it in your own life. However, we must be careful not to try to read too much into the word. The basic meaning of the Greek is similar to the English word "believe," and it can also be translated as obey, trust, or hope. We must also repent before God. What does repenting involve? Repenting involves the pain of knowing the beast in my basement and the wonder of knowing that I am still loved and accepted. The enemy would have us deny that we are sinners. Then after we sin he would tell us that we will never experience the favor of God again. Remember he is a accuser of the brethren, and he is most efficient in doing his job. Submitting to God in obedience; "Submit" was a military term used of soldiers under their officers. They were required to submit, and Paul gives us the same requirement for our own good. It involves the surrendering of our will under the will of others (Phil. 2:3-4). We are to submit to government officials, church elders, employers, and any other person God has placed us under. For example Jesus in this life on earth offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission (Hebrews 5:7). We as believers are to "Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you, (James 4:7). Note submission operative in heaven "Who has gone into heaven and is at God's right hand-with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him, (I Peter 3:22). Popular author John Piper argues that the chief end of man is to glorify God by enjoying Him forever. David in the Psalms shares with us a multitude of fountains of praise and enjoyment of God. God has graciously given us the ability to choose and it is for our good and His glory when we choose to come down on His side of every decision.