Choice
- At July 14, 2011
- By Katie
- In Biblical Truths, Faith, Family
3
Obadiah was hiding in a cave.
Not only was he hiding, but he had 100 other prophets secluded there with him. They were hiding from a woman. Not just any woman, but the evil Jezebel.
You know the type… bitter, jealous and angry? A woman who took charge over her meek husband and reduced him down to less than a man. A hater of God, she had been killing God’s prophets and these men were terrified of her.
God told Elijah to go present himself to her husband. And he went. But along the way, he met up with Obadiah and told him to tell Ahab the King, he was coming. He told the people…
And Elijah came near to all the people and said, “How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.” And the people did not answer him a word.” (1 Kings 18:21)
The people were not making a choice. In secret, they were worshiping God, but outwardly they were pretending to worship Baal out of service to the king. They were floating along each day, operating at 50% on both fronts. Elijah was telling them to make a choice. Isn’t that how we are sometimes? Sitting the fence, we don’t really commit ourselves 100% to God on so many levels. We hold onto those things that either are too dear to us or else worse, we don’t want to publicly appear (like those Israelites) to be sold out to God.
After that, Elijah performed that amazing sacrifice against the prophets of Baal and Asherah (900 in all). He not only smoked (literally) them by asking God to set fire to his offering, but he upped the stakes by pouring water all over his offering before the fact.
And God answered.
You see every day we have a choice to make.
The choice to believe that God is who He says He is.
When He promises to prosper us, we must choose to believe it. When He promises to always be there for us, we must choose to believe that as well. Even when things don’t go the way we want them to. God has a plan.
Recently, I helped counsel someone who has been 30 years in the making of bad choices. I could see the struggle on their face as they talked about how hard it was to give up alcohol. My advice to them was to wake up tomorrow and make a choice.
Deuteronomy 30:19 tells us..
“This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live”
Psychiatrists tell us that the first step out of depression is the hardest – it’s that of the first choice (or step) to decide to do one small positive thing each day at the beginning of each day to climb out of the pit of despair. Once that goal is fulfilled, the next one becomes easier.
In that verse above, God tells us that if we choose well, not only us but our children will “live” and live under blessing. He didn’t say to go on about our day in the same funk we have been enduring. He wants us to CHOOSE. And He wants us to choose life and blessing. Watching my friend, I could see where his choices had also affected his home and his now-grown child. Your choices will also affect your children. What a great reason to choose wisely.
What choices do you have right now in your life that you are struggling with? Is there something standing in the way of your relationship with God? Something that you are holding onto? Is it depression, a bad habit, a bad relationship or an addiction?
Choose to ask the God of the Universe today to help you make the right choice. Give up your will towards those things and turn it over to God. Make a resolve today to put them behind you.
Choose life and blessing and reap the reward that comes with it.
A life of peace and joy.
Father today I pray for those that are struggling with choice. I pray that they would realize that the choice is not as difficult as they may think and that once made will give them the peace to lay their head down tonight on their pillow and sleep well. Let them choose to put aside those things that hinder their relationship to You. ~Amen
Nancy
Great post Katie! Making choices is hard enough on our own, but without a close relationship with the Holy Spirit it is even more difficult!
So many times we think we are making a good or right choice, but it isn’t for us. Only by learning to lean on God and allowing the Holy Spirit to direct us will we really make the right good choices for us!
Barbara Spillman
Great article Katie! I can so relate to this, as sometimes I have struggled with indecision. I think the root of indecisiveness ( the ability to make a clear cut decision) oftentimes lies in the wavering of convictions. Once we decide that we are totally surrendered to God in our life, making decisions are so much easier because if we make the wrong choice, our God conscience won’t allow us to sleep with peace until we make it right. Also, as in the case of the Pharisees in the Bible, pride often gets in the way of making the right choice. It’s so easy when we’re with the “Christian crowd” to do what Jesus would do, but when the world puts pressure on us, we sometimes find ourselves caving in to “going along with the crowd” out of a prideful spirit – too embarrassed to look or act different. That’s when we need to realize how important it is to be a follower of God, and not a people pleaser. “No one can serve two masters.” God says “Either you are for me, or against me” That puts it pretty bluntly, and when we serve Christ wholeheartedly, we’re not going to straddle the fence, or be so concerned about “what other’s think”. In doing things God’s way, we can look forward to and expect His blessings in our life.
Choosing Him, choosing life,
Barbara
Katie
Exactly Barbara – isn’t it great when we choose God instead of the world..so much peace!