Choices

I recently had a conversation with a young woman who found herself in a very dangerous situation. She had previously divorced her husband because of physical abuse and ran straight into the arms of a new man who was also a physical and verbal abuser. As we talked about her legal options, she said, “God brought this man into my life so that I could get to this point.”

As I listened to the young woman’s statement, a little battle raged in my mind: should I say something or should I just let her words pass? The Holy Spirit wouldn’t let me be quiet. I had to ask her if she really believed that it was God’s will that she was living with a man she wasn’t married to who also happened to beat her up any time he felt like it? Her response was that when I put it like that, she couldn’t very well say that the life she’s currently living is the Lord’s will for her life. It was her choice and not His.

How many times have you heard someone say that a certain set of circumstances was the result of the Lord’s doing? I know I’ve been guilty of saying the same thing a time or two myself. However, there are times that my bad choices are the cause of the challenges that I have to face.

As I explained to the young woman, God gives us free will. When we don’t pray, read scripture and seek His will for our lives, we won’t make the best choices. We need godly wisdom and James 1:5 says that if we only ask God, He’ll give it to us. That’s a reminder for all of us to stop and ask the Lord what He wants us to do before we take action.

My young friend agreed that the first thing she needed to do was to get out of current living situation, get into some counseling and seek the Lord’s best for her life. That’s pretty good advice for all of us.

The New You

Makeover shows are some of the most watched programs on television. Who hasn’t cried over an episode of Extreme Home Makeover or cringed over the pre-makeover outfits of a What Not to Wear nominee. The truth is, we’re fascinated with these shows and their concept of changing people’s lives for the better.

Believe it or not, you’re starring in your very own makeover show. Second Corinthians 5:17 says that if you are in Christ, you are a new creation. As a Christian, you’ve undergone an extreme makeover.

You are no longer who you used to be.

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. (Ephesians 2:1-3 NIV)

Now you can say,

But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus. . .(Ephesians 2:4-6 NIV)

Knowing who you are in Christ is the first step in discovering your divine assignment.