Choose

“What we believe defines us  determines how we approach everyday life. ”

2 Kings 22:1 Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem thirty-one years….. 2 And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and walked in all the way of David his father, and he did not turn aside to the right or to the left.

*This passage is about a man who “did what was right in the eyes of the LORD and followed completely the ways of his father, not turning aside to the right or to the left”.

**The truth: you can’t blame your parents or grandparents for your behavior or sin.
* The Word of God is so powerful! Josiah did not even know the Word existed – the godless & wicked culture of his day (and those before him) had attempted to bury & destroy the Truth. They replaced the TRUTH with immorality, greed and the worship of idols.
* But this didn’t work… As the Bible of Josiah’s day rose from the heap of rubble, so, too, the attempts of so-called “higher critics” and skeptics to “bury” the Bible with their doubts and criticisms have come to failure.
* Josiah heard it and immediately knew it was God’s Word and he changed everything in his life & influence in order to follow God’s Word.

**In the New Testament, however, we see that by receiving Christ, we ARE born into a NEW family: God’s family. It is clear—
*We are NOT captives to our lineage here on earth but have the CHOICE to be agents of change.
* We do not have to follow in the footsteps of our “fathers,” right or wrong—yet we sometimes choose to do so.
I can choose to:
** dwell on the problems from my past or the consequences of my “fathers'” sins that have come before me.
**Or I can choose to set my own path straight, and to understand and forgive the sins of my “fathers.”
* I can choose to seek God in all that I do and ask for blessings upon my life, on my children’s lives, and all who come after me.
*I choose to be a blessing in my family tree. What do WE CHOOSE?

Choose today – and everyday – who you will serve. Will it be God, or money, or work, or people, or activities, or hobbies, or sports, or computer, or religion, or retirement, or popularity, or television, or drugs, or sex, or food etc?
We have many gods in many shapes and sizes, but they do not look like the gods the ancient Hebrews faced. However, WE must still face them and make a decision/CHOOSE. I want to serve God, my father, the maker and ruler of the universe.
“What we believe defines us determines how we approach everyday life”

God’s ways of determining where we invest our time and energy often have little to do with results. The danger for each of us is to determine that we are in the center of God’s will simply by the success or failure of the events we are involved in.*** Our plumb line for determining success can be only one thing: obedience.  We can responded in obedience to the direction of the Holy Spirit.
1JN 2:17The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.
Phil. 3:10 I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,

God does not force us to serve Him. He gives us a choice because He loves us and because He loves us He will lovingly allow us to choose.
The one thing He will not allow is for us to ride the fence(we must choose God or Satan, Life or death). But, be very careful how you choose; choices are long lasting and life changing.

You know, God feels and  loves to be with us and watch over us, even while we’re sleeping. It’s not because we are doing anything for Him, but simply because WE are His(Read and soak on Psalms 139).
We might have even disappointed Him todayday, but it doesn’t change how He feels about us.

God wants you and me  to know today that He delights greatly in us. And with His love, He is there today to quiet your fears, concerns, past shame, insecurities and doubts.
I hope the next time you have one of those down days you’ll imagine that Your Heavenly Father loves and delights in YOU.
Zephaniah 3:17 The lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.”

**Jesus is the vessel God has chosen
to reveal and demonstrate His Way
of Agape Love to this fallen world.
“He who has seen Me has seen the Father…” John 14:9

Psalms 37:4 Take delight in the lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. 5 Commit your way to the lord; trust in him and he will do this:

Psalms 147:11 the lord delights in those who fear(respect / in awe of) him, who put their hope in his unfailing love.

Rise up, in the light of the Lord’s glory where YOU can be restored and renewed.  It is time to stop just trying to get by.  Come and partake of that spiritual atmosphere where you can thrive spiritually and naturally.  Come in faith as the Lord calls you to that place of life and blessing.  The Lord  will lead us.  Only believe.

Mark 11:23-24  “For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.  Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.

Dear Lord, please help us understand the people who came before us, and who I am today as a result. Lord, on this day, I choose to let go of those things which hold me back,(strongholds). Forgive me Lord for blaming others for not coming close to You in our relationship.  Please use me to be a blessing in my family, the Body and generations to come by planting good lasting seed.
Lord, thank You for the reminder that You are always with me and that You love to watch over me, every minute of every day – even while I am sleeping. Help me to completely believe this truth about Your love for me and thank you Father, for sending Your Son for me a sinner. Thank you that through your Son, JESUS I am free forever from  condemnation and to be blessed to know your Perfect Love, which casts out all fear.  Thank you Lord and let my identity be known that I am a follower of You.   In Jesus’ Name, Amen
Psalms 149:4 For the lord takes delight in his people; he crowns the humble with victory.

The circumstances of life, the events of life, and the people around me in life, do not MAKE me the way I am, but REVEAL the way I am.