Decision time!

Last night in Bible Study, one of the Elders made a statement that rang in my spirit this morning. She said, “It all comes down to a choice.” A simple statement but one that is packed with power and truth. At some point, you have to make a choice on how you are going to live your life. You have to decide what you will and will not allow in your space and what is worthy of your time and energy. God has given all of us free will but He has also given us tools and resources to make the right choices. God wants you to be whole and prosperous. He wants you to live your best life and quite frankly, most people are not. I’ve seen too many people struggling at home, at church, at work for them to be living their best life. It’s time out for pretending and time to make a choice. Today, God is challenging us to walk in our truth and make the hard choices.

I’ve said this before but I think it bears repeating. If you are not being honest with yourself about where you are, you cannot possibly move forward into where you are supposed to be. Self-examination is the key to a free life. You know why? Because most often, what you blame on other people and things are not what’s holding you back. If you look deep enough, it usually circles back to you. Don’t get me wrong! I’m not saying that the things that have happened in your life are not legitimate or traumatizing. But how long will you allow them to hold you captive?  God already knows what is going on with you and He is willing and able to help you out of it. If you are being held captive by your past, take a look at who is holding the keys. Jesus tells us in John 8, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” He goes on to explain how everyone is a slave to sin but “if the Son sets you free, you are truly free.” You are free! It’s time to stop living like you are not. It’s time to make a choice to not accept what the world and Satan has fed you.

The Lord reminded me of Joshua when He gave me this word. In chapter 24 of Joshua, all of the people of Israel are brought together and God speaks to the people through Joshua and reminds them of all He had done for them from the time of Abraham’s father up to that point and how he blessed them time and time again. Joshua lays it out for them. “So now: Fear God. Worship him in total commitment. Get rid of the gods your ancestors worshiped on the far side of The River (the Euphrates) and in Egypt. You, worship God. If you decide that it’s a bad thing to worship God, then choose a god you’d rather serve—and do it today. Choose one of the gods your ancestors worshiped from the country beyond The River, or one of the gods of the Amorites, on whose land you’re now living. As for me and my family, we’ll worship God.” The people decided to worship God and made a covenant with Him. God told me to remind you of what He has done in your life and encourage you to make a choice. It’s not a matter of whether you are a Christian or not. It’s a matter of whether you are willing to submit to His will. It’s a matter of whether you are willing to release control of your situations and let Him handle them. It’s a matter of prioritizing Him in your life. It’s time to make a choice.

You know, I always struggle when God gives me what I consider hard posts. I like it much better when I can just be encouraging but God is tired of watching His people die spiritually. He’s tired of watching fear and unforgiveness and anger win. He’s tired of watching you held hostage by finances. He’s tired of watching you who He knows He has ordained for a purpose allow the expectations and actions of others to kill your spirit. He sent me to 1 Kings 18 and the story of Elijah and the prophets of Baal. There is a severe drought in the land and Elijah has been in hiding for a long time. God tells him that it’s time to move because He is about to bring the rain. Per instruction, Elijah tells King Ahab to call everyone together including the 450 prophets of Baal. Ahab surprisingly agrees and calls everyone together. Elijah makes a powerful statement to the children of Israel before he challenges the prophets of Baal. “How long are you going to sit on the fence? If God is the real God, follow him; if it’s Baal, follow him. Make up your minds! Nobody said a word; nobody made a move.” Here we are thousands of years later still facing the same question. The only difference is now it’s the internet, friends, books that are God’s competition. God’s response to the people’s lack of response was to use Elijah to prove Himself yet again and the people then decided to worship Him. I encourage you to read the account. God showed out and ended the drought. He has done the same in our lives yet we, like the people of Israel, still struggle to trust Him at His word.

It’s time to make a choice, saints! It’s time to examine your heart, your life and your spirit and free God to work in your life. You are not strong enough in your own might to fight these battles, but God in you IS! Choose today to worship your way through. Choose today to allow Him to take control. Choose today to be free and be free indeed! It’s time to make a choice…AMEN