Choices

"Your own conduct and actions have brought this upon you.  This is your punishment.  How bitter it is!  How it pierces to the heart!"  Jeremiah 4:18

Choices.  Each choice we make affects the next choice we will have to make.  Making good choices is vital to maintaining and growing in our walk toward becoming more like Jesus.  When we make choices in our actions that are against God's Word and will, whether we are aware of it at the time or not, we put ourselves in the position of reaping the consequences of our decisions.  Many people blame God for these consequences when these type of difficulties come upon them and they see the results of their disobedience.   God's Word has been given to us by His great love for us so that we can avoid these calamities of life.

When we experience difficulties in life, we should always stop and do a self exam to see if our own decisions and behavior are the cause.  The Israelite people to whom Jeremiah is writing had a history of getting involved in the heathen practices of the surrounding nations.  They made choices to incorporate other gods into their worship.  When God allowed correction and punishment to come upon them for their wrong choices, they cried and complained about their problems and blamed God.  We can be guilty of this today as we try to walk the tightline between what the world says are good choices and what God's Word says is the way to live.

Lord, help us to not stray from your Word and path and follow the world's way.  Help us to always check our own choices to see if we have gotten off the path of Your will for our lives and to realize that one wrong choice will lead to other wrong choices.  Help us to search and see if our own actions have brought about our problems.  If so, we ask for Your forgiveness and cleansing so that we may walk in the forgiveness and freedom of Your way and will.  In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.

Have a blessed Memorial Day, Church Chicks.  Others made the extreme choice to give their lives for our freedom of choice following our Lord's example.  Let's make our choices ones that will make them proud and make God smile :)  Hugs!

"Speak Up With God's Leading"

"Therefore prepare yourself and arise, and speak to them all that I command you.  Do not be dismayed before their faces, lest I dismay you before them."  Jeremiah 1:17

God is telling Jeremiah that when we take the time to prepare our hearts and spirits to go out as a representative for Him, He will be our strength.  We shouldn't talk in a lack of faith, but be bold in our great God's ability to use us for His purposes.  Being sensitive to His Spirit in what we say for Him and how we say it, will bring His life into the situation.  When we stand before men and speak on behalf of God by His command, we will NOT be put to shame.  He will give us His power, and we will not be humiliated.  This takes preparation in His Word and in prayer.  Let's all make the sacrifice of time in His Word, prayer and in listening to His voice so that He can use us to speak life into the world around us.  He is the Hope of the World.

Lord, I commit to spending time each day with you before I arise for the day to read Your Word, pray Your thoughts, and be filled with Your Spirit.  Use me to speak up for You today and not to be worried about being ashamed or ridiculed.  Your Word promises that You will give me the words to say and that I will not be dismayed.  Let Your words be my words and my life be Your life so that You can touch others through me with Your healing power.  In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Prepare to be used and speak up for Jesus today, Church Chicks.  Let Him live His life through yours.  :)