"Making the right Choices"
“ MAKING THE RIGHT CHOICES”
In the last blog we taked about failure. I see failure as a tool for higher learning. As we grow we learn from our mistakes and often mistakes or failure, hurts really bad.
To learn and do become a better person, (Mom or Dad or Son or Daughter, husband or wife etc.) we need to look forward into the choices we make. So here is a lesson that will help us make better choices with less failures. It is not easy but we must pust forward trying to become mature in the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ.
I have been wondering about the choices we make from day to day or from moment to moment. The choices we make are very important. We buy (purchase) the consequences from the choices we make. One year from to day we will be living out the choices we have made. Good or bad we will have to deal with them. So I have here some notes that I hope will help us make better choices and then live a life that is full of happiness and joy instead of hurt and confusion.
I pray that special words will come alive on these pages and then go forward to where ever and help someone who is having a hard time making the proper choices in their daily life.
~~~Help in making right choices!!
(Psalms 119:105.) “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”
Gods Word is the Christian’s guide for making godly, successful choices in life. Before you make your decisions, compare your desires to what the scriptures say and ask yourself the following questions:
1) Would you be able to ask God to bless it?
Would your decision be something that you can take before God with a good conscience and ask Him to bless? Or is it something that you know the Lord would not be enthused about?
(Proverbs 10:22) “The blessings of the LORD makes one rich, and He adds no sorrow with it.”
2) Could you thank Him for it?
Would your decision be something that you can openly express gratefulness and thankfulness to God? Or would it be something, which would seem inappropriate to thank Him for?
(Col. 3:17) “And whatever you do in word or deed do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”
3) Would it be to God’s glory?
Would your decision be something that can bring glory and honor to the Lord? Ask yourself how the Lord would be lifted up or blessed by your plans.
(1st Cor. 10”31) “Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God”
4) Would it be of the world?
Would you decision be an indulgence upon worldly, carnal appetites or lust? (Satan likes to use the appetites of lust to capture his prey)
(John 2:15) “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father in not in him.”
5) Would it be a stumbling block to others? (Very important.)
How would your decisions affect the lives of your brethren in Christ? Even if you don’t feel it’s wrong, could it offend or harm the sensitive faith of those who don’t share your convictions?
How will your decisions affect your parents, brothers or sisters? Someone is always looking!!
(1st Cor. 8:9) “Beware lest somehow this liberty of yours becomes a stumbling block to those who are weak.”
6) Would it be a weight or hindrance?
Would your decision be something that would drag down your Christian life or influence you toward disobedience?
(Hebrews 12:1) “Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.”
7) Would it please God or man? (I want to please God not man)
Whom do you hope to please by your decision? Will it bring pleasure to God, or will it appease self or man? One of the worst problems that we have is being selfish!!
(Col. 3:23) “And whatever you do, do it heartily as to the Lord and not to man.”
8) How would the devil react?
Would your decision or actions be considered a victory or a defeat by the Devil’s forces? Would Hell celebrate your choice as a fulfillment of Satan’s desires, or would the enemy be angry and disturbed?
(1st Peter 5: 8-9) “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.”
***9) What would the consequence be? Consequences can be rough!! Really rough!!
What kind of long-term ramifications would you have to face for you decision? Remember, God will forgive sin and poor judgment, but you may have to live with the results of your decisions the rest of you life.
(Gal. 6:7) “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.”
10) Would it edify you?
Would your decision or actions bring you closer to God or pull you farther away? Will it edify (Build you up) in the Lord, or will it weaken your confidence of the Lords strength in your life?
(1st Cor. 10:23) “All thing are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify.”
11) Would it serve the right Master?
Will your decision required you to yield to the demands of someone or something other than Christ? Will it cause you to compromise your submission and obedience to Jesus?
(Matt. 6:24) “ No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.”
12) Would His indwelling presence agree with it?
Would your decision bring peace to your inner man, or would it create discomfort or distress? Is your choice directed by the promptings and leading of the Holy Ghost, or by the appetites of the flesh? We must listen to the Spirit of God!!!
***(John 16:13)”However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth…”
(Gal 5:16) “ I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.”
13) Would you want to be doing this when Jesus returns?
Would you want to be doing this when Christ comes again? If Jesus would appear to inspect your decision or actions, would you be embarrassed or delighted? Would His presence make you comfortable or insure?
(Matt. 24:44) “Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”
14) Would it promote love?
Would your decision or actions express love and harmony, or would it reflect retribution, jealousy or injury to your neighbor or family? The decisions we make should impact love. We should always take the feelings of others in to account when we are deciding to do this or that.
(Romans 13: 8,10) “Owe no one anything except to love one another…Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.”
15) Have you sought the Lord about it?
The Lord promises to give leadership and direction to our life. Consult Him in prayer. Remember, God will never speak something to our heart that contradicts His written Word!!
(Pro. 3:6) “In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”
(Pro. 19:21) “There are many plans in a man’s heart, nevertheless the Lord’s counsel; that will stand.”
16) Have you sought Godly counsel or advice? This is why we should listen!!!
Ask the advice of those who live Godly and have a track record of experience and wise decision-making. Sometimes we should even look to people who have had a rough start in life, but now seem to be going in the proper direction. We should take time to look at people who have made bad choices; the Bible is full of them! There are those in the lives of all of us, people, who have failed, but because, somewhere, somehow, they finally made a right decision and God has let them get their life back on track. I believe this type of person can give some of the best advice. Experience is the best teacher. The ultimate teacher is Jesus Christ Himself!!
(Pro, 11:14) “Where there is no counsel, people fall; but in the multitude of counselors, there is safety.”
(Psalms 1:1) “Blessed in the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly…”
The words of Jesus echo good choices. He has chosen you and I to be His children. He paid the price for the sins of the entire world, which includes us all. The least we could do is to take heed to the advice that has been left in the Word of God.
******************************We can learn from listening!!!*****************************
When I bought my Dodge truck, it came with an owner’s manual. Now if I want my truck to work right and last a long time, I must go by what the manual tells me to do. There are certain things I must do at certain times to keep the truck running smooth.
God has left us an owner’s manual, The Bible. We need to keep in the Word and be ever ready to let His manual help us make the right decisions. Life can be sweet, but it also can be sour. We make it sour by the choices we make from decision to decision.
Thanks, Robert N. Graves Sr. fisherman for Christ.
We purchase the choices we make!!!
In the last blog we taked about failure. I see failure as a tool for higher learning. As we grow we learn from our mistakes and often mistakes or failure, hurts really bad.
To learn and do become a better person, (Mom or Dad or Son or Daughter, husband or wife etc.) we need to look forward into the choices we make. So here is a lesson that will help us make better choices with less failures. It is not easy but we must pust forward trying to become mature in the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ.
I have been wondering about the choices we make from day to day or from moment to moment. The choices we make are very important. We buy (purchase) the consequences from the choices we make. One year from to day we will be living out the choices we have made. Good or bad we will have to deal with them. So I have here some notes that I hope will help us make better choices and then live a life that is full of happiness and joy instead of hurt and confusion.
I pray that special words will come alive on these pages and then go forward to where ever and help someone who is having a hard time making the proper choices in their daily life.
~~~Help in making right choices!!
(Psalms 119:105.) “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”
Gods Word is the Christian’s guide for making godly, successful choices in life. Before you make your decisions, compare your desires to what the scriptures say and ask yourself the following questions:
1) Would you be able to ask God to bless it?
Would your decision be something that you can take before God with a good conscience and ask Him to bless? Or is it something that you know the Lord would not be enthused about?
(Proverbs 10:22) “The blessings of the LORD makes one rich, and He adds no sorrow with it.”
2) Could you thank Him for it?
Would your decision be something that you can openly express gratefulness and thankfulness to God? Or would it be something, which would seem inappropriate to thank Him for?
(Col. 3:17) “And whatever you do in word or deed do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”
3) Would it be to God’s glory?
Would your decision be something that can bring glory and honor to the Lord? Ask yourself how the Lord would be lifted up or blessed by your plans.
(1st Cor. 10”31) “Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God”
4) Would it be of the world?
Would you decision be an indulgence upon worldly, carnal appetites or lust? (Satan likes to use the appetites of lust to capture his prey)
(John 2:15) “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father in not in him.”
5) Would it be a stumbling block to others? (Very important.)
How would your decisions affect the lives of your brethren in Christ? Even if you don’t feel it’s wrong, could it offend or harm the sensitive faith of those who don’t share your convictions?
How will your decisions affect your parents, brothers or sisters? Someone is always looking!!
(1st Cor. 8:9) “Beware lest somehow this liberty of yours becomes a stumbling block to those who are weak.”
6) Would it be a weight or hindrance?
Would your decision be something that would drag down your Christian life or influence you toward disobedience?
(Hebrews 12:1) “Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.”
7) Would it please God or man? (I want to please God not man)
Whom do you hope to please by your decision? Will it bring pleasure to God, or will it appease self or man? One of the worst problems that we have is being selfish!!
(Col. 3:23) “And whatever you do, do it heartily as to the Lord and not to man.”
8) How would the devil react?
Would your decision or actions be considered a victory or a defeat by the Devil’s forces? Would Hell celebrate your choice as a fulfillment of Satan’s desires, or would the enemy be angry and disturbed?
(1st Peter 5: 8-9) “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.”
***9) What would the consequence be? Consequences can be rough!! Really rough!!
What kind of long-term ramifications would you have to face for you decision? Remember, God will forgive sin and poor judgment, but you may have to live with the results of your decisions the rest of you life.
(Gal. 6:7) “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.”
10) Would it edify you?
Would your decision or actions bring you closer to God or pull you farther away? Will it edify (Build you up) in the Lord, or will it weaken your confidence of the Lords strength in your life?
(1st Cor. 10:23) “All thing are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify.”
11) Would it serve the right Master?
Will your decision required you to yield to the demands of someone or something other than Christ? Will it cause you to compromise your submission and obedience to Jesus?
(Matt. 6:24) “ No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.”
12) Would His indwelling presence agree with it?
Would your decision bring peace to your inner man, or would it create discomfort or distress? Is your choice directed by the promptings and leading of the Holy Ghost, or by the appetites of the flesh? We must listen to the Spirit of God!!!
***(John 16:13)”However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth…”
(Gal 5:16) “ I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.”
13) Would you want to be doing this when Jesus returns?
Would you want to be doing this when Christ comes again? If Jesus would appear to inspect your decision or actions, would you be embarrassed or delighted? Would His presence make you comfortable or insure?
(Matt. 24:44) “Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”
14) Would it promote love?
Would your decision or actions express love and harmony, or would it reflect retribution, jealousy or injury to your neighbor or family? The decisions we make should impact love. We should always take the feelings of others in to account when we are deciding to do this or that.
(Romans 13: 8,10) “Owe no one anything except to love one another…Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.”
15) Have you sought the Lord about it?
The Lord promises to give leadership and direction to our life. Consult Him in prayer. Remember, God will never speak something to our heart that contradicts His written Word!!
(Pro. 3:6) “In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”
(Pro. 19:21) “There are many plans in a man’s heart, nevertheless the Lord’s counsel; that will stand.”
16) Have you sought Godly counsel or advice? This is why we should listen!!!
Ask the advice of those who live Godly and have a track record of experience and wise decision-making. Sometimes we should even look to people who have had a rough start in life, but now seem to be going in the proper direction. We should take time to look at people who have made bad choices; the Bible is full of them! There are those in the lives of all of us, people, who have failed, but because, somewhere, somehow, they finally made a right decision and God has let them get their life back on track. I believe this type of person can give some of the best advice. Experience is the best teacher. The ultimate teacher is Jesus Christ Himself!!
(Pro, 11:14) “Where there is no counsel, people fall; but in the multitude of counselors, there is safety.”
(Psalms 1:1) “Blessed in the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly…”
The words of Jesus echo good choices. He has chosen you and I to be His children. He paid the price for the sins of the entire world, which includes us all. The least we could do is to take heed to the advice that has been left in the Word of God.
******************************We can learn from listening!!!*****************************
When I bought my Dodge truck, it came with an owner’s manual. Now if I want my truck to work right and last a long time, I must go by what the manual tells me to do. There are certain things I must do at certain times to keep the truck running smooth.
God has left us an owner’s manual, The Bible. We need to keep in the Word and be ever ready to let His manual help us make the right decisions. Life can be sweet, but it also can be sour. We make it sour by the choices we make from decision to decision.
Thanks, Robert N. Graves Sr. fisherman for Christ.
We purchase the choices we make!!!
posted by Fisherman For Christ at 6/12/2006 08:51:00 AM
2 Comments:
Hey daddy! I love that I can come to your blog and read your messages! It's very inspiring. I love you!
Well, you sure have become quite the little blogger, now haven't ya? Way to go Pops! Luv Ya!
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