Tuesday, January 19, 2010

I Choose.....

I received this in an e-mail some time back. I loved it so much and truly desire to live this way. May it speak to your heart as well......

It’s quiet. It’s early. My coffee is hot. The sky is still black. The world is still asleep. The day is coming. In a few moments the day will arrive. It will roar down the track with the rising of the sun. The stillness of the dawn will be exchanged for the noise of the day. The calm of solitude will be invaded by decisions to be made and deadlines to be met. For the next twelve hours I will be exposed to the day’s demands. It is now that I must make a choice. Because of Calvary, I’m free to choose. And so I choose......

I CHOOSE LOVE...No occasion justifies hatred; no injustice warrants bitterness. I choose love. Today I will love God and what God loves.

I CHOOSE JOY...I will invite my God to be the God of circumstances. I will refuse the temptation to be cynical...the tool of the lazy thinker. I will refuse to see people as anything less than human beings created by God. I will refuse to see any problem as anything less than an opportunity to see God.

I CHOOSE PEACE...I will live forgiven. I will forgive so that I may live.

I CHOOSE PATIENCE .....I will overlook the inconveniences of the world. Instead of cursing the one who takes my place, I’ll invite him to do so. Rather than complain that the wait is too long, I will thank God for a moment to pray. Instead of clenching my fist at new assignments, I will face them with joy and courage.

I CHOOSE KINDNESS...I will be kind to the poor, for they are alone. Kind to the rich, for they are afraid. And kind to the unkind, for such is how God has treated me.

I CHOOSE GOODNESS...I will go without a dollar before I take a dishonest one. I will be overlooked before I will boast. I will confess before I will accuse.

I CHOOSE FAITHFULNESS...Today I will keep my promises. My debtors will not regret their trust. My associates will not question my word. My wife will not question my love. And my children will never fear that their father will not come home.

I CHOOSE GENTLENESS...Nothing is won by force. I choose to be gentle. If I raise my voice may it be only in praise. If I clench my fist, may it be only in prayer. If I make a demand, may it be only of myself.

I CHOOSE SELF-CONTROL...I am a spiritual being. After this body is dead, my spirit will soar. I refuse to let what will not, rule the eternal. I will be drunk only by joy. I will be impassioned only by my faith. I will be influenced only by God. I will be taught only by Christ.

LOVE, JOY, PEACE, PATIENCE, KINDNESS, GOODNESS, FAITHFULNESS, GENTLENESS AND SELF CONTROL Gal.5:22,23

To these I commit my day. If I succeed, I will give thanks. If I fail, I will seek His grace. And then, when this day is done, I will place my head on my pillow and rest with the peace that passes all understanding.

-- Author Unknown

12 comments:

Parsley said...

I SO needed this post today. Thank you!

Sandy said...

Deb,
I got this a while back, too, and printed it, and took it to work with me. Thank you for posting it today! I always need it.
Have a great day!

Unknown said...

Wonderful words! So wonderful in fact...they are going on my refrigerator as a reminder! ;-)

Beth in NC said...

That is awesome Deb. Thanks for sharing with us!

Collette@Jesuslovesmums said...

I really do like this! So well put and I love the ending because inevitably I fail!
Love Collette xxx

Unknown said...

When you get back you have something waiting for you at my blog. If I think about it I'll come back and leave the link once it's published.

Debbie said...

What a wonderful way to put the words from Galatians in perspective! Thank you for sharing.

Blessings,
Debbie

Maria said...

I love this one too~ especially the ending ... so peaceful~
joyfully,
~Maria

Tracy said...

Came by way of "At the Well." I related to your post in more ways than one. Thanks for being real.

I also really love this post...what wonderful thoughts for starting a day.

Blessings,
Tracy

Brandee said...

Deb,
I came over to your blog today because I just read the devotion running on "At the Well." I wanted to thank you for your honesty in all that you said. I too have struggled with the spending and that is what God is working in me this year. It has been a stronghold in my life and I want to honor God and my husband and let God have total control over this area. I also can find myself on the computer too often and not getting other things I need to get done done. I just wanted to encourage you and thank you again for your honesty. You are not alone, God is working the same things in me :)

You Sister in Christ,
Brandee

A Joyful Chaos said...

Thanks so much for sharing this!

A Joyful Chaos said...

Thanks so much for sharing this!