I Choose...

Spontaneous Ponderings

Approximately 14 years ago, I was going through a rough time in my life. During that time, I wrote this list of 15 characteristics that I wanted to choose in my life. Looking back, I’m not sure I’ve attained all of these, but hopefully I’m further along the road than I was then. I know I’ve healed a lot and grown significantly in my faith since then. I hope you enjoy some thoughts from a much younger me, and hopefully they’ll inspire you to make some new choices as well.

Photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash

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I choose LOVE…

I choose to accept God’s love for me that was ultimately shown through Christ’s death on the cross.  I choose to return that love with all my mind, spirit, soul, and strength.  I choose to extend that same unconditional love to those around me.  I choose to love regardless of what others have done right or what they have done wrong.  I choose to accept others as they are - for who they are right now and not who they might be someday or who they were in the past.  I choose to always want what is best for others, regardless of whether or not they deserve it.  I choose to be willing to sacrifice my own needs and desires in order to allow others to have what they desire.  I choose to love others with God’s love, free from any restrictions.

I choose HUMILITY…

I choose to humble myself to be a servant as Christ did instead of insisting on being served.  I choose not to think of myself as better than others.  I choose to remember that we are all imperfect creatures that need God’s love and forgiveness.  I choose to see others through God’s eyes and allow His love to flow through me for them instead of thinking that they are not worthy of my time or attention. 

I choose FORGIVENESS…

I choose accept God’s forgiveness for all the sins I have committed.  I choose to believe that Christ has paid for those sins through His death and resurrection and therefore God has chosen to forget those sins and only see me as covered by the blood of Christ.  I choose to not allow Satan to keep reminding me of those sins and to make me feel guilty for them all over again.  I choose to ask for forgiveness from those whom I have wronged, and to be grateful for their forgiveness when it is extended to me.  I choose to extend that same forgiveness to those who have wronged me.  I choose to not keep track of their faults and hold those things against them but to forgive those sins and forget them as God has done for me.