Choosing
I want to lose 10 or 15 pounds and I know what I have to do. I should exercise quite a bit more and eat a little less. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that if I chose to do those simple things, and then did them, I would lose the weight. I know what I have to do and now it’s totally up to my choosing…
…but those easy, too-good-to-be-true weight-loss solutions I see on TV in the wee hours of the morning sure are more enticing. If I just keep waiting for something that is going to take the work and time out of the process, I’ll jump in. It’s worth waiting for. I can live with these extra pounds a little longer.
I’m starting to see that my attempt to follow Jesus is more like that than I ever realized before. The Word of God, both written and breathed, is pretty clear. The patriarchs and judges and prophets and the Savior were very crisp and consistent about what I am to do and who I am to be. A pretty simple message, really, if taken at face value. Something I could choose to do if I had the heart and desire and faith to. But, simple doesn’t mean easy, and I keep waiting for something a little easier. Maybe a “secret key” to living the Christian life that I’ve missed before. Maybe an epiphany. Maybe a Holy-Spirit-transformation that will somehow make me want to do the right thing and be the right thing.
I believe that there are mysteries in our faith, and people do have legit epiphanies and holy transformations. There are many things beyond my will-power, and most things that God has to control, not me. But, I believe that the ability to choose to do what I know is right and righteous is within my power most of the time, and I simply choose not to…
Yeah, yeah, yeah, the Apostle Paul voiced his frustration with knowing-what-to-do-and-not-doing-it. I’m not half the man he was. I’m sure that I can’t totally be my own master either. But I also can’t let God (or Paul) be my excuse for not doing what I’ve been told or for doing what I know is wrong. I can’t believe any more that God will come and overpower me with the right choices or that He will propel my body, against my will, to do what is right. That is a rapid-weight-loss scam and a get-rich-quick scheme, and I can’t buy into it.
It all comes down to believing in the reality of God, believing that what He says is true, and believing that was He has spoken is out of love and care for me. If I can grasp those things, I can trust Him. If I can trust Him, I can take the risk of simply choosing to do what He says: Pray. Search the Scriptures. Give up my possessions for those in need. Live for today. Surrender my sense of self-preservation to Him. Listen for His voice. Go where He sends me. Love unconditionally. Introduce other people to Him. Bring beauty to my surroundings for His fame.
I can choose to do all of that and He loves me enough to allow me to make the choice. His own design dictates that the only thing He doesn’t have the power to do is force me to choose what is right.
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Wow and uyy at the same time! Lord you are truth, rock solid. You are love pure, sacrificing, activiely working in ways I cannot even imagine. In our relationship you are clearly wiser, more experienced – wise enough to let me fall and get back up again and again and not hold it against me. How great is that? I’m not so great at relationsships (still learning how to really love my husband of 32 years) but Lord step by step you’re teaching me what it is to listen, to trust you. Lord in this moment, I choose to move beyond my illusions of safety towards your heart. Today, and just one day at a time, help me Lord to put on your armor and to shout unto you God with a voice of triumph!! Thanks for loving me, being so patient with me. Sabrina
Doug I think our problem is we have too many excuses why we don’t do those things. My favorite show is on, I have to go do this, I have to go do that. I remember before my dad passed away him calling me to come help him do some stuff around the house. I was “too busy” and had “too many things to do.” I remember thinking to myself on the day he passed… I just wish I would’ve spent more time with him, and I remember trying to think what I was doing on those days I couldn’t help him… I couldn’t!!!! I often times think that our life with our eternal father is like that and by choosing not to spend time with our God now, are we gonna regret it in the future and be forced to ask ourselves what we were doing that was so important not to spend time with him?
I think deep down I have a love/hate relationship with the knowledge that the message is so simple. I love that God’s Will for us is so simple, that we are able to comprehend it and follow it. However, I hate that it is simple because simple usually does mean easy. I hate that it is simple because in most cases I know what is right, but make the conscious decision to not do the right thing.
A friend recently asked me if one day we will do the things we actually want to do, or, more specifically, stop the things which we do not want to do. Without much thought I told him no. But as he and I talked, and I’ve thought about it since then, we are capable of it, just truly, in earnest, do we want to stop? As we allow Christ to heal our wounds, and respond accordingly (making the right choice), the things we want to do begin to shine.
Some Audio Adrenaline lyrics come to mind: “If I keep my eyes on Jesus, I can walk on water.”
I couldn’t agree more with you guys on this. I think as humans we share the same attitude towards God. “Why did you make it so simple?” As a human I want or feel I need to do more. If I do something I know is against God, I feel I really need to make it up to Him. Why, He never asked me to make it up to Him. He basically tells me, “We can talk about it, I already forgive you, so get over yourself and let’s get going.” That’s too simple for me, but if I don’t accept that I will never lose those 10 to 15 pounds. Sorry Doug, a little play on words.
I have heard this for a while now. “A simple message for simple people.”
Kevin, rockin’ the Audio A.
Cool stuff, guys! Thanks for the comments!
Danno, don’t drop 15 lbs., you’ll be inside -out!