I Choose Today...

I Choose Today to Do

“Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions.” 1 John 3:18 (NLT) When someone is training for a job—any job—they can’t stay in the classroom forever. There comes a point when they have to move from learning to doing. What good is knowledge if it’s never put into practice? The apostle Paul understood this, which is why—even from a Roman prison—he encouraged the believers in Philippi to act on what they’d learned. He wrote: “Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”Philippians 4:9 (NIV) Paul had spent time teaching, training, and loving the people in Philippi. Now, he was urging them to take what they’d learned and live it out. Faith wasn’t meant to stay confined to their minds or words; it needed to show up in their lives. Jesus emphasized this same principle. He wasn’t interested in His followers simply appearing righteous or sounding holy—He wanted their lives to reflect genuine goodness and love for God. James, the half-brother of Jesus, put it this way: “But be doers of the

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I Choose Today to Speak Life

There is a saying that many of us used when we were kids that went something like this: “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me.” But this statement is not true, is it? Words do hurt, and most of the time, the hurt runs deeper and lasts longer than physical pain. This truth is the reason why we need to use our words wisely when speaking to our loved ones, friends, and fellow believers. But it is especially important when we are engaging with non-believers. Paul talks about this in his letter to the Colossian church when he says: “Use your heads as you live and work among outsiders [unbelievers]. Don’t miss a trick. Make the most of every opportunity. Be gracious in your speech. The goal is to bring out the best in others in a conversation, not put them down, not cut them out.” (Colossians 4:5-6 MSG, emphasis mine) Paul urges gracious speech, aiming to encourage and bring out the best in others—a stark contrast to our human instincts. When faced with unkindness or attacks on our beliefs, our natural response is defensiveness. I confess, I’ve been guilty of this too! Yet,

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I Choose Today to Find God in My Loneliness

I Choose Today to Find God in My Loneliness The other day, I had a conversation with someone I see regularly. As we discussed my upcoming podcast, she shared her thoughts on what people need most in today’s world. Among the things she mentioned, one word stuck with me: loneliness. One such occasion was the psalmist who described himself in this way, “I am like an owl in the desert, like a little owl in a far-off wilderness. I lie awake, lonely as a solitary bird on the roof.” Psalms‬ ‭102‬:‭6‬-‭7‬ ‭NLT‬‬ The owl is significant in this passage because it is a bird who lives in isolation. Owls are known for inhabiting deserted or desolate places, such as ruins, wilderness, or abandoned areas. The psalmist refers to the owl in the desert and wilderness to emphasize feelings of being removed from society, surrounded by barrenness, and cut off from the vibrancy of life. I know there are seasons of my life where I feel like the owl: isolated and removed from the vibrancy of life. Especially after the holidays, where the hustle and bustle of activities keep our minds busy, I find myself feeling alone, isolated, in the wilderness

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I Choose Today Walk Through Grief With God’s Comfort and Wisdom

Grief is always associated with trauma in some way that can be triggered at any time. Recently I was on a call with a couple of ladies and we were discussing a senseless act of violence that just occurred. One of the ladies revealed that this event triggered her to relive a traumatic experience she had 30 years ago, due to senseless violence, in that same town. She explained how she felt the same feelings of trauma and grief she felt all those years ago. Through our conversation, she realized she had the tools of wisdom and knowledge now to navigate this difficult time. She knows where her strength comes from: the Lord (Isaiah 41:10). She has learned that she is not a prisoner of her trauma, the feelings of fear that accompany her experiences. It is only through walking the valley of grief (Psalms 23:4) does she now have the tools to overcome this trauma, this grief. She is stronger, even in moments like this one, where the feelings come back like a tidal wave of emotions. Hearing her story reminded me of my own journey with grief, which has taught me similar lessons about God’s presence and strength.

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I Choose Today to Trade Survival for Thriving

Everyone carries a life tool chest, filled with tools we use to navigate challenges. Before I became a believer, my tools were built for survival—just to get by. But when I met Christ, He began replacing those tools with ones that equipped me to thrive. These new tools came through faith, prayer, studying God’s Word, and enduring trials that taught me perseverance. That is why James writes, “Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing” (James 1:2-4, NLT). With every trial comes an opportunity to build our tool chest—tools we can use to grow and thrive in faith. I think of Joseph, who went through trial after trial, yet emerged as the leader God designed him to be. God used those very trials to equip Joseph with the tools he would later need to fulfill his purpose. I’ve seen this in my own life. I graduated high school on time, but I was barely

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