I Choose Today...

I Choose Today to Find God in the Unexpected

One of the things we can ascertain from reading the Bible and living as a child of God, is He rarely, if ever, does things the way we expect or anticipate. As a result, we see over and over again stories of missing God’s goodness and miracles God is doing in and among us. Even worse, we risk missing the fullness of His presence. John 1:10-11 (NLT) “He came into the very world He created, but the world didn’t recognize Him. He came to His own people, and even they rejected Him.” It broke Jesus’ heart that the city which was the center of His chosen people, didn’t recognize Him. We might think they were foolish not to recognize and accept Him when He was walking among us, right? But we do the same thing, don’t we? We think we are right in our expectations of God because it makes sense to us. But that is where we miss recognizing that He is walking among us. Isaiah 55:8-9 says, “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so

Read More »

I Choose Today to Learn to Listen

In our previous sessions, we’ve explored what to talk to God about and how to talk to Him. Today, let’s dive into the different ways God speaks to us and how we can listen. In any relationship, communication is crucial. We invest time and effort to learn how to speak effectively and, just as importantly, how to be a better listener. Our relationship with God is no different—it requires intentionality to understand how to communicate and listen when He speaks. But how does God speak to us? Here are some ways: Through His Word (the Bible): – 2 Timothy 3:16-17: “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness…” – Psalms 119:105 NLT: “Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.” God gives us guidance, step by step, as we spend time with Him. Through Teachers and Pastors: – Ephesians 4:11-12: “So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service…” Sometimes, God uses a pastor’s message, a teacher’s insight, or even a blogger’s post to speak to us. Through Other People: – Proverbs 27:17:

Read More »

I Choose Today to Exhibit Self-Discipline

Self-control/discipline seems elusive sometimes. In this a day and age, people (myself included) can react inappropriately to situations. What does it mean to have self-discipline, and where does self-control come from? Self-control and self-discipline are closely related concepts, but there is a subtle difference between them: Self-control typically refers to the ability to restrain one’s impulses, desires, or emotions in the moment, particularly in situations where there may be temptations or distractions. It involves exercising moderation and making wise choices. One of the things I have exercised self-control is when it comes to eating sweets. I have learned to control my blood sugar with making life choices with my food. However, I do allow myself one bite of sweets when dessert is offered. This aligns with exercising moderation while making wise choices for my health. Self-discipline, on the other hand, is more about the ability to control one’s behavior and habits over the long term. It involves setting goals, making plans, and consistently following through with them, even when faced with obstacles or difficulties. In essence, self-control often pertains to immediate actions or reactions, while self-discipline is about maintaining a broader sense of control and direction in one’s life. Both

Read More »

I Choose Today to do Life with God

Dwell in the house of the Lord forever… Does praying intimidate you? Does the idea of praying leave you stumped on how to begin, what to say, or even how to talk to the God of the universe? My sister and I live far apart from one another: one in the western part and one on the eastern part of the country. We maybe see each other once or twice a year. However, we do not let our proximity to one another get in the way of enjoying our relationship together. We can spend hours on the phone just doing life together. We could be running errands, cleaning the house, making dinner, driving home from the city (which for me is about an hour). Sometimes she bumps into someone she knows and has a conversation, and I just hang out as if I was standing next to her.  When she is done, we pick up where we left off. We can have a deep conversation, talk about our problems, give each other guidance, laugh together, cry together, be still and quiet together. That is the relationship David had with God. All David wanted to do was spend all his time

Read More »

I Choose Today to work on small things

Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” We tend to think of this verse for the big things: not getting a job, losing a loved one, a medical diagnosis, etc.. But what about the small stuff, the little things? Recently, I had a conversation with a customer service person about a mistake that happened on a shipment. After explaining the problem (there was a glitch in their system), she started off her explanation by saying I needed to be better at checking things on my end. Well that just got my heckles up and I responded in a negative way. The conversation escalated to where we were each responding negatively to one another and not really resolving the issue. The Holy Spirit convicted me so I stopped the conversation by asking her to talk to my husband because I needed to get to a meeting. The conversation between this rep and my husband lasted 3 minutes in which resulted in a resolution of the situation. So, how is this for good, you ask? Seems to me that

Read More »