Month: January 2018

Thoughts on Choices

/ RB May IV / Leave a comment

Choices are hard!

There’s nothing which makes them easier. We stress out over the choice, the results, what other will think. (So often, though, when we finally make a decision we feel free, our stress melts away.) We pray over the choice, we pray over the results, we look left and lean right, we look right and lean left. Our stress stems from chaotic unknowns, from feeling as though we are out of control.

But the problem in our lack of control is something which goes unnoticed in our daily lives until circumstances rub our noses in it. The fact is we are not in control, God is in control. We worry so much about time, about decisions, about control yet our illusion of control once released will free us to see God’s will in our lives. This is not an easy principal.

To move my point home, I want to bring a verse to your mind. This verse comes from the book of wisdom in the Bible: Proverbs. “The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD directs his steps.” Proverbs 16:9. This verse gives me my whole view point on how our lives work. We make plans, we decide to do things, and the Lord works through what happens in our lives to accomplish His will. So, what does this mean to us about our choices? Does it mean they’re worthless, or does it mean they make no difference in the end?

I would make the argument of our choices still being important. Our choices shape who we are, allow us to grow, turn us into the people we are today, and effect who we ill be tomorrow. God above all things wants a relationship with us. This means allowing us to grow and become fully mature beings. So, what about making choices? That’s where this whole thing started. Everything I’ve written doesn’t make it easier to choose between one option and another.

We pray over our choices. We pray for wisdom. Ask our pastors, elders, and counselors for insight. Even then, we still struggle to choose. I want to inject some peace into your life. (This is not my insight and I don’t have considered myself to have mastered it, yet.) If we ask God for something is He not faithful to give us an answer? We act as if He doesn’t. We ask for wisdom then act like God won’t give it. James, the brother of our Lord Jesus, didn’t agree. He wrote: “But if any of your lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who give to all generously and without reproach, and it will be give to him.” (James 1:5)

If we have this promise from God, about giving us wisdom in His word can we not trust it? If God says He will give us wisdom then He will. Choices, then, become easier: Pray for wisdom, make a choice knowing God is faithful. That’s it! If you’re feeling stressed remind yourself God is in control.

These are my two verses on making choices. God takes care of us and ultimately works all things together for our good (Romans 8:28). Remember this and calm your stressed life down. Find wisdom in your life, from counselors – may they be elders, pastors, parents, or others – but also ask God for it.

Good Luck!

Note: I wrote a personal thought on choices back in 2016 on my personal blog and planned at the time to write one for Believe Better Ministries. I did not accomplish this at the time and 2017 slipped away without the thought having been written. I apologize for all who were waiting for this since I posted I was going to write it. I pray this brings you some peace in making choices.

New Year’s Thought – 2018

/ RB May IV / Leave a comment

Well, this year went by in a blaze of speed I had not yet felt. I can’t believe it is now 2018. I’ve been through a lot this year for it to be over so soon. I’ve finished some projects and had to reevaluate others. I’ve missed out on some goals while pursuing others. I didn’t quite complete my goal of getting the commentaries on 1 – 3 John finished in order to get them to print, but I see a bright future in 2018 for the Believe Something Better Bible Commentary Series. I also feel excited for the possibility of a newsletter for Believe Better Ministries. We will see what the Lord permits me to do this year.

My thoughts this time of year are typically very reflective. Christmas is over, things are winding down it is time to sit down and read my journal and see what happened this year. (Most of the time what I really mean is see how I messed up this year.) This year has been different. I am not saying I am different, but the time is different. I still feel reflective, I just haven’t had the time to sit down and read my journal or really put any effort into self-doubt (I will admit I am not suffering from the symptoms of seasonal depression as badly this year.

This has brought to mind a truth which I seem to remember about January 12th and forget again on February 1st. We are not meant to wallow in our past mistakes! We need to forget them and move on. I am not saying we need to ignore them, I’m saying we need to learn from them but then move passed them. There is a verse which is commonly used as a new year’s verse (so you will forgive me for doing it now) and it is appropriate.

“Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 3:13-14 ESV

This is not just something I want to remember during the first and last weeks of each year, but rather it is something I want to remember for this whole year. I am going to put it on my book marks, in my notebooks, on a card in my wallet, simply it is going to be everywhere for me this year. I am going to make it my verses of the year.

Maybe we can do it together. Let’s make these two verses the verses of 2018, and let’s treat those around us with the same courtesy. The friend whom you’ve had an argument with and you can’t remember how it started? End it, forget it. The estranged family member? Reach out to them, you make the steps for mending your relationship. How we treat the people in our lives should be a reflection of how we love God (see 1 John), so, treat your loved ones with full unconditional love (agape love).

This is my major goal for 2018: Unconditional, godlike, love through forgetting what lies behind and striving to what lies before. Happy New Year, everyone!