Wednesday, September 9, 2015

Are You Choosing Your Own Adventure

          How many times have you said the following: "I shoulda_____, I coulda____I woulda____." I used to say this a lot. Often times we realize a number of options we could have or should have taken instead of the action that we actually took. As I was going over some recent events in my mind James 1:2-4 interrupted my thoughts. It says to be thankful for the trials you go through because the testing of your faith develops perseverance and in order for you to be mature and complete and not lacking in anything because perseverance is needed to get you to that point. I must admit I thought, Who in their right mind would be thankful for a problem? But as I pondered the rest of the verse I realized that every trial I have been through has been worth it in the end. I have always come out of the situation better than I went in and I would not change it for the world!

           When things get uncomfortable in life especially due to decisions we have made we spend so much time playing back the tape in our minds trying to predict a different outcome. We wish life was one of those Choose Your Own Adventure books. For those of you who do not know what those are let me hip you to something good. A Choose Your Own Adventure book was my absolute favorite when I was in the 5th grade. It  was like having three books in one because you are able choose the way the story unfolds from middle to end. For instance if it's an action adventure book and the main character gets captured by his nemesis you could A) have him escape B) have him imprisoned or C) have him rescued. The story then continued based upon the option you chose. Ha! I knew you would like it. Unfortunately life is not a choose your own adventure book. We can make choices but we don't  always know what the outcome will be and there are definitely no alternate endings once the decision has been made.

          "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you..." (See Jeremiah 1:5). When I read this verse I am reminded of how well my Father knows me. He knows what I am going to do and what my reactions will be in every situation I face. How grateful we should be that God knows us so well. When we are stumbling along this life choosing our own adventures instead of allowing him to guide us; He makes provisions for us to grow from our mistakes. How awesome is that?

        So it is with sincerity I ask that you turn off your minds to your past mistakes and poor decisions. We should forget what is behind and press toward the future (See Philippians 3:13). I once heard someone say that today is a gift...that's why it is called the "present". Be blessed.

1 comment:

  1. You're completely right...our present is a gift. Blessings Ariel :)

    ReplyDelete

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