Choose Life

Dear Readers,

This new month, February, of the New Year 2010, I offer you a challenge.

Let go of the things and qualities that hinder you and set your heart on a course to become the person you want to be, the unique person that you are in your soul. Let nothing stand in your way. Choose life.

Here is a passage from the Bible, the book of Joshua, chapter 24:14-15.

“Now therefore, fear the LORD, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt. Serve the LORD! And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”

The application: Choose this day which god you will serve.  We all serve ‘gods’, whether we know it or not. It is what drives us, what gives us motivation, what sets our priorities. It is imperative that we know who or what we are serving, and that we make a conscious descision to do so. This is my life; this is your life. We have a responsibility to be active in the living of our lives.

Who or what is your god or gods? What is the “fruit”, or the results? Are you happy or miserable? Are you content, or struggling? Are you satisfied, or disheartened? Do you have peace in your life, or anger? If your priorities bring “fruit” that you do not want, it is time to set new priorities.

As it says in the song, “This is Your Life” by the Newsboys,

“This is your life

Treat yourself right

Treat others right

Live like you know you should

This is life

Fight the good fight

Fight for what’s right

Do what you know you should”

SUCCESS

In North America, ‘success’ is an important concept. We ‘need’ to be successful to feel good about ourselves. Thankfully, the definition, however, is variable from person to person and subject to change over time – and each person can set it for themselves. A common one, from Dictionary.com: the attainment of wealth, position, honours, or achievements. Or, said another way: “success is equated with excess,” written by Switchfoot in the song “My American Dream.”

What is your definition?

My definition: Success is being content with little or much, enjoying my work, my family, and my life.

Here is another passage from the Bible, this time from Ecclesiates, chapter 3:12-13:

“I know that nothing is better for them than to rejoice, and to do good in their lives, and also that every man should eat and drink and enjoy the good of all his labour – it is the gift of God.”

TO THOSE WHO ARE UNHAPPY:

What do you need to be happy? Would you still be happy if these things were gone, taken away by the hand of God or the universe? If your health required you to give it up, would you? Could you? Would you remain sick, only to worsen, because you couldn’t let go or change? Do you choose life, or do you choose death? (If death is inevitable, are you ready?)

Is the money you receive from your work worth the suffering that you endure day to day? Is the ’safety’ of the status quo worth never accomplishing your passions or heart’s desire? If you needed less money, could you take the chance to do something you love?

To what lengths will you go to be free from the heaviness of illness, debt, misery in your job, city, or a relationship? Don’t be sick if you could be well. Don’t remain burdened if you could be free. Don’t settle for misery if you could be happy. We have more options than we think.

In general, I am where I am because of the choices I’ve made and values that I have. If I want to be somewhere else, it may simply take time and work, or it may take a complete re-evaluation of my priorities (and perhaps my god). If they are too important to my heart and soul, then I must accept the outcomes. Is there anything else that can be done or changed? My philosophy is this: make the necessary changes, or accept life as it is and make the best of it.

What is your life worth to you? Your life is everything; it is all that you have. The present time in your life is the only time available to make decisions, to make change, or to be happy. Your life is your own, so be active in it.

Dear readers, choose life.

Tagged as: faith, happiness, Newsboys, success, values