Choose Life

I want to go to Deuteronomy 30:19. It states, "I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendant's may live..." A year or so ago when I found myself in the darkest dungeon of my Christian walk, I had to blatantly choose life for myself. I knew that God had set both life and death before me, but all I sensed, saw and experienced at the time was death. I didn't realize that I was choosing death for myself. No, I wasn't choosing the circumstances in my life at that time, but I was choosing to allow the death of the circumstance to bring death to every part of me. I was dying emotionally, spiritually, and ultimately I was dying physically. When death comes to us emotionally and spiritually, it is only a matter of time before that death is seen upon us in physical form.

So, how did I begin to choose life for myself? Well, life comes only by the Word of God. Not by reading it, but by applying it. Even though my circumstances smelled of death, I had to begin to speak life to myself. Have you ever met someone who says they read their Bible, go to church, or pray for hours, but there is no abundant life in them? That's because they are either lying (!), or they are not applying what they are reading and being taught. I have met many people in my life that say they pray for hours, but there is no proof of victory in their lives. Unfortunately, many people read the Bible thinking its a good thing to do, but in essence it is their life source and applying it is more important than reading it.

Any word that you speak either to yourself or to another is either producing life or producing death. Proverbs 18:21 says, "Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit." The Message Bible states it this way, "Words kill, words give life; they're either poison or fruit - you choose." Well, I'm guessing you're a little like I am, and you want to choose some good yummy fruit, not bitter poison for your life. The only way to eat the good fruit is by speaking the words of life according to God. Any word that opposes His truths is death and will bring death to you, to your spouse, to your children, and to your grand children!

Did you follow in Deut. 30:19 that your words, choosing either blessing or cursing, will affect your descendants? I know for my children I want life. I choose blessing for my children. I've experienced death and I choose life for me and for them. I don't want them to have to fight with the things I've had to fight with. For instance, my children will never hear me say they are stupid, fat, ugly, less capable than someone else, or not capable of success in an area they have interest. Justin has made comments to me that he would like to travel with a worship team as his "career." That is what is in his heart. I don't tell him that he can't make any money that way, or that he can't raise a family while he's traveling. He'll never hear me say, "well dream on Justin, that's about impossible." No way! I say, "Justin, you are a blessing to me and to God. If your desire is to serve him by traveling with a worship team and that is his will for your life, then we're going to believe it for you." Levi is ten and still says he's going to play in the NBA. I have never one time told him that that dream won't happen. Levi can make that dream happen if he works hard enough to achieve it. My boys hear life words from me and that's what I intend to continue pouring into them. And you should do the same with your children. I know sometimes we wonder if their brains are attached, but I promise you they are, and they need life words from us!! Speak Life.

One more thing before I finish. When you speak words such as; I can't, that's impossible, it will never happen, my bills will never be paid, my body will never be healed, my spouse will never change, God doesn't care, I'll never get out of this pit, etc., know that these types of statements are death to you. You must always find God's Word for your situation, meditate upon that Word and make it alive to you. Believe that Word for you regardless of how you feel. Feeling are temporary, they come and go. God's Word is eternal. It shall NEVER pass.

Be blessed my friends. Choose life.