How to Choose Life through God honoring choices

How to Choose Life through God honoring choices is the beginning of a series based on the premise of our choices in our every day lives. Simple yah? Mmm, not so quite.

Everything we do is a choice. And the choices that we make are equivalent to the sum of our lives.

Sometimes our choices not only affect us, but also those around us. So how do we see life through the lens of choices and how do we choose life?

To give foundation to this topic, let’s begin in the inerrancy of the scriptures. At the sermon on the mount Jesus said:

“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.” (Pause for reflection) “But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” Matthew 7:13-14

So here we have a fork in the road; two paths, two choices.

That verse tells us that many people make the choice to take the broad path to destruction. Why do you think that’s so?

I’ll tell you why, because it’s easy to succumb to our flesh and even justify feeding our flesh, essentially. It’s not as easy to resist the many temptations that you find on the road to destruction.

Trust me, I’ve willingly walked that path one too many times and have even been lost on that path more times that I can count.

BUT GOD. Friends, with God, ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE! (Matthew 19:26)

In this series, we’re going to focus on what it looks like to choose life on the narrow road that leads to life.

And so it begins..

In Genesis 3 God told Adam and Eve not to eat from the forbidden tree in the garden of Eden. Then appears the serpent who deceived Eve into thinking it was actually okay to eat from this tree. Eve then convinced Adam it was “all good” and he ate the fruit with her.

Eve chose to disobey God and sin has officially entered into the world. The broad road has been growing ever since.

You can read about the repercussion of their choice in Genesis 3:16-24.

Just like Eve who didn’t resist the temptation to eat the forbidden fruit, so do we find ourselves on the wrong path in life. But it’s never too late to take that detour through the small gate on the narrow road.

I know all too well what it’s like to cross paths, I’ve even teetered between the two paths.

I can so relate to Paul when he said “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.” 1 Timothy 1:15 Preach Paul, Preach.

How to Choose Life through God honoring choices

Fast forward to the New Testament & allow me to break this down in a nutshell. Thankfully, for us, the veil was torn! (Matthew 27:50-51) and we now have access to God through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. John 14:6

Jesus gave us a helper, the Holy Spirit.

“If you love me, obey my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth.” John 14:15-17

So how do we choose life and how do we resist temptation? Living a Holy Spirit led life, that’s how. We are not capable of this on our own.

We are confident of all this because of our great trust in God through Christ. It is not that we think we are qualified to do anything on our own. Our qualification comes from God. He has enabled us to be ministers of his new covenant. This is a covenant not of written laws, but of the Spirit. The old written covenant ends in death; but under the new covenant, the Spirit gives life. 2 Corinthians 3:4-6 NLT

Living a Holy Spirit Led Life

Living a Holy Spirit led life is the secret to life and it’s not even a secret! Have you ever wished you were more patient, more loving, made better choices, didn’t feel so defeated, have assurance in your future? Then you need to start living your life led by the Holy Spirit.

Depending on where you are in your walk with the Lord, you might be thinking “what are you even talking about Melissa? who on earth is the Holy Spirit?” Yes, I said who..

The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God, living inside of you, if you’ve accepted & received Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior.

The Holy Spirit (our helper) is a discerner of the thoughts, leads us in truth and transforms us into the image of God through a sanctification process. Living a life led by the Holy Spirit allows us to live a life that brings honor to God through our choices.

“So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses.” Galatians 5:16-18

Read more on the work of the Holy Spirit here: What is the Fruit of the Spirit?

God is Faithful

God, what have I done with your faithfulness to me?

How do I honor God with my life? Am I making God honoring choices?

Am I living out my Salvation with fear and trembling? (Philippians 2:12-13) Am I walking in love, walking in light, honoring my husband and my marriage? (Ephesians 5)

Am I treating my body as a temple of your Spirit and raising my kids in the way they should go? Are my lips speaking words of life or are they tearing others down? (Ephesians 4:29)

Am I angry, fearful, bitter, judgmental, do I gossip, do I have self-control? Perhaps you’re in an adulterous relationship or you’re living in shame from your past. Do you need healing, restoration, purpose?

Listen, the list goes on. Am I living in fear OR trusting in God and choosing peace and freedom, love & life more abundantly?

Friends, we need the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. This is the Will of God for our lives.

We must allow scripture to penetrate our minds through the studying & application of God’s Word. Develop a personal relationship with Jesus Christ through prayer and live a life led by God’s Spirit.

And this my friends is how to choose life through God honoring choices.

So are you with me? Will you commit with me to CHOOSE LIFE? I’m super excited about this series and will be posting practical ways to choose life. If you’d like to sign up for my newsletter, be sure to do so and you won’t miss out on any of the posts.

CHOOSING LIFE SERIES, START HERE.

Please, if you’re excited about this too, share with your friends and let’s build an army of God fearing women who choose life and defeat the enemy! I’m ready to see lives changed and bring glory to God.

Please take a moment to leave a comment, I love hearing from you!

Thanks so much for reading and encourage someone today!