Doing Well!

Be wise and mature in your thoughts and in your choices (I Corinthians 14:20, NIV)

Three things determine how well we do in this life: Genetics, Environment and Choices. The first one, genetics can’t be changed. God knits us together in our mother’s womb and we inherit things from the genes of our parents and family pool. The second one, environment: is more complicated. While we have no control over the environment we are born into or that we are in while growing up, later that can change and at that point we can place ourselves into an environment more of our choosing. The third one choices, gives a lot more latitude and oftentimes becomes the biggest factor how life will go for us.

Two of our granddaughters, from the time they were little always remind my husband at the end of a visit, “Granddad, make good choices.” Certainly they are not the originator of such wise counsel. Maybe it’s the counsel God spoke to his treasured creation in the Garden of Eden, “Adam, Eve, make good choices…” of course we all know how that turned out. These must be the words he speaks over us as we come out of the womb, “Dear child, make good choices.”

Good choices don’t come easily nor automatically. We must be observant, willing, thoughtful, logical, pragmatic, honest with ourselves, and willing to marry experience, knowledge and wisdom in order to make the kind of choices that serve us well and become good choices. How comforting and reassuring to know that even when we do not come out with the greatest genes or have experienced the best or healthiest environment or even made ethe best or wisest choices our God is a redeeming, forgiving, and creative God and he can do anything at all even with the worst lived-lives. Even when all the life-cards seemed to be stacked against us He can still make the very best life if we give it over to him. He is that powerful and loves us that much! Let’s Pray,

You can do anything God so we give you our lives as complicated and complex as they may be and ask you to help us to do well. Amen

Reflective Questions for Soul-Tending:

What part of your life does today’s message touch?

How will you incorporate today’s message into your plan of soul-care?