You Have a Choice

by | Sep 17, 2017 | Uncategorized

If I have any Calvinist readers, I’ve already lost them with the title, but too many people blame their behavior on Satan, friends, and sometimes God, while the fact is that people often choose to give in to their flesh instead of taking the way of escape that God offers (1 Corinthians 10:13).

In Joshua 24:15, Joshua tells the people to choose whom they were going to serve, whether God or Satan. He went on to declare, “As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”

Everyone has different temptations, trials, etc., and there are things that we have no control over. But we can control how we respond to those things. Just because the door to temptation opens wide for you does not mean that you have to walk through it. Just because you are discouraged and depressed does not mean that you have to stay there. You may be in pain, but you do not need to be irritable with those around you. The Holy Spirit will help you to walk through those things victoriously if you but stay close to Him and allow Him to do so. You may think you have a “right” to act the way you do, and maybe you do, but that doesn’t make it right. The Bible should be our guide, not other people and not circumstances.

In everything you do this week, ask yourself, “Is this the flesh or the Spirit?” Study the Word so that you know how to better differentiate the two. If you have gotten into some sinful habits that you find difficult to break, find someone who is strong in the Spirit and ask them to be your accountability partner and to help you break that addiction so that you can live victoriously. Overcoming the flesh isn’t easy, but it is possible with the help of the Holy Spirit. Cry out for that help today and enjoy a life of victory!

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Archives

Categories

Sony Elise

Sony Elise

Sony has been an avid southern gospel fan since she first heard The Happy Goodman Family on a cassette in the mid-1980s. She is the co-founder of Family Renewal and the owner of Sony Elise Editing Services.

3 Comments

  1. David Bruce Murray

    Thanks for sharing your thoughts…encouraging as always!

    Reply
    • Sony Elise

      Thank you, David.

      Reply
  2. Mark Anthony Escalera

    Dear friend, as a Calvinist, I actually agree with you on this one. Maybe, I am not actually a Calvinist. Or, is it possible, that you are and just don’t know it!? LOL

    Seriously, an encouraging post that does remind us of human responsibility to make the right choices. You are right that we cannot blame others for our sin or struggles. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply

Tell us what you think!

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Related Posts

Deliver Us from Evil

Deliver Us from Evil

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.  ~Matthew 6:13 This past week, a man that we used to attend church with was murdered. This has brought up the age-old discussion of, If God could have stopped it, why didn't He? There are things we will never...

Love Them While You Can

Love Them While You Can

In October of 2022, my brother and I were driving home from a speaking event when I realized it wouldn't be very far out of the way to visit a widow friend that I hadn't seen in a few years. I knew my brother would be eager to get home to his family, but I broached...

Doubly Good to You

Doubly Good to You

If you find a love that's tenderIf you find someone who's trueThank the LordHe's been doubly good to you   ~Rich Mullins I write a lot about thanksgiving because, for most people, that is not their normal bent. We can receive praise all day long, but it's the person...