By Max Lucado, best-selling author & preacher
“I Choose Love…
No occasion justifies hatred; no injustice warrants bitterness. I choose love. Today I will love God and what God loves.
I Choose Joy…
I will invite my God to be the God of circumstance. I will refuse the temptation to be cynical. I will refuse to see people as anything less than human beings, created by God. I will refuse to see any problem as anything less than an opportunity to see God.
I Choose Peace…
I will live forgiven. I will forgive so I may live.
I Choose Patience…
I will overlook the inconveniences of the world. Instead of cursing the one who takes my place, I’ll invite him to do so, Rather complain that the wait is too long, I will thank God for a moment to pray. Instead of clenching my fist at new assignments, I will face them with joy and courage.
I Choose Kindness…
I will be kind to the poor, for they are alone. Kind to the rich, for they are afraid. And kind to the unkind, for that is how God has treated me.
I Choose Goodness…
I will go without a dollar before I take a dishonest one. I will be overlooked before I will boast. I will confess before I accuse. I choose goodness
I Choose Faithfulness…
Today I will keep my promises. My debtors will not regret their trust. My friends will not question my word. And my family will not question my love.
I Choose Gentleness…
Nothing is won by force. I choose to be gentle. If I raise my voice may it only be in praise. If I clench my fist, may it only be in prayer. If I make a demand, may it be only of myself.
I Choose Self-Control…
I refuse to let what will rot, rule the eternal. I choose self-control. I will be drunk only by joy. I will be impassioned only by my faith. I will be influenced only by God. I will be taught only by Christ. I choose self-control.
Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-Control. To these I commit my day. If I succeed, I will give thanks. If I fail, I will seek His grace. And then when this day is done I will place my head on my pillow and rest.”
In Your Words: What do you choose today?
Comments 9
Today I choose peace, knowing that God works together all things to the good of those who love Him and that no matter what I face, He is there, holding my hand through the fire and water.
Excellent post. I just finished reading Lucado’s A Gentle Thunder on the book of John this morning. I choose peace today and will forgive so others can live.
Choosing to focus on life-giving things as opposed to life-stealing things.
~ Wendy
Umm…can I choose all of it? 🙂
But for today and this weekend, I choose determination and self-discipline.
Today I choose faithfulness, to do what he has called me to do, even when it’s not easy.
“Nothing is won by force. I will choose to be gentle.” Whoa! I so needed to read these words before the weekend. I’m on a mission and out to change something that’s not mine to change. Thanks, Beth.
Choosing to NOT compare the place at which I find myself with the places others have been.
Great piece. Actually, this topic has crossed my mind this past, full, week. I’ve chosen to let go of bitterness. Long story made short: I didn’t even realize I was carrying around that baggage, but now am slowly shaking it loose. And I feel more peaceful.
I just Tweeted this post 🙂
Today I choose life. To live it to the fullest as God would have me. To Glorify is name in all that I say or do today! Thank you dear Heavenly Father!