Choices
I have been thinking a lot about choices. We all makes choices. Sometimes the choices we make affect who we are, sometimes they affect just us, sometimes they affect others and sometimes we may not know until it's too late the consequences of our choices. Then again, sometimes we make choices KNOWING the consequences BEFORE we make them yet make them anyway. Why do we do that?
Paul says in Romans 7:17 as he struggled with sin: "I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do." He talks about evil desires and our sin nature taking over but we have a choice...to make a decision to overcome those desires. Sometimes, we fail. Often, we fail. What happens? Consequences and pain associated with those consequences.
As parents, Brice and I are careful to teach our girls that they are not bad, but sometimes the choices they make are bad. We teach them about making wise choices and help them to understand that there are consequences for their unwise choices and often times, especially to a four year old, that is pretty painful.
There is good news! When we choose to sin and we mess up, PRAISE GOD that there is a Redeemer there to pick us up and restore us! Whatever that sin, God forgives! "ALL have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23. God does not rate sin. Sometimes we get into the "sin-rating" game where we get a little self-righteous thinking that if we didn't do "THAT" that we are "okay" in the sight of God and man. The fact is, that sin is sin is sin!!! People are dealing with the pain of their choices everyday and God does not rate sin and we shouldn't either.
The choice to heal. This choice is hard. Which is easier - to put a bandaid on a wound or to debride it? Here are the definitions:
bandaid -
1.a brand of adhesive bandage with a gauze pad in the center, used to cover minor abrasions and cuts.
2.a makeshift, limited, or temporary aid or solution that does not satisfy the basic or long-range need.
debridement
1.surgical removal of foreign matter and dead tissue from a wound.
Those are actual definitions from the dictionary...no joke! I work at a hospital...I have setup wound vacs for people and to be quite honest, wounds are disgusting! I am social worker and not a nurse for a reason! My main area is women's services FOR A REASON! The babies are cute!!! I have seen a wound that needs a debridement and I have seen a patient in pain after a debridement...neither are a pretty sight! The easier choice is clear. It is so much easier to put a bandaid on a wound. To just temporarily cover it up...whether that be with substances, people, pushing it aside, food, whatever "feels" good to you at the moment. Getting to the very core of what the problem is the hard part. True healing has to start deep. That is a choice. It takes a true commitment. No excuses. If we rely on what feels good to us, then we will NEVER truly heal because true healing - the process - DOES NOT FEEL GOOD. But rest assured, the end result will feel good!!!
That's what they tell me anyway!
"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us" Ephesians 3:20
Paul says in Romans 7:17 as he struggled with sin: "I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do." He talks about evil desires and our sin nature taking over but we have a choice...to make a decision to overcome those desires. Sometimes, we fail. Often, we fail. What happens? Consequences and pain associated with those consequences.
As parents, Brice and I are careful to teach our girls that they are not bad, but sometimes the choices they make are bad. We teach them about making wise choices and help them to understand that there are consequences for their unwise choices and often times, especially to a four year old, that is pretty painful.
There is good news! When we choose to sin and we mess up, PRAISE GOD that there is a Redeemer there to pick us up and restore us! Whatever that sin, God forgives! "ALL have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23. God does not rate sin. Sometimes we get into the "sin-rating" game where we get a little self-righteous thinking that if we didn't do "THAT" that we are "okay" in the sight of God and man. The fact is, that sin is sin is sin!!! People are dealing with the pain of their choices everyday and God does not rate sin and we shouldn't either.
The choice to heal. This choice is hard. Which is easier - to put a bandaid on a wound or to debride it? Here are the definitions:
bandaid -
1.a brand of adhesive bandage with a gauze pad in the center, used to cover minor abrasions and cuts.
2.a makeshift, limited, or temporary aid or solution that does not satisfy the basic or long-range need.
debridement
1.surgical removal of foreign matter and dead tissue from a wound.
Those are actual definitions from the dictionary...no joke! I work at a hospital...I have setup wound vacs for people and to be quite honest, wounds are disgusting! I am social worker and not a nurse for a reason! My main area is women's services FOR A REASON! The babies are cute!!! I have seen a wound that needs a debridement and I have seen a patient in pain after a debridement...neither are a pretty sight! The easier choice is clear. It is so much easier to put a bandaid on a wound. To just temporarily cover it up...whether that be with substances, people, pushing it aside, food, whatever "feels" good to you at the moment. Getting to the very core of what the problem is the hard part. True healing has to start deep. That is a choice. It takes a true commitment. No excuses. If we rely on what feels good to us, then we will NEVER truly heal because true healing - the process - DOES NOT FEEL GOOD. But rest assured, the end result will feel good!!!
That's what they tell me anyway!
"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us" Ephesians 3:20
Comments
Blessings,
Pat