Winning Choices

In review of 2 Corinthians 5:17 it says, “Anyone who is joined to Christ is a new being; the old is gone, the new has come.”

Bottom Line:

Being joined to Christ makes you new. The old gone and the new has come.

What this means to me:

Belonging to Christ has made me a new person. My old way of living is now gone, a new way of living has started and continues. My identity comes from my choices. Making the right choices will help me determine today and my future. I can choose to get healthier, find ways to increase my energy, lower my stress, get more sleep, and have more power. Psalm 119:73 says, “Your hands made me and formed me; give me understanding to learn your commands” (NIV). Improving the controllable factors in my life helps me reduce the impact of the uncontrollable factors. I can choose to deepen my relationships. My fear of rejection prevents connections, and the only way to get rid of fear is to do the thing I fear the most - risk!  I need to learn better communication skills, and risk reaching out and connecting with others.  As mentioned in 1 Corinthians 14:1a, it says “Let love be your highest goal!” (NLT). I can choose to trust God, no matter what happens. Psalm 34:1 says, “I will praise the LORD at all times. I will constantly speak his praises” (LB). I can choose to have a confidence that can claim that “I can praise the Lord, no matter what happens in my life.” I can choose what I think about. Romans 12:2 reminds me to, “Let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.” (NLT).  I can choose Jesus as my Savior, a savior beyond saving me from my sins, a Savior for my everyday needs. Jesus gives me the power to follow through on the choices I make.  2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Anyone who is joined to Christ is a new being; the old is gone, the new has come.” 2 Corinthians 5:17 (LB).  I can choose how much God blesses my life. He is just waiting for me to use my wild card (my choices.) It is never too late to change and as such, I end my time this morning with this prayer: “God, there are some things you’ve dealt me and life has dealt me and others have dealt me that I don’t like. But I thank you for the wild card. Thank you that you made me in your image and that I can make choices. Today, in your power and your strength, I choose to get healthier. I choose to do the things that will give me more energy and a healthier mind, body, and emotions. Lord, I choose to build healthy relationships. I’m scared to death, but I’m going to risk building new, healthy connections. I want love to be my highest goal; I want my life to be built on love. I choose to trust you, regardless of the circumstances. I will praise you, no matter what happens! I will trust that every detail of my life is being worked out for good. Lord, I choose what I will think about, and eliminate the junk. Help me to fill my life with positive memories and the Word of truth. Most of all, Jesus, I choose you as my Savior. I need your salvation, but I also need you to save me from myself. I need you to help me rewire my body, my heart, my mind, and my relationships so that the rest of my life is the best of my life. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”