Well today’s date is 8-8-8. I kind of like those numbers. I am told that the number 8 means “new beginnings.” Sounds great to me. I can use some new beginnings. What about you? However, I started thinking about it… what do I do with a new beginning? Just because I am offered a new beginning- a fresh start- doesn’t mean I’ll make the best of it.
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How do I make the best out of my life? What do I believe? What choices am I making daily? Are my choices and my beliefs hindering me and keeping me stuck? Are my actions matching up with what I “say” my beliefs are? Are my daily habits & choices reflective of God’s character? I may not be making bad decisions but am I making the best decisions for my life? What determines how I even make my decisions? Hmm…
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Today I decided to read over in the book of Ruth (Which happens to be the 8th book of the Bible). Verse 8 of the 1st chapter states, “And Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go, return each to her mother’s house. The LORD deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead and with me.”
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Naomi’s husband and sons were now dead. She is telling her daughters-in-law to leave her and go start new lives. Here the daughters-in-law are at the point of decision. They must make a choice. Would leaving Naomi be the best choice to make? Ruth decided to stay with Naomi and serve Naomi’s God and well, long story short, she was blessed beyond measure. Choices!
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Life is about choices. Everyday we make them. We make the choice to live for God. We choose to do right vs. wrong. We choose to forgive or be bitter and resentful. We choose to love or hate. We choose to live a healthy lifestyle or not. We choose to treat people with kindness or curse them out. We choose to be happy or sad. We choose to have joy or not. We choose to make decisions that move us forward or choose to stay stuck. We choose to take responsibility or place blame. Choices! We choose to live with integrity. We choose to walk by faith. We choose to speak what God says vs. speaking what we feel or what our circumstances say. We choose life or death. Choices!
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I challenge you today to take an honest look at the choices you are making in your life. Could you be making better choices? For real- think about it. Are you not happy with the place you are in life? The life you live today is reflective of the previous choices you have already made. What could you do differently? You’re just choices away from a better spot. Make the better choice this week. It may appear to be a harder one but in the long run, it will work much better in your favor and will bring you closer to where you want to be. Most time better choices can require change on our part and change can be difficult- but isn’t it worth it!
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Lamentations 3: 21-23 states, “This I recall to my mind, Therefore I have hope. Through the LORD’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.”
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We must remember that God’s mercies are new every morning but we must make the best out of each morning by making the choice to apply His word to our daily talk and our daily walk! Just something to think about.
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Until next time, Stay encouraged and Stay in God’s presence! The choice is yours!
Wendy M. Reynolds