By Elizabeth Roy

“Abide in me, and I in you.  As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.” John 15:4

One of the greatest blessings afforded to we mortals in this life is that of choices.  Like habits, however, they can become that which give us freedom or that which places us in imperceptible bondage at the beginning that progresses quickly to tangible chains encumbering our steps and therefore our very lives.  Choices.  In order to make a choice we must first see some options.  Next, we realize that we have the power to choose from these options.   Finally, we make a choice and face the consequences.

In our daily life we have the wonderful opportunity to choose right.  Our Christian lives can be full of blessing and growth as we choose righteousness over sin. It is up to us to choose and to choose rightly.

First, we can choose to spend time with the Father.  This simple act of reading a portion of God’s Word every day has a direct and profound impact on our walk with Christ and on our relationship with Him.  Nothing can be substituted for the actual reading of the actual Word of God.

Second, we can choose to think on Him.  Philippians 4:8 tells us what constitutes “good things” on which to think.  My mind can be filled with godly thoughts.  This, however, is something that I must purpose to do because our natural state of mind is not on the things of the Lord.  Also, since our thoughts so directly affect our actions, we refer to Colossians 3:2 and see that we are to set our affections “on things above”.

Next we can choose to see all things as from the loving hand of our heavenly Father.  Romans 8:28 helps us to understand that it is God, Who loves us so dearly, that ordains the things that be.

Finally, I can choose to be desperately dependent on God.  I must squelch that pride that claims higher knowledge and strength independent of Him.  To humble yourself and pray to God as your only hope and your only help must be chosen by you.

As a woman I have many choices.  Everyday I am faced with declaring my allegiance to the world, to my self, or to my Saviour Jesus Christ.  My choices and the consequences thereof speak volumes to those around me who are watching my life.  My choices show my character, and my character shapes my life.

This Christian life, this life of mother and wife isn’t for wimps.  Will you choose to lie down and give up the fight or march on bravely into the next battle carrying your banner high?  Are you going to let this current problem run you over or will you let it carry you straight up to the arms of God?  Though for some reason I thought it was going to be otherwise, life is short, hard and sad.  You have to be a very courageous woman who purposes to walk with her Saviour daily if you are to be an over-comer.  For with God, all things are possible.  With Christ, our short, hard and sad lives can also be filled with victory and true, unchanging, constant joy.  Seeing who your enemy is and that you are enlisted in a war seems to help to make sense of it all.

God’s Word declares many blessings to those who choose life, belief and faith.  He wants us to be victorious, to be over-comers of this world.  He wants us to know that He will never leave nor forsake us and that His strength is ever-available to the weak soul who claims it as his own.  He has shed His light on the path which we are to follow.  Oh, blinded child, sad and sorrowful woman, why stay one more moment groping in the dark?  Choose joy, in the knowledge that He is ever present no matter what, over happiness and excitement.  Choose honest peace, in the fact that He is seeking to work all things together for your good, rather than artificial, mood-altering substances.  This present moment is the beginning of the rest of your life.  Choose right, right now.

“Faith holds the promise in one hand and Christ in the other.”  –Thos. Watson

Seeing that I am to recommend a book to you, I was reminded recently of a gem of a resource book that we have in our library at church:  Anna Comstock’s, Handbook of Nature Study.  With this book you can study the plant and animal life around you and choose to see God in all of nature.  This book is perfect for little lessons with your young children on nature and the God who made it.