You Have a Choice

My Choice was to Give My Life to Jesus. Is that your Choice?—R Fritz

I actually forgot about giving my life to Jesus because it’s been over 20 years. I was reminded this week by the Holy Spirit. I spent some time thinking about my choice. I think sometimes it’s good to look at your choices and how they changed your life. This was “the most” important decision in my life by far forever. All the other decisions I made have been made better or saved because of this decision. When I chose Jesus and received the Holy Spirit, that decision gave me the resources to overcome anything and to have eternal life.

When I needed Jesus over 20 years ago, I didn’t know him; I knew of him. I really did not know his nature. I was just looking at solving my issues. I knew in my spirit that God was my only chance. I was not going to give 50% of myself to Jesus Christ; it was 100%. When I said this to people, they said they would not do that. They were not as serious as I was. I considered my choice of Jesus my only shot to change my situation. Ephesians 1:4-5 says, “according as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will.” We were chosen long before birth, and we were predestined by Jesus Christ.

For those who have not given all themselves to Jesus Christ, I ask you to think and pray about it. For others, if you have areas of your life you personally want to work on, let me encourage you that working with Jesus works out much better. There is no way you can try to hide something from God. When God feels it is time to deal with your issues or your past, it is your choice whether you decide to cooperate. To have that spiritual relationship with the Holy Spirit requires giving up your past issues. In my case, the Holy Spirit mentions small issues that are taken care of immediately and would make my relationship closer, and give me a deeper understanding of the Bible.

Those are the benefits of obeying when you get that opportunity. There were times years back that I could not obey because of issues I had. Sometimes it is words I need to tell somebody. The more you obey, the more the Holy Spirit can use you and the more “grace” God gives you. Too many people misinterpret “God’s Grace” as automatic. God gives grace when he sees fit; you cannot earn it. Grace is applied freely by him, and we do not know when he uses it. 1Peter 5:10 says, “But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.” Our God is looking out for us; He knows what we are going through. We just need to listen and do what he asks.

If we decide to go our own way, he lets us; our decision to move on doing it without God can come with consequences. I call it taking his hand of protection off from you. People do not understand that if God puts you on a mission for him, he takes good care of you. That is why you should not have any worries. It works the same every day of your life. The things I speak about are because I have seen how God takes care of me and other people who follow the Holy Spirit and do what is asked.

When I hear the Holy Spirit has a plan, I get excited because I know whatever it is, my God will take care of me. I trust God with my life. That is giving your life to Jesus. When we gave our lives to Jesus, we have no right to take it back. I remember going on vacation 15 years ago, thinking it was my vacation. I learned that when I went on vacation, the Holy Spirit still had things for me to do. The Holy Spirit also gives you liberty to do what you want to do. When we received the Holy Spirit, we went from servant to son with an inheritance from Jesus. That inheritance is eternal life. It is also the benefits of being in the spiritual family of Jesus Christ! Galatians 4: 6-7 says, “And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.”

The Holy Spirit just gave me some thoughts about the respect and thankfulness for Him. I wonder how many of us have given that much thought. We want other people to respect us, but do we respect or thank our God for the things he does for us? We sometimes forget where we come from and how we got there. I have given it much thought and do not want to take the Holy Spirit for granted. When I went to work, I used to thank God for all the stoplights being green when I was in a hurry to get there. This was one of the small things done by God that I would thank him for at that moment. The Holy Spirit sees the things that are happening around you, and when you need a hand, he puts his hand out to help. We get in a hurry and forget to treat our God the way he should be treated. Matthew 22:36-38 says, and this is Jesus who answers the question Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment.”

We need to take some time to reflect on how our God has stood by us in times of need. We need to pray and thank him even in the tough times when things we think did not go our way. God knows what is best for us. Sometimes we might disagree. This all goes back to the choice of giving your life to Jesus. It was all your life, not just a part of it. Your choice will be a blessing to you, your family, and the people around you! God Bless.