I Choose

gloriajean · ‎03-10-2010

I CHOOSE

Author Unknown

"It's quiet. It's early. My coffee is hot. The sky is still black. The

world is still asleep. The day is coming. In a few moments the day

will arrive. It will roar down the track with the rising of the sun.

The stillness of the dawn will be exchanged for the noise of the day.

The calm of solitude will

be invaded by decisions to be made and deadlines to be met. For the

next twelve hours I will be exposed to the day's demands. It is now

that I must make a choice. Because of Calvary, I'm free to choose. And

so I choose......

I CHOOSE LOVE...No occasion justifies hatred; no injustice warrants

bitterness. I choose love. Today I will love God and what God loves.

I CHOOSE JOY...I will invite my God to be the God of circumstances. I

will refuse the temptation to be cynical...the tool of the lazy

thinker. I will refuse to see people as anything less than human

beings created by God. I will refuse to see any problem as anything

less than an opportunity to see God.

I CHOOSE PEACE...I will live forgiven. I will forgive so that I may

live.

I CHOOSE PATIENCE .....I will overlook the inconveniences of the

world. Instead of cursing the one who takes my place, I'll invite him

to do so. Rather than complain that the wait is too long, I will thank

God for a moment to pray. Instead of clenching my fist at new

assignments, I will face

them with joy and courage.

I CHOOSE KINDNESS...I will be kind to the poor, for they are alone.

Kind to the rich, for they are afraid. And kind to the unkind, for

such is how God has treated me.

I CHOOSE GOODNESS...I will go without a dollar before I take a

dishonest one. I will be overlooked before I will boast. I will

confess before I will accuse.

I CHOOSE FAITHFULNESS. ..Today I will keep my promises. My debtors

will not regret their trust. My associates will not question my word.

My wife will not question my love. And my children will never fear

that their father will not come home.

I CHOOSE GENTLENESS.. .Nothing is won by force. I choose to be gentle.

If I raise my voice may it be only in praise. If I clench my fist, may

it be only in prayer. If I make a demand, may it be only of myself.

I CHOOSE SELF-CONTROL. ..I am a spiritual being. After this body is

dead, my spirit will soar. I refuse to let what will not, rule the

eternal. I will be drunk only by joy. I will be impassioned only by my

faith. I will be influenced only by God. I will be taught only by

Christ.

LOVE, JOY, PEACE, PATIENCE, KINDNESS, GOODNESS, FAITHFULNESS,

GENTLENESS AND SELF CONTROL Gal.5:22,23

To these I commit my day. If I succeed, I will give thanks. If I fail,

I will seek His grace. And then, when this day is done, I will place

my head on my pillow and rest with the peace that passes all

understanding. "

Bird mama · ‎03-12-2010

Gloriajean, you manage to find the most beautiful passages. Thank you, this one is a good reminder.

There are times when you must speak, not because you are going to change the opposing side, but because if you do not speak, they have changed you.

blackhole99 · ‎08-22-2013

Good for you, glad the inspirational message gets you through the day.

AnikaBrodie · ‎03-10-2010

One of my uncles had an artist's rendering of the ""Fruits of the Spirit"" and each time I visited him I noticed it hanging on his living room wall. Thank you for reminding me of this wonderful man and thank you for posting this obviously inspirational poem.

"Faith, Hope, Love; the greatest of these is Love." ~The Silver Fox~

gloriajean · ‎03-10-2010

Thank you! Something just inspired me to put this on here so I did. Glad I did.

dooBdoo · ‎06-27-2010

gloriajean, This is lovely! I thought it was familiar, so I looked it up -- it's an except from Max Lucado's book, "When God Whispers Your Name." He's a favorite of mine (sounds silly, but I love his children's book, "You Are Special") and I thought if you like the passage you might like his books.

Thanks for sharing so much inspiration on these forums. ${#emotions_dlg.wub}$

(forgot to add, here's the link to the chapter quoted in the original post: https://maxlucado.com/read/excerpts/when-god-whispers-your-name/)

Few things reveal your intellect and your generosity of spirit—the parallel powers of your heart and mind—better than how you give feedback.~Maria Popova