Choices...

I don’t really have many choices when it comes to styling my hair in the morning. Or any time, really. I can choose between shaving or not shaving. Or I can choose… Nope, shaving or not shaving pretty well sums up my choices. Not a lot of options for a guy with my dome. I don’t have any choices when it comes to the woman I love. I married Lanette almost 31 years ago, and she is the woman I promised to spend my whole life with. It occurred to us a few years ago that we had spent more time in our lives married to each other than we did single. My option there is pretty well limited to one, and I am okay with that. Besides, we have weapons and sharp knives in the house, and I’m pretty sure she knows how to use them.

I have a couple of choices for which car to drive any given day, although the summer pretty well makes my 68 Mustang a bad choice. Black vinyl seats and no air conditioning make driving the Mustang in the summer a trial rather than a joy. If I’m wearing shorts when I get in you can hear the sizzle and smell bacon. I think I’ll limit my summer driving to my 2008 Edge with air conditioning.

There are other choices that come up in life that are not quite as simple as these. In fact, they are much, much tougher. We all face them at one time or another. It could be a choice to do with our health, or our job, or even some hard choices in relationships and life in general.

The idea is to make the right choices in these big decisions. If I drive the wrong car to work, the worst thing that happens is that I get a second degree burn on my thighs and I sweat off a few pounds. If I had chosen the wrong woman for my life, everything would have been so much tougher for me.

Often after we make a bad choice we look for ways to get out of what we have done. We realize our mistake and try to get out of whatever it is we have gotten into, even making more bad decisions as we try to get out of our previous bad decision. Soon, our lives spiral out of control and we can’t seem to stop the spinning.

One of the great advantages of being a Christian isn’t heaven, although I am looking forward to it. Heaven is a promise, but it really doesn’t do me much good every day. To me, the best thing about being a Christian is knowing that I have access to God when I need some help or guidance.

I’ve heard plenty of doubters say that it’s not God giving me guidance, it is just my rational mind or inner self. I’m a fairly intelligent man, but I’m not THAT smart. I’ve seen what happens when I make decisions without consulting God, and it ain’t pretty! No, divine guidance is real, and I need all the help I can get. And so do you.

You have a choice whether or not to ask God for help. Joshua told the people of Israel, “15 If you decide that it's a bad thing to worship God, then choose a god you'd rather serve—and do it today. Choose one of the gods your ancestors worshiped from the country beyond The River, or one of the gods of the Amorites, on whose land you're now living. As for me and my family, we'll worship God." Joshua 24:15

The problem with the other gods, money, drugs, sex, power or whatever you choose is that they don’t offer help, only empty promises. They offer quick fixes, but not lasting solutions. Those gods eventually turn on you or leave you twisting in the wind. God promises to help us, and not make us feel stupid or weak when we ask for help. “If you don't know what you're doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You'll get his help, and won't be condescended to when you ask for it.” James 1:5 That’s good to know, because I need help quite a bit!

If you’re facing a decision, ask God what is best. Even if it is the first time you have prayed, God will help you. It could be the start of a long and beautiful relationship.

Wishing I had more hair choices… Jerry