Life choices are the decisions we make in life that will affect our future and determine our path. Our decisions reflect our values, preferences and beliefs whether big or small and they impact our lives one way or another. Our behaviors, emotions, thought patterns and motivations are what defines us. Having the free will to do whatever pleases our flesh, we discover ourselves along the way.
A huge life-altering decision is when we have the opportunity to be saved or to stay in sin. However, when we come to God’s holy highway it changes the trajectory of our lives and ultimately plays a huge part in our salvation. Our values and beliefs are now God-centered when we choose to live godly lives. Knowing that we have a purpose in God’s Kingdom empowers us to make purposeful choices that will define our lives. “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” (2 Corinthians 5: 17)
When God defines our identity, we set ourselves on the path to success and we stand on a sure foundation for life. Peace, rest, contentment and joy are guaranteed. “And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever. And My people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places.” (Isaiah 32: 17-18)
When He molds us, He will demand us to change, improve, eliminate or get started doing something that He wants us to do. Some choices represent sacrifice. It will have a significant impact on our personal growth and productivity. When we learn to align our choices to God’s will, we will achieve our full potential according to His plan. God is a covenant-keeping God. Whatever He promised will surely come to pass and He doesn’t need our help or unsolicited advice on anything. Some things don’t make sense so don’t worry about how it all comes together. He will masterfully orchestrate His plan and promises to His children.
One great example is the story of Abraham and his wife Sarah, whose names were Abram and Sarai at the time this story took place. Sarai was barren in her old age, and it was then that she made a fateful decision. “Now Sarai Abram's wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar. And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the LORD hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai. And Sarai Abram's wife took Hagar her maid the Egyptian, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife.” (Genesis 17: 1-3) Sarai wanted children so badly that she took matters into her own hands and it backfired on her with Hagar despising her. “And he (Abram) went in unto Hagar, and she conceived: and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes. And Sarai said unto Abram, My wrong be upon thee: I have given my maid into thy bosom; and when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her eyes: the LORD judge between me and thee. And Hagar bare Abram a son: and Abram called his son's name, which Hagar bare, Ishmael. And Abram was fourscore and six years old, when Hagar bare Ishmael to Abram.” (Genesis 17: 4-5, 15-16)
But God had other plans for Sarai. “And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before Me, and be thou perfect. And I will make my covenant between Me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly. And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying, As for Me, behold, My covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations. Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee. And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee. And God said unto Abraham, As for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall her name be. And I will bless her, and give thee a son also of her: yea, I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of people shall be of her. Then Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, Shall a child be born unto him that is an hundred years old? and shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear?” (Genesis 17: 1-6 & 15-17) God was gracious to Sarah and did exactly what He said. “And the LORD visited Sarah as He had said, and the LORD did unto Sarah as He had spoken. For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him. And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac.” (Genesis 21: 1-3)
This story emphasizes that even when Abraham and Sarah faltered, had doubts and were impatient, God remained faithful to His covenant with them both. They were faced with seemingly impossible circumstances despite their ages, but with God nothing is too hard. Sarah was focused on the age thing instead of trusting God when she used Hagar as a surrogate to birth Ishmael when the fulfillment of God’s promise was destined to be Isaac.
A good lesson learned here is trusting God and being obedient. “Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.” (Psalm 37: 7) “Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.” (Proverbs 21: 23) It is also good to pray and submit to God. “Cause me to hear Thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in Thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto Thee. Teach me to do Thy will; for Thou art my God: Thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness. Quicken me, O LORD, for Thy name's sake: for Thy righteousness' sake bring my soul out of trouble.” (Psalm 143: 8, 10-11)
The story of Queens Vashti and Esther are two phenomenal women fighting for a cause with a courage like no other. Vashti was headstrong and assertive with a bravery that didn’t work out for well for her. Esther was docile and submissive with a bravery that worked out well not only for herself but her people as well. As King Ahasuerus with his male friends and Queen Vashti and her women friends were having a feast apart from each other, some major decisions are about to be made that would impact the kingdom and also the nation. “On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, and Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, the seven chamberlains that served in the presence of Ahasuerus the king, To bring Vashti the queen before the king with the crown royal, to shew the people and the princes her beauty: for she was fair to look on. But the queen Vashti refused to come at the king's commandment by his chamberlains: therefore was the king very wroth, and his anger burned in him. For this deed of the queen shall come abroad unto all women, so that they shall despise their husbands in their eyes, when it shall be reported, The king Ahasuerus commanded Vashti the queen to be brought in before him, but she came not. Likewise shall the ladies of Persia and Media say this day unto all the king's princes, which have heard of the deed of the queen. Thus shall there arise too much contempt and wrath. If it please the king, let there go a royal commandment from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes, that it be not altered, That Vashti come no more before king Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal estate unto another that is better than she. And when the king's decree which he shall make shall be published throughout all his empire, (for it is great,) all the wives shall give to their husbands honour, both to great and small. And the saying pleased the king and the princes; and the king did according to the word of Memucan:” (Esther 1: 10-17, 17-21)
Down through the years Vashti has taken some pretty strong hits from people who say that she should have been obedient to her husband. She was a very courageous woman who made a wise choice of not wanting to parade herself in front of her husband and his drunken friends. He wanted to show off her beauty but she wasn’t having it. Vashti was confident in advocating her rights in an aggressive manner when it could have cost her life. But:
1. She was standing up for what she believed in.
2. She was speaking up for herself.
3. She had respect for herself.
4. She refused to be manipulated by others.
5. She set clear boundaries and limits.
By not satisfying the desire of drunken men, her defiance cost her the honor of being Queen.
The story of Esther is of good versus evil. This story of triumph is of Esther and her uncle Mordecai, two exiled Israelites that God used to rescue His people from annihilation. Esther was a young virgin who became Queen after being compelled to compete in a beauty pageant when Vashti was dethroned. “And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and favour in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti.” (Esther 2: 17) With her identity as a Jew hidden, Esther would be faced with a major decision that would reveal her Jewish origin and force her to risk her life by approaching her husband the king to plead her case when Haman, the king’s advisor, treacherously convinces him to kill all of the Jews when Mordecai refused to bow down to him. “And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence, then was Haman full of wrath. And he thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone; for they had shewed him the people of Mordecai: wherefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews that were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even the people of Mordecai. And Haman said unto king Ahasuerus, There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of thy kingdom; and their laws are diverse from all people; neither keep they the king's laws: therefore it is not for the king's profit to suffer them.” (Esther 3: 5-6, 8)
King Ahasuerus then issued a decree that went out to kill all Jews, young and old, women and children included. “Then were the king's scribes called on the thirteenth day of the first month, and there was written according to all that Haman had commanded unto the king's lieutenants, and to the governors that were over every province, and to the rulers of every people of every province according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their language; in the name of king Ahasuerus was it written, and sealed with the king's ring. And the letters were sent by posts into all the king's provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, all Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day, even upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and to take the spoil of them for a prey.” (Esther 3: 12-13)
Esther was shown a copy of the decree and Mordecai charged her to go in to the king to make supplication unto him and to make a request for her people. Esther’s reply was, “All the king's servants, and the people of the king's provinces, do know, that whosoever, whether man or woman, shall come unto the king into the inner court, who is not called, there is one law of his to put him to death, except such to whom the king shall hold out the golden sceptre, that he may live: but I have not been called to come in unto the king these thirty days.” (Esther 4: 11) But when Mordecai asked her to consider if she was raised and brought to this kingdom for such a time as this, she changed her mind and replied, “Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish. So Mordecai went his way, and did according to all that Esther had commanded him.” (Esther 4: 16-17)
After fasting for 3 days and nights with Mordecai and the Jewish people, she donned her royal apparel and prepared to enter the royal house, putting her life in danger for the safety of her Jewish heritage. “Now it came to pass on the third day, that Esther put on her royal apparel, and stood in the inner court of the king's house, over against the king's house: and the king sat upon his royal throne in the royal house, over against the gate of the house. And it was so, when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, that she obtained favour in his sight: and the king held out to Esther the golden sceptre that was in his hand. So Esther drew near, and touched the top of the sceptre. Then said the king unto her, What wilt thou, queen Esther? and what is thy request? it shall be even given thee to the half of the kingdom. And Esther answered, If it seem good unto the king, let the king and Haman come this day unto the banquet that I have prepared for him. Then the king said, Cause Haman to make haste, that he may do as Esther hath said. So the king and Haman came to the banquet that Esther had prepared.” (Esther 5: 1-5, 9)
In the meantime, Haman was still intending to personally harm Mordecai and, at the bidding of his wife, had a gallows made upon which to hang him. But we trust in God even when we don’t understand, when it hurts, and seems unfair. God is at work and He will handle our enemies at His appointed time. And as the prideful Haman is plotting, Mordecai is about to be honored for exposing two of the king’s door keepers who sought to kill the king. “On that night could not the king sleep, and he commanded to bring the book of records of the chronicles; and they were read before the king. And it was found written, that Mordecai had told of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king's chamberlains, the keepers of the door, who sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus. And the king said, What honour and dignity hath been done to Mordecai for this? Then said the king's servants that ministered unto him, There is nothing done for him.” (Esther 6: 1-3)
When Haman heard about this he mistakenly thought the king wanted to honor him so he suggested the following: “Let the royal apparel be brought which the king useth to wear, and the horse that the king rideth upon, and the crown royal which is set upon his head: And let this apparel and horse be delivered to the hand of one of the king's most noble princes, that they may array the man withal whom the king delighteth to honour, and bring him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaim before him, Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delighteth to honour.” (Esther 6: 8-9) So the king took this advice and, to Hamans’ surprise, he was compelled to lead the parade honoring the man he hated. “Then the king said to Haman, Make haste, and take the apparel and the horse, as thou hast said, and do even so to Mordecai the Jew, that sitteth at the king's gate: let nothing fail of all that thou has spoken. Then took Haman the apparel and the horse, and arrayed Mordecai, and brought him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaimed before him, Thus shall it be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour.” (Esther 6: 10-11) The Lord will lift up a standard against our enemy when they rise up against us. “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.” (Psalm 23: 4-6)
After suffering this indignity, Haman attended Esther’s banquet where she put her petitions before the king. “So the king and Haman came to banquet with Esther the queen. And the king said again unto Esther on the second day at the banquet of wine, What is thy petition, queen Esther? and it shall be granted thee: and what is thy request? and it shall be performed, even to the half of the kingdom. Then Esther the queen answered and said, If I have found favour in thy sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request: For we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish. But if we had been sold for bondmen and bondwomen, I had held my tongue, although the enemy could not countervail the king's damage. Then the king Ahasuerus answered and said unto Esther the queen, Who is he, and where is he, that durst presume in his heart to do so? And Esther said, The adversary and enemy is this wicked Haman. Then Haman was afraid before the king and the queen. And the king arising from the banquet of wine in his wrath went into the palace garden: and Haman stood up to make request for his life to Esther the queen; for he saw that there was evil determined against him by the king.” (Esther 7: 1-7)
And how right he was. The final nail in his coffin came when Haman was begging Esther for his life and the king walked in. “Then the king returned out of the palace garden into the place of the banquet of wine; and Haman was fallen upon the bed whereon Esther was. Then said the king, Will he force the queen also before me in the house? As the word went out of the king's mouth, they covered Haman's face. And Harbonah, one of the chamberlains, said before the king, Behold also, the gallows fifty cubits high, which Haman had made for Mordecai, who had spoken good for the king, standeth in the house of Haman. Then the king said, Hang him thereon. So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then was the king's wrath pacified.” (Esther 7: 8-10)
As a result of Esther’s confession the king now knows Esther and Mordecai’s identity and his relationship to her. But, instead of disdain, the honors continue. “On that day did the king Ahasuerus give the house of Haman the Jews' enemy unto Esther the queen. And Mordecai came before the king; for Esther had told what he was unto her. And the king took off his ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave it unto Mordecai. And Esther set Mordecai over the house of Haman.” (Esther 8: 1-2) However, the king’s decree for the destruction of the Jewish people was still in effect so Esther spoke to the king again, this time with tears, to plead for her people. “And Esther spake yet again before the king, and fell down at his feet, and besought him with tears to put away the mischief of Haman the Agagite, and his device that he had devised against the Jews. Then the king held out the golden sceptre toward Esther. So Esther arose, and stood before the king, And said, If it please the king, and if I have found favour in his sight, and the thing seem right before the king, and I be pleasing in his eyes, let it be written to reverse the letters devised by Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, which he wrote to destroy the Jews which are in all the king's provinces: For how can I endure to see the evil that shall come unto my people? or how can I endure to see the destruction of my kindred?” (Esther 8: 3-6)
However, in those days once a decree was sealed with the king’s ring no one could reverse it, even the king himself. “Then the king Ahasuerus said unto Esther the queen and to Mordecai the Jew, Behold, I have given Esther the house of Haman, and him they have hanged upon the gallows, because he laid his hand upon the Jews. Write ye also for the Jews, as it liketh you, in the king's name, and seal it with the king's ring: for the writing which is written in the king's name, and sealed with the king's ring, may no man reverse.” (Esther 8: 7-8) Therefore he allowed the issuing of another decree giving the Jews the authority to defend themselves and destroy their enemies. “Wherein the king granted the Jews which were in every city to gather themselves together, and to stand for their life, to destroy, to slay, and to cause to perish, all the power of the people and province that would assault them, both little ones and women, and to take the spoil of them for a prey.” (Esther 8: 11)
Mordecai grew greater and greater in the king’s house as second in command and the Jewish people killed all of their enemies and those that hated them. “Thus the Jews smote all their enemies with the stroke of the sword, and slaughter, and destruction, and did what they would unto those that hated them. And in Shushan the palace the Jews slew and destroyed five hundred men.” (Esther 9: 5-6) The Jews celebrated their victory on the day that was planned for their destruction by the enemy. All throughout history the Jewish people have been treated unjustly, but God’s protection always prevails. He used Esther to advance His Kingdom by preserving the Jews. Esther’s choice exemplifies the power of bravery, wisdom and fasting to evoke God’s intervention.
Esther stood up for what she believed in. She spoke up humbly for the cause. She took the initiative in making the decision. She did it out of respect for her people. She refused to be manipulated or controlled by others. And so, in like manner, rise up mighty warriors of God. You carry a mandate for war. You are perfectly designed, equipped and positioned for such a time as this.
Jesus chose 12 disciples to follow Him and to learn the teachings of God. He taught them how to pray, to be fishers of men, to repent, have faith, be kind, to have peace and joy. He taught His close companions to fear God, spread the message, perform miracles, heal the sick and to love sinners just as He demonstrated and to obey His commandments. The core message of the Kingdom is to love and obey God. “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. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” (Matthew 22: 37-39)
They saw the miracles, witnessed His power, He prayed for them and prophesied to Peter but yet they all chose to abandon and betray Him. Unfortunately, Judas did the ultimate betrayal and exposed our Lord and Savior. And Peter denied Him 3 times and went out and wept bitterly. But he was restored, commissioned and empowered by the Holy Spirit where he took charge and spake the Word boldly, feeding God’s sheep just as he was commanded.
When we are ridiculed, snubbed, rejected, harassed, lied on, hated on, treated unjustly and unfairly, there is a choice to be made of how to respond to criticism. Stay faithful to God and let Him fight the battle. America is in under an invasion of paganism and secularism. The more secular we become the more godless we become. It’s time for a revival of righteousness. Saints of God need to really examine themselves to see if we are truly serving God faithfully.
Life is full of difficulties as we grow and mature. Some are minor while others are major. Our limitations give us opportunities for improvement and our mistakes teach us valuable lessons. Our problem is that we expect instantaneous solutions to our challenges forgetting that the virtue of patience is required. With the poor choices and mistakes we’ve made, God answers the mess of our lives with one word: Grace!
So be thankful for the highs and lows, the blessings and the lessons, the setbacks and the comebacks. “Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what He hath done for my soul. I cried unto him with my mouth, and He was extolled with my tongue. If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me: But verily God hath heard me; He hath attended to the voice of my prayer. Blessed be God, which hath not turned away my prayer, nor His mercy from me.” (Psalm 66: 16-20)
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