“Everyone who has been born of God overcomes over the world. And this is how we get the Victory that overcomes the world - our faith.” (1 Jn 5:4)

What does Father want/need from us today? It is a day just like any other. Oh, for some of us it may be smooth sailing, but for others, it may be stage 4 cancer. For some, it may be our birthday! Yahoo! For others, death is drawing near. But for each of us, it is a day, a day to come to consciousness, another day to overcome the world. I was going to say, “get out of bed and…”, but I am very aware that today, for some, this is not possible. My own father spent fifteen plus years in bed, unable to get out because of a debilitating illness. And yet, he had to live each day.

Whenever our day begins, whether it be in the middle of the night, or the middle of the afternoon, we are met with two options. There are always two non-sleeping “friends”, waiting to accompany us, to be our helper and guide. One is an assigned demon, a Screwtape if you will (a la C.S. Lewis), the other – the Lord Jesus Himself. The one wants to stay hidden, so that we think that our lie-affected thoughts are our own. The Other wants to come into Full View, so that our day will be a continuation of what He intended it to be from the beginning - a walk with our Lover in the park, another day in Paradise - so that all that is available to us in the Heavenly Realm in Him can be poured in, and out of us.

Father said it plainly through Moses, long ago: “Today I set in front of you, Life and death. 

Choose…” (Deut 30:19)

I think that very few of us really comprehend the import – the opportunity and the gravity - of the fact that we have the ability to choose. Blame and domination is primary in our mindset. From “the devil made me do that!”, to “my parents…”, “my aching back…”, “my ______…” - it is quite accepted and universally understood that the management of and responsibility for our present circumstances is seemingly outside of our internal control center.  And yet, we can choose. It is one of the ways in which we bear the Image of the One Who created us. He chooses, constantly. And every Choice that He makes is eternally and infinitely Good, especially as it involves those He loves – us. And in order to have a meaningful Relationship with us, He has created us with the ability to choose.

I am going to leave it at that, it is only an opening thought, and close with a question: “Do I believe that I always have the ability to choose?”

Thoughtful responses invited. To be continued…