We Have A Choice!

by Kay Heitsch

We have a choice every day on how we will think and live!

For many years I lived by how I felt. I lived a life of worry, high tension, and anger. I worried a lot! What if this or what if that? Because of worrying all the time, I was under a lot of tension. When I sat down, my legs actually shook from being so tense. Plus, I had an undercurrent of anger. Did I have a right to be angry? You bet I did! I won't go into all the reasons I had to be angry, but I was!

I was also very negative. It was actually amusing when I think back. I had a neighbor who would call me every morning. Her first words were, "Well, what can we (blank) about today?" We lived in a beautiful neighborhood, had terrific families, but our focus was on complaining and finding things we didn't like. Somehow, I knew this was not the way to live. But I didn't like the way I saw religious people live either. I knew there must be a better way.

I wasn't much of a reader, but I decided to go to the library. I wasn't even sure what I was looking for. However, after going up and down the aisles, I found several books that seemed interesting. I took them home and started to read them.

Some of these books were really inspiring to me. They actually showed a different and better way to live. I wasn't too happy when I saw that this way of life was coming from the Bible. The people I knew who were religious didn't live this way! If there was one thing, I knew I did not want to be like them at all.

To make this point very clear, I'll tell a little story about myself. One day, many years before my trip to the library, a minister dropped by our home. He was sent by someone who thought I needed to go to church. I was smoking a cigarette when he came in. He was much opposed to smoking, as he was to all of my lifestyles. Anyway, he asked if I wanted to go to Heaven. My response was sharp and to the point. I answered, "No, if people like you are going to be there. I don't want to spend one hour a week with you, let alone eternity!" Let's just say this didn't go over well, and he left.

As I said, I knew my way of thinking and acting was not helping me. As I continued reading these books, which showed people living a better way, I could see that this overcoming, joyous life was made possible by putting Bible principles into practice. This was blowing my mind. I could hardly believe it! Why on this earth were people, I knew, who called themselves Christians, not living this way? I wanted to live this new life that these people in the books were living!

I started to type some of the tips from these books and put them into practice to see if they actually worked. Much to my surprise, they did! I was feeling more relaxed, happier, and less angry.

As I read these books, I could see that the people who lived by these principles were Christians. They not only trusted the Lord for their eternal life, but they trusted Him to lead and guide them in their daily lives. It seemed far-fetched to me at the time, but I could see it was working for them. As I began to put these principles into practice in my own life, I could see they were working for me as well.

One thing I noticed while reading was something I did not like. I did not like the idea that to really live this overcoming life, right here on earth, I would need help. I wanted to do this on my own. I didn't want nor feel that I needed help!

When our 16-year-old son, Todd, died suddenly in a car accident, my whole life changed. I lived in a fog for a while. It seemed I was watching a horror movie from afar. I was going through the motions of living, but nothing seemed natural. I was offered prescription medication, but I declined as I didn't need to feel more numb than I did. I was trying hard to come to grips with this horrible reality, as my mind was screaming it was not valid.

Over time I started to remember some of the things I had read in these books about living an overcoming life right here on earth no matter what happens. Could it be possible? Could I really live an overcoming life after the death of my son? I wasn't even sure I wanted to live, period! There were days I wished I had died right along with Todd. This pain was unbearable. Physical pain is one thing, but the pain a mother feels when her child has passed doesn't even come close to physical pain. What was I going to do?

I started to think, "I have a right to feel this way! I have a right to feel angry! I have a right to be sad! I have a right to hate several people! I have a right... The thoughts came like a flood to my mind. As I sat stewing over my right, I had a soft and quiet thought sneak in. "Kay, you have a right to be happy! You have a right to live a positive life! You have a right to let go of things and people who have hurt you! I'm here to help you if you let Me!" "Help?" Where did I hear that before? Oh yeah, in the books I'd been reading. If I really wanted this overcoming life, I would need help. I did desire this life and desperately needed it to go on.

I'm so thankful today I have allowed the Lord to help me. He has shown me Bible verses that have entirely changed my way of thinking. He has brought teachers into my life who teach people how to have eternal life and how to live an extraordinary life right here on earth.

In this upcoming New Year, I hope and pray that I will continue to grow in my personal relationship with the Lord. I will ask Him to help me live a joyous life right here on earth. And hopefully, help others along the way.

Here are some texts that have helped me.

1.This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24 NLT

2. The thief comes only that he might steal and might kill and might destroy. I came that they may have life and may have it abundantly. John 10:10 BLB

3. Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Philippians 4:6 NLT

4. I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth, you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart because I have overcome the world." John 16:33 NLT

5.Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. John 14:27 ESV

6. By this, everyone will know that you are my disciples if you love one another." John 13:35 NIV

7.. And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on accurate, honorable, and right, pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Philippians 4:8 NLT

8.Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. Proverbs 3:5 & 6 NLT

9. Let us keep our eye fixed on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from beginning to end. Hebrews 12:2 TEV

10. But none of these things move me, neither count my life dear unto myself so that I might finish my course with joy and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God. Acts 20:24 KJV