Choices < ? >

"Don't let your choices define who you are, let who you are define your choices"

I woke up thinking about this today.  I don't know if I have read this somewhere, or if it an original thought.  I googled it and haven't found who I could give credit to, so I guess I will claim it.

Here is what happens:  we make a bad decision and we then think we are a bad person.

A bad decision does not define you and I as bad people, even a string of bad decisions does not define who you are.  A bad decision, or even many bad decisions, happen because we DON'T know who we are.  When we don't know who we are then we fall into the trap of trying to be someone we are NOT.

For instance:  a drug addict was not created to be a drug addict, they didn't know who they where so their choices dictated their life and their choices became who they are: a drug addict.

You need to know who you are.  It's imperative you know who you are, who created you, and for what purpose He created you.

Genesis 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness

Psalm 139:14 I will praise you; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made

Isaiah 43:7 Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him

Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to good works

 

Every single one of us where created in His image, we where fearfully and wonderfully made by Him, and we are his workmanship (craftsmanship) created to fulfill a purpose. 

 

No choice we make changes that definition of who I am.  Can I make bad decisions?  absolutely  Will I make bad decisions?  absolutely  Does that change who I am?  absolutely NOT.

 

Now this in no way gives us a "pass" on making bad decisions.  What happens is the more we discover who we are, the more we discover the purpose in which we where created, and the more we choose to fall in love with the One who created us the less likely we are to make unwise choices.

 

In the same way this should change our view of people.  For instance, going back to the drug addict, when we look at them we shouldn't see a drug addict.  Then what should we see?  We should see someone created in the image of God, who is fearfully and wonderfully made by Him, and is His workmanship created to fulfill a purpose, that has either forgotten their purpose or never knew it.

 

So whether you have made one bad choice or a string of them, your choices are not who you are.  You are a child of God that made a wrong choice, so do not let that choice define you.

 

 

Chris