Everyone makes choices daily.  That’s a given.  But what we need to understand is that our choices influence the choices of many around us.  When I chose to accept the Lord into my heart at the age of twenty-one, the first person that I know I influenced was my fiancé.  He wanted me to forget all of this “Jesus stuff” because it seemed to make him uncomfortable.  I told him that Jesus died for me, so I couldn’t just forget him.  Then, I invited him to go to church with me.  He went and became a Christian.  So, four months later when we got married, we were “equally yoked” and ready to start our family.  I hope that throughout the years I have been a positive influence on my children, grandchildren and all of the many students that I have taught .  I know that I have been told by more than one student that I taught with love.  I did love my students and I wanted them to always do their best, and to make right choices.  I did whatever I could to influence them in that direction.  The road that I took long ago to follow Jesus has influenced my choices and my choices have influenced others.  

Just as it says in Ecclesiastes that I cannot understand all that God does, as I traveled down my chosen path, many things happened that I was not particularly happy with.  A beloved granddaughter died before she could enjoy life.  My husband and I had so many disagreements that we thought about splitting up.  My home is not exactly the place I want to live.  But, you know what?  Things happen for a reason, a reason that God knows whether I know or not.  As the Psalm says, “The Lord reigns!”  God is on His throne and He makes the final decisions, about life and death, sickness and health.  Yes, we have choices that can influence our health and when we die, but  God makes that final decision.  He is a fair judge for all, and I trust Him to bring me through.  No matter how rough the path has been in my life, God has been my steadfast helper, always there when I was a lonely military wife, always there when I was teaching and trying to get an advanced degree and be a good mother all at the same time, always there when I was ready to give up on my marriage, always there. Going to God before I make daily choices has made my decisions better, I think, for me and for others.  That is what you need to know to do.  You are going to be making decisions today…make sure that the Lord who is ruler over all, who sees all and who loves you enough to die for you, is part of that decision.  Pray and ask Him to help you make wise choices.  Don’t just make a decision and then ask Him to bless it…He wants to be part of the process from the beginning.  God knows that what you decide may make a difference in the lives of a multitude of others today.  Think about it….