^“But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves” (James 1:22).

Two weeks ago, we began a series on “Choices” and introduced the concept below:

• Your desires drive your thoughts.
• Your thoughts direct your actions.
• Your actions become your habits.
• Your habits mold your character.
• Your character shapes your destiny.

Today we begin to talk about our actions, the visible and tangible evidence of our desires and thoughts. Will our actions automatically conform to our new heart and godly thoughts? Unfortunately, the answer is “no.”  Some of us have become good at acting. We can act “appropriately” despite our evil desires and/or our impure thoughts. Or maybe it is just the opposite: we act inappropriately even though we know better and wish to do better. Probably all of us have done this at some time, even today. And doubtless you would agree with me that this is ultimately very stressful. However, when we are acting in a way that is in accordance with our hearts and minds, we are showing integrity.

So how do we conform our actions to our new heart and godly thoughts?

The first thing is to realize that all our actions or behaviors are choices. Here are just a few examples:

1. Show mercy to someone who does not deserve it.
2. Look away/walk away before committing lust or covetousness.
3. Give to those who ask from you; lend to those who ask to borrow.
4. Attend worship service.
5. Pray; give thanks to God.
6. Greet everyone; acknowledge others.
7. Get up on time, which implies getting up when your alarm goes off (which implies setting an alarm).
8. Eat a piece of fruit rather than a sugary snack.
9. Stay on your budget (which implies making a budget), not buying something just because it makes you feel good.
10. Read your Bible and pray every day, even if it means giving up something else.
11. Tithe.
12. Switch the television channel to something that is wholesome, or just turn the thing off and read your Bible.
13. Call your mother or father, or sister or brother, to check on them.
14. Turn the other cheek.
15. Repay evil with good.
16. Respond with understanding rather than anger.
17. Speak words of encouragement rather than destruction.
18. Lend a helping hand rather than passing on by.
19. Make the first move toward reconciliation, and the second, and the third if necessary.
20. Deny yourself.
21. Use your gifts for the glory of God.

Secondly, constantly think about your actions and your choices about your actions. This might be a choice about what you say or what you do in each situation. This is especially important if you are going into a challenging situation, or one that you know might have some temptations. Remember that even Jesus was tempted. And he overcame that temptation through the power of the Holy Spirit and by using the Word of God as his weapon. “Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Ephesians 6:17).

The Apostle Paul himself admitted to struggling with aligning his heart and his actions. You can hear his anguish as he writes, in Romans 7:18-23

¹⁸For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. ¹⁹ For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. ²⁰ Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. ²¹ So I find this law at work:  Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. ²² For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; ²³ but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me.”

Lastly, commit to prayer before, during, and after. Paul concluded the passage above with a prayer:

“What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (Romans 7:24-25).

In other words, do not give up. It will be worth it.

In Christ,

Judy