“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have a peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope” (Romans 5:1-4).

This is the sixth and final post on this topic of “choices.” By now, you should be familiar with this progression in our choice-making:

• 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.

Our destiny provides our “why.” Perhaps we should have started here. As Stephen Covey writes in The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, “Begin with the end in mind.” In one sense, this progression is really a circle. Our destiny is impacted by our desires, and our desires are impacted by our destiny.  As Jesus puts it: “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Luke 12:34).

For believers, our ultimate destiny is eternal life with Christ; it is to have the confidence that our names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life, to be counted with the sheep at Judgment Day, to be invited to that glorious Marriage Supper of the Lamb. All we must do to have eternal life is to receive God’s gift of salvation. But there is more to it than that. We are promised rewards in heaven. As Charles Stanley writes in a blog post entitled The Judgment of Believers on his In Touch website:

“We are either going to be rewarded or lose reward in this judgment (of believers). Knowing what’s at stake eternally should motivate us to live a life that’s obedient and pleasing to God because we will be rewarded according to the way we have lived.”

Let me emphasize that the doctrine of rewards does not imply that it is our works that save us. But, as Paul said in Ephesians, “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” And there are more Scriptures that speak of our individual capacity and circumstances for good works. God will not judge us on a comparison basis (after all, none of us is Mother Teresa). He will judge us based on what we do with what we have been given (remember the parable of the Widow’s Offering). And Matthew relates a parable about how servants used the resources they had been given to invest, concluding with: “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’” (Matthew 25:21).

Remember, we all have a destiny, and it is eternal. Choose wisely. I am looking forward to the day when I can rejoice in heaven, sharing my Master’s happiness alongside each of you.

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:33).

In Christ,

Judy

“And now, my daughter, don’t be afraid. I will do for you all you ask. All the people of my town know that you [Ruth] are a woman of noble character” (Ruth 3:11).

By now, you should be familiar with this progression:

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

Ruth is a perfect example of how this progression plays out. Her desire: “Your people will be my people, and your God my God” (Ruth 1:16). Ruth, a Moabite, was determined to return to Bethlehem with Naomi, the mother of her deceased husband. Because she was obedient to Naomi in all her actions, Boaz, a “man of standing,” looked favorably on her behavior (habits), and declared her to be “a woman of noble character.” Ruth’s destiny was to marry Boaz and become great-grandmother to King David and a direct ancestor of our Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:1-17; see v. 5).

Notice the verbs in the bulleted progression above. What does it mean to mold a character? Some synonyms for “mold” include to shape, to fashion, to form, or to make. What is it we are making? What is “character?” Character usually is described as qualities or traits in a person. Qualities or traits can be positive, negative, or even neutral. Did you know that the word “character” can be traced back to the Greek charassein, meaning “to sharpen, cut in furrows, or engrave?” This word gave the Greeks charaktēr, a noun meaning “mark, distinctive quality.” 

I love the image of being molded, like a potter molds a sculpture or vase, with loving hands.  God spoke the earth into existence, including light, the sun, moon, stars, land, seas plants, and animals. However, Genesis 2:7 tells us that “the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life.” God formed us, he molded us, he shaped us in his image.

As believers, we recognize that we were made in the image of God. Man’s fall distorted this image, and in our ongoing sanctification we strive to grow to be more like Jesus, to possess His characteristics, his character. As believers in Christ, we have a “new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator” (Colossians 3:10, ESV). And as we grow in faith, we “are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another” (2 Corinthians 3:18, ESV).

The Apostle Paul gave us the list of fruits of the spirit in Galatians 5:22-23: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” To grow in faith–to be transformed–is to grow in these qualities. These qualities are defined as fruits of the Spirit because in our distorted sin nature we cannot possess these perfectly without supernatural help.

Previous Chaplain’s Corners have discussed the process of making choices about our actions that will become our habits. The actions we choose to take and to repeat until they become habits are all designed to help us develop the qualities of the fruits of the Spirit. We choose this path because it is the path to becoming more Christ-like in our character. It will not be easy, but it will be worth it.

“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have a peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” (Romans 5:1-4). Our hope (our destiny) is in the Lord Jesus Christ.

In Christ,

Judy

Three 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 actions mold your character.
• Your character shapes your destiny.

If you have not already, I encourage you to go back and to read the three prior Chaplain’s Corners on Choices. Last week we touched on actions and how to conform our actions to our new heart and godly thoughts? Today we build on that theme to learn how to turn actions into habits.

Why are habits important? Habits are helpful tools. We form a habit through repetition, and when we repeat an action often enough, then it becomes encoded into our brain. The thing about habits, which is a positive and a negative, is that habits can be changed. This is a positive if you are trying to change a bad habit, but a negative if you are trying to maintain a good habit. A good example of this is going to church. As a life-long church goer, I had a good habit of going to church. My week was just not the same without being with my church family and my opportunity to worship and hear some good preaching. Since the pandemic, our attendance has been very spotty and while we always listen online, it is just not quite the same. And that habit of going to church is now broken. I do believe I will resume as soon as possible, but I cannot be sure about that until the conditions improve. Meanwhile, I am doing everything I can to be sure that my desire is for worship, that my thoughts and prayers are for my church family, and that I attend Sunday worship online. In that way I am hoping to feed the good habit when we can resume physical church attendance.

The really important concept to remember is something that Vince Lombardi once said: “Practice does not make perfect. Only perfect practice makes perfect.” We need to be sure we are taking the right actions before we try to build them in to habits. And to ensure we are taking the right actions, we must first work on our desires and our thoughts.

For perfect habit formation, I like to use the analogy of learning a new skill, whether it be playing an instrument or excelling at a sport. The word that comes to mind is “practice.” If you think about practice in this context, you can see that it includes instruction in the action, performing the action, evaluating your progress, doing it again. Perfect practice; perfected habit.

Here are some practical ideas:

1. Each morning pray to God to direct your actions. “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6).
2. Be intentional about learning from others, modeling godly behavior. This speaks to the importance of seeking the company of godly people. The Bible is very clear about this.
   1. “The righteous choose their friends carefully, but the way of the wicked leads them astray” (Proverbs 12:26).
   1. “As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend” (Proverbs 27:17).
   1. “Walk with the wise and become wise; associate with fools and get in trouble” (Proverbs 13:20).
3. 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 any given 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).
4. It helps to remember your motivation for your words and actions. “So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of the Lord” (1 Cor 10:31). 
5. Periodically through the day, reflect on your words and actions from the past hour, during that last meeting or interaction, etc. Repent when needed; ask forgiveness when needed, thank God for his guidance when you know you have done well. “Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? —unless indeed you fail to meet the test!” (2 Corinthians 13:5).

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:9).

In Christ,

Judy

^“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

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:2).

Last week 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

Godly choices begin in our hearts, and we talked about the importance of repentance, prayer, and remembering the great things that God has done to conform our hearts to desiring God.

“For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come–sexual immorality, theft, murder” (Mark 7:21). So, it is critical to get our hearts right to take the next step in the progression of Godly choices to conform our thoughts to what pleases God.

“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5).

The question is how?  When one of my granddaughters was spending the night with us (she was about three years old), she was having trouble going to sleep. She kept having scary thoughts. I told her to think about something happy, but she said she was not able to. The scary thoughts just kept going through her mind and she could not do anything about it. I think that happens to us as adults. We have all kinds of thoughts that bombard our minds: impure thoughts, worries, fears, dredging up past hurts, anger, bitterness. It can seem like we have no control. These thoughts can keep us awake, they can keep us from hearing the sermon on Sunday, they upset us so that we are unkind to others. You know it is true. So again, the question is how do we take these thoughts captive and become obedient to Christ? One caveat. We cannot do this alone. We must submit ourselves to the power of the Holy Spirit. Here are five practical ways to take your thoughts captive to make it obedient to Christ:

1. Decide in advance (daily or more often if necessary) that you are going to submit your thoughts to God’s guidance, and ask for his help, in advance.  The Holy Spirit has been given to us for just this purpose. Choose a Bible verse for the day to focus on when your thoughts begin to go astray and/or have a plan for something positive or productive to think about such as something you are grateful for. “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12).
2. Think about what you are thinking. You may not be able to stop a thought from popping into your mind, but you can choose to continue to think it or to replace it with a more godly thought. “As someone thinks within himself, so he is” (Proverbs 23:7).
3. As an ungodly thought occurs, confess it, and ask for God’s help, then immediately replace it with your Bible verse or thanksgiving. Remember, God already knew your thoughts. When you confess, you are agreeing with God that you need to change your thinking. “You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar” (Psalm 139:2). “The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds” (2 Corinthians 10:4).
4. Repeat throughout the day as needed. “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. (1 Peter 5:8-9).
5. Be conscious of what you put into your minds in the first place. There is a computer term that applies: “Garbage in, garbage out (GIGO).” There is no substitute for the Scriptures; they should be foremost in our reading, studying, and meditating. Good commentaries, inspirational messages, and sound Bible study tools are also helpful. “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things” (Philippians 4:8).

The main thing is to remember that you do not have to be, and you should not be, enslaved to your thoughts. With the aid of the Holy Spirit, you can decide what to think. Some days might be more challenging than others, but just remember this is a moment-by-moment decision to claim your thoughts for God.

One final thought: Our faith is a matter of our hearts and minds, before anything else. “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness” (Genesis 15:6). All we must do is believe, and belief happens in our hearts and minds, not in anything that we do.

In Christ,

Judy