You will choose the path of life.

“I call Heaven and Earth to witness against you today: I place before you Life and Death, Blessing and Curse. Choose life so that you and your children will live.” Deuteronomy 30:19-20

For the first 12 years of my life, I didn’t know my father. He was in and out of jail and chose drugs over me. I could easily stop there and let that be the end of my story, blaming the absence of my father as the reason for a lot of things I’ve experienced. But I know better because, for the first 12 years of my life, I had a praying mother. Who stayed in church, and cared for me, my brother, and baby sister the best she knew how. I have a choice at every hard turn in life to choose the path of the victim because of the sins of my father, or the path of life because of the love of my mother. I’m here today because the Lord has helped me choose the path of life.

My sister, I don’t know your beginning. I don’t know anything about you, but I do know this by the Spirit, you’re at a point in life where you have to choose which path you will take, but you will not choose the path of the victim that looks for reasons, looks for someone, looks for something to blame for why you are where you are. With the help of Jesus, you are going to choose the path of life that looks to the Lord. You’re going to appreciate who was there for you, who cared for you, and who pointed you to the Lord. You will focus on Jesus, and He will give you the strength you need at every hard turn to choose the path of life again and again.

Prayer: Father, help me choose the path of life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.