Choices - Choosing Jesus on Our Journey by Terri Hill

Every single one of us is on a Journey. We have just come out of something, in the middle of something or heading into something. One of the things I have learned is the importance of keeping Jesus right in the middle of our journey, our story, our choices, our decisions, our thought life, our attitude, our habits, our families, work, etc. Psalm 32:8 (AMP) I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you [who are willing to learn] with My eye upon you. Question - Are we willing to choose Jesus over our understanding? John 3:30 He must increase, but I must decrease. We must humble ourselves, stay teachable, yielding, surrendering to the Holy Spirit. When we make the CHOICE to choose Jesus to be in the center of our Journey we can boldly say… Hebrews 13:6 “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me? Psalm 46:1 NIV God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in times of trouble. Isaiah 40:31 NIV But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. James 1:5 NIV If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. 1 Thessalonians 5:24 NASB Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass. Isaiah 41:10 NIV So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Matthew 6:25-34 25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? 28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Proverbs 3:5-12 MSG Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track. Don’t assume that you know it all. Run to God! Run from evil! Your body will glow with health, your very bones will vibrate with life! Honor God with everything you own; give him the first and the best. Your barns will burst, your wine vats will brim over. We have a choice every single day to let God’s word, promises be bigger than our problems. DON’T ROCK YOUR BOAT I think about a choice the disciples made in Mark Chapter 4 Mark 4:35-41 35 On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side.” 36 Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him. 37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat so that it was already filling. 38 But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” 39 Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. 40 But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?” 41 And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, “Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!” How different would their journey have been if they chose to just go and be close to Jesus? Sit with Him through the storm. John 16: 33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”Scripture. In this world, you will have trouble but take heart I have overcome the world. Conclusion: David had a choice to kill Goliath ~ He did not back down but ran towards Goliath. Ruth could have chosen to go back to her family but she made a choice to stay with Naomi and choose God. Sampson made a choice to be with Delilah and allow lust to keep him from fulfilling his destiny. Jonah chose to run from God and found himself in the belly of a whale for three days. There are so many stories in the bible of men and women