Elm Spring Baptist Church

 

I CHOOSE LOVE . . .

No occasion justifies hatred;

no injustice warrants bitterness. I choose love.

Today i will love God and what God loves.

 

I CHOOSE JOY . . .

I will invite my God to be the God of circumstance.

I will refuse the temptation to be cynical . . .

the tool of the lazy thinker. Iwill refuse to see 

people as anything less than human beings,

created by God. I will refuse to see any problem as

anything less than an opportunity to see God.

 

I CHOOSE KINDNESS . . .

I will be kind to the poor, for they are alone.

Kind to the rich, for they are afraid. And kind to 

the unkind, for such is how God has treated me.

 

I CHOOSE FAITHFULNESS . . .

Today I will keep my promises.

My debtors will not regret their trust. My associates

will not question my word. My wife will not 

question my love. And my children will never fear

that their father will not come home.

 

I CHOOSE SELF-CONTROL . . .

I am a spiritual being . . .

After this body is dead, my spirit will soar.

I refuse to let what will rot, rule the eternal.

I choose self-control. I will be drunk only by joy.

I will be impassioned only by my faith.

I will be influenced only by God.

I will be taught only by Christ.

I choose self-control.

 

 

 

I CHOOSE PEACE . . .

I will live forgiven. I will forgive so that I may live.

 

I CHOOSE PATIENCE . . .

I will overlook the inconveniences of the world.

Instead of cursing the one who takes my place, I'll

invite him to do so. Rather than complain that the

wait is too long, I will thank God for a moment

to pray. Instead of clinching my fist at new

assignments, I will face them with joy and courage.

 

I CHOOSE GOODNESS . . .

I will go without a dollar

before I take a dishonest one. I will be overlooked

before I will boast. I will confess before I will

accuse. I choose goodness.

 

I CHOOSE GENTLENESS . . .

Nothing is won by force. I choose to be gentle.

If I raise my voice may it be only in praise.

If I clench my fist, may it be only in prayer.

If I make a demand, may it be only of myself.

 

Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,

faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

To these I commit my day.

If I succeed, I will give thanks.

If I fail, I will seek his grace.

And then, when this day is done.

I will place my head on my pillow

and rest.

 

---

MAX LUCADO

When God Whispers Your Name