40. I Choose To Evangelize

Engage with the transformative call to evangelize, harnessing purpose and compassion to share faith and fulfill the Great Commission. At the end of the Gospel of Matthew, “Jesus came to the [apostles] and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:18-20).

39. I Choose Stewardship

Lean into the essence of stewardship, engaging our gifts and resources in meaningful service to nurture and expand God’s kingdom. One of the most important words in the Christian lexicon is “stewardship.” Yet, it’s one of the least used words, so let us reflect upon it a little today before we choose it. The best way to understand stewardship is through a parable Jesus once told. You will find this in Matthew 25:14-30. Jesus told of a man who traveled to a distant country. Before departing, he gave talents to his servants. A talent was a unit of currency, although it has deeper symbolism that we will come to.

38. I Choose Purity

Step into a journey of purity, where moral, emotional, and physical wellness reflect our reverence for our bodies as holy temples. Do you believe churches are holy places that should not be desecrated? Many of us forget that our bodies are also holy places. Paul wrote: "Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies" (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). Consequently, we shouldn't do anything which contaminates our bodies; we should keep them pure.

37. I Choose Wisdom

Unveil the transformative power of wisdom as a divine gift, guiding us towards a life rich in humility, peace, and understanding. Scripture speaks about seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, one of which is wisdom. There is something special about this gift because it is the most used to describe Jesus and the apostles who followed him.

36. I Choose Courage

Unpack the power of choosing courage over fear through biblical insights and compelling narratives for a life of faith and boldness. A friend of mine decided to go sky-diving one day. The adventure started with a little interview. The videographer asked my friend how he felt about jumping from a little plane at 15,000 feet. I remember him telling her he was afraid of heights. She asked him why he was doing it then. “Because I am afraid,” he said. And I realized that was courage. Not the absence of fear but a willingness to do something despite the fear.

35. I Choose Tongue-Control

Choose the power of mindful speaking. Understand how our words reflect our spiritual health and wield the power to uplift or wound. As a little child, I remember going to the doctor on odd occasions when I fell ill. The doctor would ask me what was wrong with me. However, before I could answer him, he'd tell me to stick my tongue out! It didn't take long for me to realize that he didn't care what I said to him; all he was interested in was my tongue, which apparently told him more about my physical health than anything I might have said. Interestingly, our tongues also speak a lot about the state of our spiritual health!

34. I Choose To Serve

Embrace the call to serve. Follow Jesus’s footsteps in selflessness and humility, uplifting and caring for others in love and service. I’ve told this story twice in the series, but there is nothing to better illustrate the need to serve others than Jesus washing the apostles’ feet. When he was done, Jesus asked them: “Do you understand what I have done for you?” He then continued: “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you” (John 13:13-14).

33. I Choose Excellence

Step into excellence today. Strive for greatness in every action, living a life marked by quality, as if directly serving the Lord. Henry Kissinger, the US Secretary of State during the Nixon administration, tells of a Harvard professor who had given his students an assignment. After collecting the papers, he marked them before returning them to the students. At the bottom of one was written, "Is this the best you can do?" The student thought, "no," and redid the paper. He submitted it, but it was returned to him again with the same comment. This went on ten times till finally, the student said, "Yes, this is the best I can do." The professor replied, "Good. Now I'll read it."

32. I Choose Integrity

Embrace integrity today. Live authentically with honesty, moral courage, and unwavering principles, becoming a true reflection of ethical living. Integrity refers to the quality of being honest and truthful and having strong moral principles. It involves having a commitment to doing what is right, even when it is difficult or unpopular. People with integrity are known for their reliability, trustworthiness, and consistency in their actions and decisions. They are also known for being transparent and accountable for their actions and for upholding their values and beliefs even in the face of adversity.

31. I Choose Revival

Step into revival. Embrace humility, prayer, seeking God, and turning from wicked ways to usher in a transformative spiritual renewal. Today we will choose spiritual revival. Spiritual revival is a process of renewal in the spiritual life of individuals, communities, and even nations. The world is in pretty bad shape, but you don't need me to tell you that. The evidence is all around us. The only thing that can fix it is a great spiritual revival, but how can we facilitate that?

30. I Choose Generosity

Unlock the joy of giving. Embrace generosity to enrich others’ lives, trust in God’s provision, and discover the true wealth in sharing. A wise man once said, "One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty" (Proverbs 11:24). Simply put, the more you give, the more you get, the more you keep, the less you have. Years later, Jesus would say something similar. "Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you" (Luke 6:38).

29. I Choose Conversion

Step into a transformative journey of faith. Embrace conversion, becoming anew in Christ, and navigate life with renewal and victory. Today we will choose conversion. Conversion is often described as a one-time event in which a person turns from sin and places their faith in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. This initial decision to follow Jesus is often called "being born again." Paul said, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!" (2 Corinthians 5:17).

28. I Choose To Remember

Choose to remember the past's wisdom, God's faithfulness, and Jesus's sacrifice, fostering growth, gratitude, and a deeper spiritual connection. A few days ago, we saw how important it is to live one day at a time, with our eyes looking ahead rather than dwelling in the past and recalling all our mistakes and failures. However, this does not mean we should forget what happened. Instead, we should remember them because, as George Santayana said, "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."

27. I Choose Unity

Embrace unity today. Stand together in Christ, rejecting division, to fulfill Jesus’s prayer for oneness and demonstrate God’s love to the world. One day Jesus delivered a man from a demon. On cue, the Pharisees criticized him, saying, "He drives out demons by the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons." Jesus questions their logic. "Really? A kingdom divided against itself will fall, won't it? If Satan is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand?" (See Matthew 12:26).

26. I Choose Friendship

Unlock the power of friendship. Explore how companionship enriches lives, reflecting God’s intent for supportive, enduring relationships. Way back at the beginning of time, after God had created the universe and populated it with all kinds of living things, Scripture says he looked at his work and saw it was good. However, after he made man, the Bible says that "the LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him" (Genesis 2:18). So he created Eve. And the world has never quite been the same!

25. I Choose To Imitate Christ

Embrace a life modeled on Jesus. Discover the power of humility, prayer, fasting, Scripture, service, and aligning with God’s will. There has never been a teacher quite like Jesus, who *practically* demonstrated every lesson he taught. The most notable lesson was, perhaps, on the day of the Last Supper when he got down to his knees before sinful men and washed their feet. When he was done, he said: “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you” (John 13:13-15).

24. I Choose Encouragement

Choose to be an encourager today. Empower others with empathy, listening, and positivity, embodying the spirit of Barnabas. One of the heroes of the New Testament is a man known as Barnabas. He was originally named Joseph, but the apostles gave him the nickname Barnabas, which means "son of encouragement" or "son of consolation" (Acts 4:36). He earned this nickname because of his generous spirit and his willingness to encourage and support others, especially new converts to the faith.

23. I Choose Peace

Choose peace today. Embrace inner calm and spread tranquility, walking with Jesus, the Prince of Peace, and becoming God’s peacemakers. Jesus is often referred to as the Prince of Peace. The title "Prince of Peace" comes from a prophecy in the Old Testament book of Isaiah, where the prophet says: "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6).

22. I Choose Truth

Embrace the challenge of choosing truth. Understand Jesus's teachings, recognize lies, and discover the path to eternal life through faith. During Jesus Christ's trial, Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor of Judea, asked Jesus if he was a king. Jesus replied, "You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me." Pilate responded with a famous question: "What is truth?" (John 18:37-38).

21. I Choose to Listen

Step into mindful listening. Hear beyond words to deepen your connections with God and others, transforming faith into action. I do a series of reflections on the gospels, and those who watch these might notice that I begin every Scripture passage by saying: Listen! That is because, as G. K. Chesterton said, “there’s a lot of difference between hearing and listening.” What’s the difference? Hearing is simply the act of receiving sounds by the ear. If we are not deaf, hearing simply happens. Listening, however, is something we consciously choose to do. It requires concentration so that our brain processes meaning from words and sentences.

20. I Choose Gratitude

Step into gratitude with us. Acknowledge every blessing, big and small, and learn to see God's hand in every aspect of life. One day, when Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem, he entered a village and was approached by ten lepers who called out, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!" Jesus saw them and told them to go and show themselves to the priests, which was the customary way for lepers to be declared clean and re-enter society. As they went, they were healed of their leprosy.

19. I Choose Freedom

Unlock a life of true freedom. Break the chains of sin with Christ and step into a life filled with liberty and grace. Since the beginning of recorded history, people have fought for freedom in various ways. From slaves seeking emancipation to colonised peoples seeking independence, human beings have demonstrated a strong desire to be free from oppression. However, the chains that have bound us the tightest have been the chains of sin. Two thousand years ago, Christ broke those chains. "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free," Paul said before urging, "Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery" (Galatians 5:1).

18. I Choose Hope

Anchor your spirit in hope, drawing strength from biblical stories of redemption and the unshakable promises of God for a resilient life. All of us have experienced failure, and the impact of the fall is directly proportional to the height we have risen. Those who reach the pinnacle of success often believe they are untouchable, even though history should have taught us that no one stands so firmly he cannot fall. If you are one of these people who has fallen, take note of another lesson that history teaches us: no one has fallen so terribly that he cannot rise again.

17. I Choose Discipline

Step into disciplined living, embracing both self-control and God's guiding correction, to walk a path of spiritual growth and deeper discipleship. Jesus gave his believers the "Great Commission" of making disciples of all nations. We cannot make disciples of anybody unless we are disciples ourselves. That requires discipline. Discipline and discipleship are closely related concepts in Christianity. The word "disciple" comes from the Latin word "discipulus," which means "learner" or "pupil," and the word "discipline" comes from the same Latin root.