I Choose It Again
By Steve Backlund
“I do.” These are the words couples say to each other when they commit to their marriage vows. They, in essence, are saying, “I choose you, and will continue to choose you, above all others, and I will keep bringing my best for you.” It is a commitment to be regularly reaffirmed and lived out.
Besides marriage, there are many other relationships we make commitments to. These are in our families, churches, friendships, etc. A key to successful living in the highs and lows of our lives is to determine who are our priority relationships and then continue to say “I do” (“I choose you again”). This is one evidence we are a powerful decision-maker.
In my book, Fully Convinced: The Art of Decision Making, I share truths like these:
Double-mindedness is an enemy of great influencers
The anxiety of not knowing what to do is a bigger problem than not knowing what to do
Three evidences we have attached faith to our decisions and commitments are cheerfulness, energy, and power
A bad decision made in faith has a greater likelihood of success than a good decision made in doubt (and I am not talking about sinning in faith :-)
There are four mindsets we can have in fulfilling our commitments: duty/obligation thinking, doubt, passivity, or attaching faith to them
It is this last bullet point that relates to the topic, “I choose it again.” As we determine the responsibilities we are to be committed to, we can powerfully keep choosing them again (and believe something significant is always happening in every interaction), it catapults our choosing into massive influence.
Faithfulness is not just showing up, but it is how we think when we show up. We show up full of faith that good things will happen because of what we are doing. This thinking is a “secret sauce” of people who increasingly ignite hope. It is true, whether we are being faithful to a country, city, job, ministry, financial obligation, or something else. My Romans 12:2 mind renewal includes reattaching faith to the following:
“California, I choose you again. I am here in faith.”
“Redding, I choose you again.”
“Financial commitments and obligations, I choose you again.”
“Job, I am here in faith. Something significant is happening in me and through me here.”
I believe you see the point I am making. Yes, we may need to reaffirm through a good decision-making process where we are to live, where we are to work, what church to go to, who are the priority people in our lives, and what we spend our money on, but we are to live a life of faith that something powerful is happening in my connection to each one.
We renew our minds with God’s promises, our biblical identity, prophecies spoken over us, past testimonies, and re-attaching faith to the decisions, responsibilities, and commitments we have made or are making.
One of the obstacles to choosing people and commitments again and again is the normal pattern of most relationships:
Excitement
Disappointment
Then the choice of disconnection or connection
If you are experiencing disappointments, then I have these words for you: “Welcome to the club.” We all do. How we respond to the varying degrees of disappointments will determine much about the quality of our lives. Certainly, we are to create healthy boundaries concerning abusive or unsafe environments, but if we have the habit of withdrawing our hearts from the people and situations that disappoint us, we will limit our fulfillment and influence in life.
“I choose it again. I am all in. I am attaching great faith to it!” What are you going to apply this to now? What responsibilities do you not have cheerfulness for? That is often an important sign to decide in faith about it (overcoming doubt, passivity, or duty/obligation thinking). As you choose “it” again, your eyes will be opened to what God is doing like never before.