“We have the free will to either bless every step of our journeys or to be annoyed and frustrated by them.” James Blanchard Cisneros

Happy Monday!

I hope you had a lovely weekend!

I was listening to a talk on forgiveness over the weekend, and I started considering our choices as we weigh holding on to the hurt versus letting go of our attachment to it. I wondered why it’s so much easier to contemplate the shock of the pain and continue to rehearse the devastation we feel instead of releasing the negative feelings and replacing them with something positive with which to move forward.

At some point, I realized we have choices, even when it feels like we don’t. We can choose to ruminate and allow the painful memories and injustices to find solid ground and take deeper roots, or we can choose to dig them up and toss them like weeds. I realize that it’s easier said than done. I also recognize that we feel the need to be vindicated somehow and that it’s our nature, as humans, to find ways to ensure that justice is served.

The element that I find most frustrating is the difficulty in pulling away from the feeling of helplessness when we can’t control the thoughts swirling in our minds. We’re determined not to think about it anymore because we know it’s not getting us anywhere. We make valiant efforts to redirect our thoughts. We’re successful for a time. Then, we’re right back where we began, entertaining the same thoughts we’re trying to eliminate. What I find is that white-knuckling with sheer grit just isn’t enough. There has to be a better way.

Enter free will. Free will is a little different than choice, in my mind. Free will isn’t just a cognitive act that we tackle intellectually. It’s a spiritual discipline where we engage faith to assist in accessing the strength and courage that comes with hope and promise. Just like forgiveness is an act of obedience, free will is an act of engagement in accessing the spiritual tools and gifts available to us.

Author, James Blanchard Cisneros, stated it this way:

Photo by Keely Klenke. No copyright infringement intended.

Free will is where we say enough is enough. I’m sick and tired of being sick and tired, and I won’t let these destructive thoughts hold me captive anymore. It’s when we call in the big guns and allow our faith to override our flawed or circular logic.

Jeremiah 32:17 reminds us:

“Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.” (NIV)

And 2 Corinthians 10:5 instructs:

“We are destroying sophisticated arguments and every exalted and proud thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought and purpose captive to the obedience of Christ,” (AMP)

These passages instruct us to access the power available without reservation and use it to our best advantage. We’re encouraged to forge ahead courageously, knowing that what might be difficult for us in our own strength is entirely doable with our supernatural secret weapon. All it takes is the activation of our free will. It’s up to us. We have to initiate the process, and then, as we allow it to come to fruition, we reap the benefits.

Let’s not become annoyed and frustrated this week. Instead, let’s ignite the activation process through our free will. I can’t wait to hear how your secret weapon works miracles for you!

Be Well & Be Blessed!
Lucinda