Thursday, October 4, 2012 -- Taking Responsibility -- Starting At The Start

If I am truly committed to taking responsibility for my life, what new choices will reflect that?

Dear friend, listen well to my words; tune your ears to my voice.  Keep my message in plain view at all times.   Concentrate! Learn it by heart!  Those who discover these words live, really live; body and soul, they’re bursting with health.   Keep vigilant watch over your heart; that’s where life starts. 

Don’t talk out of both sides of your mouth; avoid careless banter, white lies, and gossip. Keep your eyes straight ahead; ignore all sideshow distractions. Watch your step, and the road will stretch out smooth before you. Look neither right nor left; leave evil in the dust. (Proverbs 4:20-27 MSG)

Taking responsibility for one’s behaviour is not a popular trend in today’s culture.  It appears that if one can blame someone else for their actions, then their behaviour is acceptable to themselves and expected to be tolerated by loved ones and others.   Often the victim role is well established and the person is comfortable to continue in the same mode until challenged by emotional upheaval and/or a deteriorating life style.  The way out of this dilemma is the acknowledgment that as adults, we are responsible for the choices we make and the outcome of those choices.  

God says to each of us, “Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live! You can make this choice by loving the LORD your God, obeying him, and committing yourself firmly to him. This is the key to your life.” (Deuteronomy 30:19-20 NLT)

In the Bible we read of King David who after committing the sins of adultery and murder said to the prophet Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” Nathan replied, “Yes, but the Lord has forgiven you.”  (2 Samuel 12:13 NLT) 

Understanding, as King David did, that the sins we personally have committed, and the ones that have been committed against us, are an offence against the Lord God will help us to come to the Lord Jesus for forgiveness and healing. We accept the forgiveness of our Heavenly Father for our own sins and forgive those who sinned against.  We purposely turn the offences committed against us by others over to the Lord and thereby free ourselves from their destructive power.  In the recovery process, this is the start of taking responsibility for our own well being. 

Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.  Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. (Ephesians 4:31-32 NLT)