Choose Your Own Blessing

Those who know Mister Bill also know he is known for his clever one-liners, i.e. "I know things" and "it's better to be pleasantly surprised than bitterly disappointed." Perhaps my favorite: "choose your own blessings." The first psalm says, "How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers!" (Psalm 1:1, NASB). This sounds a little backward because we typically do something to be rewarded; God says, however, choosing to "not do" in order to be blessed (happy). A conscious turning-away-from what is spiritually unhealthy actually paves the way for a deliberate choice to turn-toward what is spiritually healthy: "But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night." (Psalm 1:2, NASB). The Bill-ism, "choose your own blessings," seems to echo what God is telling us in these verses. I'm reminded of Joshua's challenge to God's people: "choose for yourselves today whom you will serve" then his bold commitment "as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD" (Joshua 24:15, NASB). Wise words to live by ... choose your own blessing!