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				Shaping Your Future By Rod Hall How should we live our lives? Does it really matter what we say, do or even think? There is a way that is best to follow, but you must make the choice. hen we are young we often have big dreams about what we want to become and what we want to accomplish in our lifetime. As Charles Kettering said, "We should all be concerned about the future because we will have to spend the rest of our lives there." Your ultimate destiny and what you accomplish in life will, in large, be determined by the way you choose to live life on a daily basis. The principles you adopt and the philosophies you live by determine who you become and affect what you accomplish. Our character and who we become are a composite of the habits we live by. The saying is true: "Sow a thought, reap an action; sow an action, reap a habit; sow a habit, reap a character; sow a character, reap a destiny." Our character and who we become are a composite of the habits we live by. These habits mold and shape our ultimate destiny in this life. As radio talk show host Dr. Laura Schlessinger said, "The true measure of your character is not in your thoughts, but in your behavior, especially when you're provoked." Ultimately, you are what you choose to do. There are basically two ways to live; one puts self ahead of everyone and everything. It is a life focused on self-centeredness, vanity, lust, greed, envy, strife and get (Galatians 5:19-21). Sadly, this is the foundation for the way most people live. It puts selfish accomplishments ahead of what God would have us become. With this "me first" approach to life, it is no wonder our world is filled with such conflict, strife, unhappiness, suffering and evil. These are the fruits of the way of life for most people, but it is opposite to the way God would have us live. The road less traveled The second way to live is the only way to true happiness and contentment. It can lead to physical success and material blessing as well. It is a full abundant way of life that allows you to reach your full human potential. This way produces the good fruits of God's way of life (Galatians 5:22-24). It is also the way to eternal life and everlasting success. This way of life is centered on the concepts and principles taught by Jesus Christ. It is the opposite of pride, arrogance and living only to accomplish selfish desires. It is outlined in the Bible and summarized in the Ten Commandments. It puts God and His ways first. It is based on our relationship with our Creator and God's eternal laws. It involves a life of personal growth in giving, sharing and helping others (Ecclesiastes 9:10; 11:9, Matthew 5:43-44). Free to choose Too many people live their lives as a big experiment, not really knowing what brings true happiness. God gives us the opportunity to make our own decisions. Yet too many people live their lives as a big experiment, not really knowing what brings true happiness. Living life on the edge with no absolutes can be a very unstable and painful process. Experiencing the consequences of wrong decisions is a very destructive, frightening and futile process. However, most will not believe that God knows best until they spend a lifetime learning from the ways of life that do not work. God wants you to choose the way that leads to real, lasting and eternal success. God challenges you: "I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live" (Deuteronomy 30:19). Support for success Success requires you to make the right decisions, set the right goals and diligently work to accomplish them. The ultimate true success and happiness cannot be accomplished by individual effort and hard work alone. We all need help along the road to achieve our destiny. God is the only one who can supply the important ingredients we lack -- His power, love, faith and divine guidance. If we choose God's way of life, we have a Helper, Counselor and Guide to show us the way (Hebrews 13:5-6). True success can only be achieved with the guidance, power and the Spirit of the living God (Zechariah 4:6). You can have the best that life has to offer now and build a destiny that is eternal in scope and unlimited in potential. For more helpful information, request our free booklets and . How you choose to shape your future now will determine your ultimate destiny. Copyright 2005 by United Church of God, an International Association All rights reserved.

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Other Articles by Rod Hall
Origin of article "Shaping Your Future"
Keywords: teens and religion future, planning your way of give way of get 

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