“Every choice you make has an end result.” — Zig Ziglar

“Wisdom consists of the anticipation of consequences.” — Norman Cousins

“Sooner or later, everyone sits down to a banquet of consequences.” – Robert Louis Stevenson

Just as sure as the letter B follows the letter A and the number 2 follows the number 1, consequences follow choices.  At times they linger – their impact delayed for years or even decades after the initial choice causing their conception.  Sometimes they build up a little at a time until gradually, eventually, and yes, inevitably they catch up with you.  Many times, they are well disguised and hidden, causing one to falsely believe the choices they are making don’t really matter and have no significance.  But when they come out of hiding (as they most certainly will) … they often take us by surprise without any warning.

Consequences have a bipolarity that we often don’t realize.  Frequently we associate the word “consequences” with negative overtones and outcomes, but just as there are good and bad choices, there are good and bad consequences that follow.

When I contemplate (with hindsight) the good and bad choices I’ve made in my own life, I can see the inevitable consequences that followed.  I have experienced the ones that lingered, built up over time, and also those that remained hidden without my knowledge or awareness – suddenly and horrifically popping up out of nowhere.

Wouldn’t it be nice if we could see and determine the consequences of every choice we made beforehand. In other words, fast-forward the tape so we could see the eventual outcome, gaze at the letter B before we even pronounced the letter A – stared at the number 2 for a while before we began counting in the first place?

Well, if we were omniscient, we could see the end before the beginning, but unfortunately that isn’t a human characteristic 🙂 How then can we become more aware of the unavoidable, inescapable consequences that follow our choices – especially those that linger or disguise themselves within our life?

Connect with the Viral Nature of Consequences

In today’s world, we often hear this common declaration:  It’s my life and I’ll do with it as I please.”  While it’s true we each have the gift of choice, it’s misleading to believe the resulting consequences from our choices are ours alone to bear.  Choices are made by individuals, but the subsequent consequences that ensue have a viral nature to them – spreading and infecting the lives of those close to the one making the initial choice.

Ask the children of a family where one spouse walks away from the marriage if the choice by their mother or father impacted them in any way.  Ask the parents of a child who has chosen to hang with the wrong crowd if this choice has changed or affected their lives at all.  Ask any family member, friend, or co-worker that dealt with someone who chose to take their own life if that decision had any affect on them?  Ask someone who had a loved one killed in a car accident if the choice by an individual to drive drunk changed their life in any way?

In each of these questions, we can see how innocent people, far removed from the initial choice made by one individual, can be tremendously affected – leaving lasting emotional scars and wounds.

If we could tally up the family members, friends, co-workers and even casual acquaintances in our lives that were affected by our own individual choices, the number would indeed be staggering.  Taking the time to consider how our choices and the impending consequences will impact others, especially those closest to us, can influence and redirect our choices in a positive direction.

Connect with the Permanent Nature of Consequences

When David made the decision to enter into an affair with Bathsheba, that one passionate choice had lasting, permanent consequences.  David was forgiven by God, but his family life was filled with turmoil from that point forward and his kingdom was never the same again.

Hannah’s choice to honor her commitment, giving her son Samuel back to God in order to serve Him, affected an entire nation and people.  Samuel became one of the greatest judges and prophets in the history of Israel – all instigated by the choice his mother made years earlier.

It’s sobering to contemplate the permanent consequences that can remain by a single choice we make.  We can wish, wish, and wish again to take back a harsh word spoken, to forgive and reconcile with a friend or loved one who suddenly passed away, or to redo a single hurtful action or behavior, but that won’t change the permanent, lasting consequences that can stain and tarnish our lives along with the lives of those close to us.

Are you dealing with lasting consequences in your own life brought about by someone else’s choice?  Are you making choices yourself that can leave permanent marks and stains on your own life?  How can those choices and the consequences associated with them have an immutable affect on the lives of friends and loved ones?

Choices can be reevaluated and redirected, but many of the consequences that result can never be changed or eliminated.

Reflect, Pray and Meditate about the Consequences of your Choices.

If there’s one single choice you can make today, one that will invoke positive, lasting consequences in your life and the lives of those close to you, it’s taking the time each day to reflect, pray and meditate.

I have written quite a bit about “walking” through our life – intentionally slowing down the pace and velocity of it.  Taking time each day to reflect, pray and meditate is a great example of what I mean by walking.

Life, especially today, is fast-paced and intense.  We generally make our decisions and choices rapidly and without much thought.  In this kind of environment, decisions are often made based on emotions, feelings, and personal desire – unleashing consequences that we really haven’t given much thought about or considered.

Daily reflection allows us the necessary time to evaluate our current choices, potential consequences associated with those choices, and the direction our life is heading.  Remember, good choices can produce some positive, enduring consequences as well!  Here are some questions to consider during daily reflection:

Given my current circumstances, what are the consequences that can potentially result from the choices I am making?

How do these consequences impact me and those close to me?

Can any of the potential consequences have a permanent, lasting effect?

After daily reflection, take the time to pray – inviting God into your daily choices, helping you to see the impending consequences associated with them.  Share your concerns, your needs, and your troubles with Him.  The power of individual choice and free will are such wonderful blessings, but when we invite God into a place where we could easily shut Him out, when we ask Him to influence the choices and the subsequent consequences we have been given the power to make and execute all on our own, we are in essence surrendering our life to His good and perfect will for us 🙂

In the quiet moments of meditation after prayer, listen inwardly for God’s direction, His wisdom, and guidance.  God promises us that He will hear our prayers and will provide us with His wisdom and direction for our life.

God, in His omniscience, can clearly see what lies in store for us down the road.  He is aware of all the future consequences that connect with our current choices and decisions.  When we reflect, pray, and meditate, we are relying on God’s omniscience to direct our lives in a way that steer us toward the consequences we desire.

May God help each of us to see consequences more clearly as we make choices and decisions each day.  May He open our minds and hearts to the viral, permanent nature that consequences impose – contemplating their affect on us and those we love.  May He give us the wisdom and guidance to seek His will for our lives – surrendering any and all consequences to Him!