Have you ever had a dream where you died and woke up in a cold sweat? Maybe you woke up just before you died. At dinner tonight, Gabriel reminded me of a time when I had quite a few dreams about dying. In my dreams, I either died or was about to die. What was unusual about my dreams is that I was not afraid.

I used this as an opportunity to teach the boys that if you are afraid of dying, it will keep you from living your life to the fullest. If you are afraid of failing, you will never accomplish anything of great significance.

Don’t make foolish decisions. Don’t go off half cocked. Proverbs 23:23 says, “Get the truth and never sell it; also get wisdom, discipline and good judgment.” Just don’t let a fear of failure keep you from risking it all. David should have died when he went up against Goliath. Pharoah could have killed Moses for rising up against him. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego actually got thrown into the furnace. Daniel was thrown into the lion’s den. Paul tried to go on missionary journeys that were cancelled by the Trinity. All of these men knew how to pray. They all knew how to make life and death choices… even if they were scary. The results were not always what they expected.

But, I don’t think you could call these guys failures. They all made decisions. They chose. Every day, our lives are filled with choices. What will you choose?

Check out some of these great choices in the scriptures.

The sons of God saw that the daughters of men were beautiful; and they took wives for themselves, whomever they chose. (Genesis 6:1-2)

A man’s steps are directed by the LORD. How then can anyone understand his own way? (Proverbs 20:24)

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. (Deutoronomy 3:19)

He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time. He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward. By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible. (Hebrews 11:25-27)

The righteous should choose his friends carefully, for the way of the wicked leads them astray. (Proverbs 12:26)

Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you, the twelve, and one of you is a devil?” He spoke of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, for it was he who would betray Him, being one of the twelve. (John 6:70-71)

Paul chose Silas, and as he left, the believers entrusted him to the Lord’s gracious care. (Acts 15:40)