I Am the Master Of My Fate

By Paula Williamson, guest writer

Invictus, an 1875 short poem by the English poet William Ernest Henley, says, “I am the master of my fate, the captain of my soul.” These words were written during a time when he was very sick and had to have his leg amputated. Invictus is a Latin word meaning unconquered or undefeated. He meant that we are the ones in charge of our minds and choices. Even if life is hard, we decide how to act and feel. Through that lens, we see the incredible gift God gave to humanity: the power of choice. God is sovereign, but we have a choice in how we live.

It Is Written

EXODUS 20:3 You shall have no other gods before me.

The Course of Our Lives

Each of us has a choice about who is behind the wheel of our lives. We can do what seems right in our own eyes, or we can submit to God and His Word. The choice is ours. We can allow our minds to run amock because of our insecurities, circumstances, fear-driven news media, or conspiracy theories, or we can guard our minds with God’s Word. Whatever source we allow to determine the course of our lives becomes our God, whether it is self, others, things, or God Himself.

Prayer

Lord, when life is said and done, it is You we stand before, not our friends, platform, beliefs, heroes, or family. It is You alone to whom we will give an account of our lives. May we all come to peace with our Maker. May we all recognize that You are good. May we all experience Your grace, mercy, and forgiveness. May we all submit our lives to the Lord Jesus, who gave Himself for us so that we might have forgivness and

peace with You, covered by His robe of righteousness rather than by our faults and failures.

Takeaway

We have a choice.