I don’t normally pay attention to WordPress writing prompts, but today’s caught my eye. “What principles define how you live?”

Just scrolling through the posts that have been written in response to this question, I noticed a wide variety of answers. Most people’s choices are guided by what they believe is right and wrong, but more and more, people have differing ideas of what that is. The conflict that permeates the world today tells of the lack of common principles in societies. How does one decide what is right and wrong? Is there an absolute right and wrong?

I live my life by these principles:

Trusting in the Lord and relying on His understanding instead of my own ideas means that I look to the Bible to define right and wrong. The Bible is full of God’s instructions for how to live a life that pleases Him and is fulfilling to me. The Bible doesn’t give step by step instructions for every specific situation I find myself in, but it provides the general principles I need as a framework for my decisions.

God’s own son, Jesus, came to earth and lived a perfect life as an example to us. The books of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John in the New Testament tell of his birth, his sinless life and His ministry, his death, his resurrection from the dead and return to heaven. When we trust Jesus as our way to God the Father, because Jesus died to pay the price for our sin so that we can be forgiven, then we are given the gift of a relationship with God. He give us His Holy Spirit who actually lives in our hearts and guides us. And, if we will ask God for more specific guidance, He gives it. I can be confident in my decisions when I follow God’s instructions because He loves me and wants what is best for me. His principles are meant to protect and prosper us.

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.  Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:11-13

Feature image by Willfried Wende and other artists from Pixabay.