The Power of Choice in Love

In Matt 7:7, Jesus said ask and shall be given to you.  One thing that I have been fascinated by has been the power of choice.  We have the power to ask God for things.  C.S. Lewis in his book the Screwtape Letters talks about the power of free will.  He tells us that it was a loving God who gaves us the power of choice because when some one loves you out of choice that relationship has at its core the sweetness and power of love.  They love you for who you are.  They love you not for what you can give them or do for them but for those special qualities that you and you alone possess.  We know that God is love for John tells us that in 1 John 4:8.  He loves us and with the power of free will and choice we can respond to that love and together we can fully develop this relationship to its fullest.  Through the power of choice you will see His goodness, grace, forgiveness, mercy, patience, kindness, gentleness and peace.  There is nothing more cruel and unkind than forced love or obedience.  It is only the selfish heart that would wish this kind of obedience.  It is the fearful, unsure and evil heart that would wish another to fearfully love them.  Love can take us to the highest depths of joy and contentment.  There is nothing in the universe like someone who really loves you.  They make you feel you can do anything, be anything and produce anything.  Paul said that without love you will not produce, receive or be of any value.  The power of choice gives us this potential.  So today love God, others and yourself and in this you will be living in the power of free will.