--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I Choose Love... No occasion justifies…" description: "\"“I Choose Love... No occasion justifies hatred; no injustice warrants bitterness. I choose love. Today I will love God and what God loves. I Choose Joy..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f09/max-lucado-190_god-love_i-choose-love-no-occasion-justifies-hatr_459115.jpg" --- # I Choose Love... No occasion justifies hatred; no… ![“I Choose Love... No occasion justifies hatred; no injustice warrants bitterness. I choose love. Today I will love God and what God loves. I Choose Joy... I will invite my God to be the God of circumstance. I will refuse the temptation to be cynical. I will refuse to see people as anything less…” quote by Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f09/max-lucado-190_god-love_i-choose-love-no-occasion-justifies-hatr_459115.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f09/max-lucado-190_god-love_i-choose-love-no-occasion-justifies-hatr_459115.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f09/max-lucado-190_god-love_i-choose-love-no-occasion-justifies-hatr_459115.jpg) > ““I Choose Love... No occasion justifies hatred; no injustice warrants bitterness. I choose love. Today I will love God and what God loves. I Choose Joy... I will invite my God to be the God of circumstance. I will refuse the temptation to be cynical. I will refuse to see people as anything less than human beings, created by God. I will refuse to see any problem as anything less than an opportunity to see God. I Choose Peace... I will live forgiven. I will forgive so I may live. I Choose Patience... I will overlook the inconveniences of the world. Instead of cursing the one who takes my place, I'll invite him to do so, Rather complain that the wait is to long, I will thank God for a moment to pray. Instead of clenching my fist at new assignments, I will face them with joy and courage. I Choose Kindness... I will be kind to the poor, for they are alone. Kind to the rich, for they are afraid. And kind to the unkind, for that is how God has treated me. I Choose Goodness... I will go without a dollar before I take a dishonest one. I will be overlooked before I will boast. I will confess before I accuse. I choose goodness. I Choose Faithfulness... Today I will keep my promises. My debtors will not regret their trust. My friends will not question my word. And my family will not question my love. I Choose Gentleness... Nothing is won by force. I choose to be gentle. If I raise my voice may it only be in praise. If I clench my fist, may it only be in prayer. If I make a demand, may it be only of myself. I Choose Self-Control... I refuse to let what will rot, rule the eternal. I choose self-control. I will be drunk only by joy. I will be impassioned only by my faith. I will be influenced only by God. I will be taught only by Christ. I choose self-control. Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-Control. To these I commit my day. If I succeed, I will give thanks. If I fail, I will seek His grace. And then when this day is done I will place my head on my pillow and rest.”” [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Choosing virtues like love, joy, and patience frames daily life as a series of intentional decisions, aligning actions with spiritual values and fostering growth. **In simple terms:** Live by choosing positive virtues. Key Takeaway Commit daily to love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self‑control. Themes spiritual practice personal growth virtue ethics mindfulness commitment Mood hopeful determined Type religious motivational inspirational When to use this quote - daily devotionals - volunteering - handling stressful tasks with kindness - practicing patience in traffic - reflecting on gratitude Key Concepts self‑discipline gratitude forgiveness service prayer Questions to Reflect On - Which virtue feels hardest to uphold today? - How can you remind yourself of these choices? A Different Perspective Maintaining consistency can be challenging amid life’s pressures. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Choose Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choose-joy/) [Choose love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choose-love/) [Choose Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choose-peace/) [Created By God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/created-by-god/) [Kindness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kindness/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Patience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patience/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Religious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religious/) ## Related quotes > [I can choose to grateful when I am criticized, even when my heart still responds in bitterness. I can choose to speak about goodness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/i-can-choose-to-grateful-when-i-am-criticized-even-when-my-heart/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [I choose kindness... I will be kind to the poor, for they are alone. Kind to the rich, for they are afraid. And kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/i-choose-kindness-i-will-be-kind-to-the-poor-for-they-are-alone-kind/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [“For the next twelve hours I will be exposed to the day’s demands. It is now that I must make a choice. Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/for-the-next-twelve-hours-i-will-be-exposed-to-the-day-s-demands-it/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [I choose joy... I will invite my God to be the God of circumstance. I will refuse the temptation to be cynical... the tool…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/i-choose-joy-i-will-invite-my-god-to-be-the-god-of-circumstance-i/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [“If you have a choice, choose kindness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-meade-eastman/if-you-have-a-choice-choose-kindness/) Mary Meade Eastman > [“The great test of life is to see whether we will hearken to and obey God's commands in the midst of the storms of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-b-eyring/the-great-test-of-life-is-to-see-whether-we-will-hearken-to-and-obey-3/) [Henry B. Eyring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-b-eyring/) > [A person who rejects Christ may choose to say that I do not accept it, he may not choose to say there is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-greenleaf/a-person-who-rejects-christ-may-choose-to-say-that-i-do-not-accept-it/) [Simon Greenleaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-greenleaf/) > [I want to be awake. I want to choose kindness, live & let live. I want joy, gratitude, and peace today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracee-ellis-ross/i-want-to-be-awake-i-want-to-choose-kindness-live-let-live-i-want-joy/) [Tracee Ellis Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracee-ellis-ross/) > [“You are really and truly and completely free. There is no kicker. There is no if, and, or but. You are free. You can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-brown/you-are-really-and-truly-and-completely-free-there-is-no-kicker-there/) [Steve Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-brown/) > [Fallen man is free to choose what he desires, but because his desires are only wicked he lacks the moral ability to come to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/fallen-man-is-free-to-choose-what-he-desires-but-because-his-desires/) [R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/) > [When you choose to follow Christ, you choose to be changed. Men and women changed for Christ will be captained by Christ. Their will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/when-you-choose-to-follow-christ-you-choose-to-be-changed-men-and/) [Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/) > [When you choose to follow Christ, you choose to be changed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/when-you-choose-to-follow-christ-you-choose-to-be-changed/) [Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/) > [“Let’s choose kindness. Let’s choose love. And let’s walk across these bridges—with open hearts, open minds, and hand-in-hand with our fellow humans.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-ghikadis/let-s-choose-kindness-let-s-choose-love-and-let-s-walk-across-these/) [Steve Ghikadis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-ghikadis/) > [“Who or what is your God? Is it your career, sex, drugs, alcohol, porn, cars, houses, money, fame or My Lord and Savior Jesus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-hartley-jr/who-or-what-is-your-god-is-it-your-career-sex-drugs-alcohol-porn-cars/) Alex Hartley Jr > [When we have a choice it is always best to choose kindness. Veganism is simply the kinder choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-gannon/when-we-have-a-choice-it-is-always-best-to-choose-kindness-veganism/) [Sharon Gannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-gannon/) ## More by Max Lucado > [I really enjoy making people laugh; I've discovered that's a great technique. That's as powerful as stirring their sorrow, stirring their compassion, because that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/i-really-enjoy-making-people-laugh-i-ve-discovered-that-s-a-great/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [When we look at the love of Christ, we make a wonderful discovery. Love is more a decision than an emotion! Christ-like love applauds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/when-we-look-at-the-love-of-christ-we-make-a-wonderful-discovery-love/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [You will be at your best forever, Even now you have good moments. Occasional glimpses of your heavenly self. When you change your baby's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/you-will-be-at-your-best-forever-even-now-you-have-good-moments/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [“Ageing. We laugh about it, and we groan about it. We resist it, but we cant't stop it. And with the chuckles and wrinkles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/ageing-we-laugh-about-it-and-we-groan-about-it-we-resist-it-but-we/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [“You’ve already learned, haven’t you, that a promise made is not always a promise kept? Just because someone is called your dad, that doesn’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/you-ve-already-learned-haven-t-you-that-a-promise-made-is-not-always/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [God is near whether you sense His presence or not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/god-is-near-whether-you-sense-his-presence-or-not/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [If you're feeling pain, express that to the Lord. If you're feeling worried, express those worries. One passage that gives me comfort is in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/if-you-re-feeling-pain-express-that-to-the-lord-if-you-re-feeling/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [The church is never a place to show off. Do your good deeds quietly. Serve; don't seek to be seen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/the-church-is-never-a-place-to-show-off-do-your-good-deeds-quietly/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [If there are a thousand steps between us and God, He will take all but one. He will leave the final one for us.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/if-there-are-a-thousand-steps-between-us-and-god-he-will-take-all-but/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [God's love never ceases. Never... God doesn't love us less if we fail or more if we succeed. God's love never ceases.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/god-s-love-never-ceases-never-god-doesn-t-love-us-less-if-we-fail-or/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [Are you on the eve of change? Embrace it. Accept it. Don't resist it. Change is not only a part of life, change is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/are-you-on-the-eve-of-change-embrace-it-accept-it-don-t-resist-it/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [There's no limit to God's love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/there-s-no-limit-to-god-s-love/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [God will use whatever he wants to display his glory. Heavens and stars. History and nations. People and problems.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/god-will-use-whatever-he-wants-to-display-his-glory-heavens-and-stars/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [Whether or not storms come, we can not choose. But where we stare during a storm, that we can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/whether-or-not-storms-come-we-can-not-choose-but-where-we-stare/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [Write today's worries in sand. Chisel yesterday's victories in stone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/write-today-s-worries-in-sand-chisel-yesterday-s-victories-in-stone/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) [Explore all 968 Max Lucado quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) ## More Choose love quotes > [“we are who we are because of those we we choose to love and because of those who love us”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-mosse/we-are-who-we-are-because-of-those-we-we-choose-to-love-and-because/) [Kate Mosse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-mosse/) > [“If it’s love, those tears are a sign of distress, not an act of defiance.        If it’s love, her bold fashion statement is something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-macy-stafford/if-it-s-love-those-tears-are-a-sign-of-distress-not-an-act-of/) [Rachel Macy Stafford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-macy-stafford/) > [If You Choose To Love , Love At Ay Hundred Percent, Because Everyone Wants Da Best Relationships, But EveryThing Must Be Split In 1/2…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mrjaypee/if-you-choose-to-love-love-at-ay-hundred-percent-because-everyone/) [MrJayPee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mrjaypee/) > [Choose your love, Love your choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-monson/choose-your-love-love-your-choice/) [Thomas S. Monson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/) > [You don't choose who you love...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heidi-montag/you-don-t-choose-who-you-love/) [Heidi Montag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heidi-montag/) > [No matter how hard it became but I'll still choose to love you unconditionally with all my heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/no-matter-how-hard-it-became-but-i-ll-still-choose-to-love-you/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) > [“You can't choose to love her, but you sure as hell can choose how you do it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devon-herrera/you-can-t-choose-to-love-her-but-you-sure-as-hell-can-choose-how-you/) [Devon Herrera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devon-herrera/) > [Serendipity, you can choose who to protect and who to share life with, but you cannot choose who to love, for love isn't a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/serendipity-you-can-choose-who-to-protect-and-who-to-share-life-with/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“love is the most down played disease in the world, only its down played because its the only disease tht isn't considered one. love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rashaad-lee/love-is-the-most-down-played-disease-in-the-world-only-its-down/) [Rashaad Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rashaad-lee/) > [“People say love can be developed, but in the end only person you love is themselves. that’s why you choose to love someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ai-yazawa/people-say-love-can-be-developed-but-in-the-end-only-person-you-love/) [Ai Yazawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ai-yazawa/) > [When in doubt, always choose love & gratitude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-elrod/when-in-doubt-always-choose-love-gratitude/) [Hal Elrod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-elrod/) > [We get to choose who we love, and that includes God, and he loves us back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ty-herndon/we-get-to-choose-who-we-love-and-that-includes-god-and-he-loves-us/) [Ty Herndon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ty-herndon/) > [Our life is in our own hands, it's all about choices. We choose who to love, where to work, who to let into our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/our-life-is-in-our-own-hands-it-s-all-about-choices-we-choose-who-to/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [“If whom we love is God’s will, then free will is merely an illusion. And if we love whom we choose to love, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-alexander/if-whom-we-love-is-god-s-will-then-free-will-is-merely-an-illusion/) [Felix Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-alexander/) > [“Our paths are all different and unique. Embrace your space and also cherish and support the dreams and goals of those around you. Someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-hamilton-guarino/our-paths-are-all-different-and-unique-embrace-your-space-and-also/) [Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-hamilton-guarino/) [Browse all 271 Choose love quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choose-love/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I Choose Love... No occasion justifies hatred; no injustice warrants bitterness. I choose love. Today I will love God and what God loves. I Choose Joy... I will invite my God to be the God of circumstance. I will refuse the temptation to be cynical. I will refuse to see people as anything less than human beings, created by God. I will refuse to see any problem as anything less than an opportunity to see God. I Choose Peace... I will live forgiven. I will forgive so I may live. I Choose Patience... I will overlook the inconveniences of the world. Instead of cursing the one who takes my place, I'll invite him to do so, Rather complain that the wait is to long, I will thank God for a moment to pray. Instead of clenching my fist at new assignments, I will face them with joy and courage. I Choose Kindness... I will be kind to the poor, for they are alone. Kind to the rich, for they are afraid. And kind to the unkind, for that is how God has treated me. I Choose Goodness... I will go without a dollar before I take a dishonest one. I will be overlooked before I will boast. I will confess before I accuse. I choose goodness. I Choose Faithfulness... Today I will keep my promises. My debtors will not regret their trust. My friends will not question my word. And my family will not question my love. I Choose Gentleness... Nothing is won by force. I choose to be gentle. If I raise my voice may it only be in praise. If I clench my fist, may it only be in prayer. If I make a demand, may it be only of myself. I Choose Self-Control... I refuse to let what will rot, rule the eternal. I choose self-control. I will be drunk only by joy. I will be impassioned only by my faith. I will be influenced only by God. I will be taught only by Christ. I choose self-control. Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-Control. To these I commit my day. If I succeed, I will give thanks. If I fail, I will seek His grace. 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