I was one of them 'white-knuckle' guys, hanging on to the pew during the altar calls! Finally, after realizing the Hound-of-Heaven would not let me go; I gave up. The best choice I've EVER made!
Glory to Him who took us to the Blood Laundromat on Calvary--the Hill of Golgotha--the place of "Skulls." (Lot's of us are involved in a bit of skullduggery before yielding to the place of Skulls).
Finally, after realizing the Hound-of-Heaven would not let me go; I gave up. The best choice I've EVER made!
Ya got the first part of that phrase right--Heaven sniffin' us out. As for the "choice" involved, I side with Paul: "No one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit" (1 Cor. 12:3)
So even by the time your lips mutter with true intent that He is Lord, the gale force Wind of the Holy Spirit has breezed the phrase "Jesus is Lord" up from within us through our pursed lips. [Just givin' a full credit clause to where it's due]