Choose Today Whom You Will Serve 
This devotional was written by Robin Dugall

"If you decide that it's a bad thing to worship GOD, then choose a god you'd rather serve—and do it today. Choose one of the gods your ancestors worshiped from the country beyond The River, or one of the gods of the Amorites, on whose land you're now living. As for me and my family, we'll worship GOD." The people answered, "We'd never forsake GOD! Never! We'd never leave GOD to worship other gods. GOD is our God! He brought up our ancestors from Egypt and from slave conditions. He did all those great signs while we watched. He has kept his eye on us all along the roads we've traveled and among the nations we"ve passed through. Joshua 24:15-17 (The Message)

We all have many choices to make every day.  Choices come in all shapes and sizes, from the easy to the complex and difficult. We make choices that don't make much difference in our lives, those that mold the quality of our character, and those that profoundly influence us.  Many of us probably don't think about this on a day-to-day basis but it is indeed true:  we are the sum total of the choices we make.  With every choice we reveal what we actually believe.   There really is no confusion in figuring out who a person is and what he really believes...simply look at his choices!

Someone once told me that every decision we make either brings us closer to God and His design for our lives, or moves us further from Him and His design.   In my life, this saying has proved itself true time and again.  I realize that I am only a choice or two away from completely melting down or even destroying my life.  Every choice is filled with potential failure or success.  Every choice is filled with opportunities for growth or for stepping backwards.

Frankly, there are a lot of voices to which we can respond when making choices.  Each voice comes from something or someone who demands your allegiance.  Remember, God is calling you to choose.  Which voice are you going to respond to most often in your life?  Are you going to listen to those other 'gods' who are calling for you to follow them, or are you going to tune into God's frequency and follow His voice?  As you think about your life today, remember how God has loved you and guided you faithfully.  Then as each voice comes and seeks your allegiance, choose to follow the voice that leads you into paths of righteousness, holiness, and grace.

To comment on today's devotional, click here.


       

GOING DEEPER:

1. Think about the choices that you are going to face today.  How many will there be?  How will they challenge you?  Which 'god' will you choose to follow?

2. Pray, telling God that you need His Spirit to guide you and strengthen you in choosing to follow Him.  Confess the shortcomings of the choices where you have failed Him.  Seek God for the wisdom to know and choose the options that prove that He is your God.

FURTHER READING:

Joshua 24; John 15:16; Philippians 1:20-26


HomeWord
Encouraging Parents…Building Families

Other FREE resources from HomeWord and Jim Burns:
-
7 Minutes to Being a Better Parent
-Download HomeWord's daily broadcast
-Get your toughest parenting questions answered
HomeWord provides bottom-shelf, real-life, practical resources ranging from 411 (information) and 911 (crisis resources) to help parents.