credit: Michelle Meiklejohn
And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. ~ Joshua 24:15
It's a question as old as time. Who am I going to serve?
There is no middle ground. To pass on answering the question is already an answer in itself. And the default position is not a good one.
It's a question that not only has to be answered once, at a crossroads of decision, but daily.
When my alarm goes off in the morning. Am I going to roll over and sleep a few more minutes? Or am I going to get up and feed my spirit with His words and spend time with Him so that I am prepared for the day ahead.
When the kids fight for the 50 bajilllionth time that day. Am I going to show my own frustration or His love?
Around the dinner table in the evening. We're all tired and hungry. Are we going to simply have a "grab and growl" session, only feeding our bodies? Or are we going to feed our minds and spirits with prayer and meaningful conversation that allows us to grow together in a better understanding of each other and the God who loves us?
When the future seems uncertain, and it's tempting to give in to worry, whether it's over finances, health, relationships, or any other area of life how am I going to choose to respond? With fear or with faith?
Each moment brings with it a decision. But when we make the decision to serve the Lord, there comes with that decision a gift from Him. Because He does not leave us to walk out this choice to follow Him alone. The moment we make that choice He is right there beside us, surrounding us with His love, giving wisdom. He takes away those fears and strengthens the weak areas within us so that we can walk in confidence with Him. Choosing to serve Him, to walk with Him, brings the abundant life He promised. (John 10:10)
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. ~ 2 Timothy 1:7
What you say is so true. I really like your topic today. I have found myself going back to sleep in the morning when I know I should stay awake. A lot of the problem is that the baby is asleep in the bed and I don't want to move her to her crib. This morning I came down later than my alarm, but I just picked up the baby and carried her with me to the living room to read my devotion. Unfortunately, the other kids were up and it was a distraction.
ReplyDeleteYour morning musings are enjoyable. (on a spiritual level) It really helps me to see how normal my life really is. I stress about things thinking it isn't normal, then I read and find out it is. I am happy to know I am not the only one with kids that fight a "bajillion" times a day.
Thank you. :-)
ReplyDeleteI know the feeling of having a child in the bed and not wanting to disturb them. I find that with Michael as well. I'm always afraid if I move he will wake up and then there won't be any quiet time anyway. But, I'm finding it's still worth the effort to try and often he does stay asleep.
And believe me, you are by far not the only one who's kids fight a bajillion times a day. That's why Michael and Amanda's happy moment yesterday was worth taking a picture of - to remind myself of the times when they aren't fighting.