Note: Because balance is such a challenge, I’ve expanded this section into a second part. Much of the material from these two lessons has come from my book, The Prodigal Daughter.
Let’s take a closer look at Joshua’s challenge: Choose you this day whom you will serve…
CHOOSE. Imagine before you an empty gallon jar. If you were to fill it to the top with rocks the size of your fist, would you say the jar is full? What if you poured in some small pebbles and filled in the gaps between the rocks, now is it full? Add some sand to fill the gaps. Now, pour water over the rocks, pebbles, and sand. If you put the pebbles, sand, and water in first, could you put in the big rocks? Not a chance! But, by placing the big rocks in first, you were able to place many other items in the jar.
Suppose those items are our choices. Once we make the really big choices, the other choices seem to fit around them with ease.
Choose YOU. The challenge Joshua issued was personal. Each of us must consider our personal priorities. We can’t attempt to do something because someone else thinks it’s best for us. Right or wrong, it must be OUR choice, otherwise, we won’t put forth the effort to see it through to completion. Consider the items on your goals list. Are they there because YOU want to attain those goals, or has someone in your life told you to accomplish them? Personal goals give us the motivation to trudge through whatever becomes necessary to reach the end.
Choose you THIS DAY. We must choose DAILY to strive toward our goals. Every day. Some days we’ll stay in balance with our priorities more than others, but if we make a daily choice to work toward our goals, even if we stray from them for one day, we can get right back on track the next. Keep a daily list of tasks necessary to help you work toward your goals. If you have never done this before, your list may be long and overwhelming, but keep writing. Chances are, whatever you wrote down first has been nagging you the longest. Do it first and keep marching down your list. If you do this everyday for a month, it can change your life. Pray about your list and ask God to give you the strength to work through it. Focus on the results of accomplishing your goal. How will you feel when you’ve reached your goal? Carry that joy in your heart to motivate you!
Choose you this day WHOM. Our only choices are really self or Savior. If our goals aren’t aligned with God’s will, our lives will be out of balance. Some people have not chosen to serve God because they want “freedom.” They don’t wish to be bound by or responsible to anyone or anything. No matter what our choice is, we still have a master. By choosing self, we become imprisioned by sin and all the burdens associated with it. The real freedom comes from God. Choosing to commit to God will set us free. Free from worry. Free from guilt. Free from indecision.
Choose you this day whom you will SERVE. Yes, life is about service. To the Lord, to our fellow man, to ourselves. If you’re uncertain what your personal ministry is, pray about it. Listen for God’s answer. Investigate what needs to be done, evaluate your talents, and determine what you’re willing to do. Soon, you’ll fit right in where you were meant to be. And your life will become very fulfilled.
I hope you have a blessed day!
Bible Reading Schedule: Genesis chapters 10-11
