We choose between many things everyday, may times a day. We have so many choices to make in a day that it can make our heads spin. How do we learn to narrow down and make wise choices?
Unless we have grounding principles to guide our choices, we will be pulled in every direction. How and where do we find these principles? I personally love the example of Joshua in the Old Testament.
In Chapter One Moses has just died after leading the often headstrong Israelites of 80 years. Joshua finds himself the successor and God personally takes Joshua aside to give him some solid principles to keep him from being swayed by fickle people.
6 “Be strong and courageous, for you are the one who will lead these people to possess all the land I swore to their ancestors I would give them. 7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do. 8 Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. 9 This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua chapter 1)
For the rest of his life, for the most part, that is what Joshua did. He was successful in leading the Israelites.
Fast forward to Joshua 24. Joshua is approaching the end of his life. He calls all the Israelites together so he can re-establish the covenant God made with them generations ago. This account begins with Joshua saying, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says.” Then God takes off retelling the history of what they all had been through together. Twenty times in the next 10 verses God said: I… I took…I gave… I sent… I brought…I gave…I gave…I gave….
The Israelites, like us, are a people because of what GOD did. The faithfulness of God to His promises and His people is the theme.
Then Joshua transitions to the challenge. Choose your ancient gods or the Living God, but “choose today whom you will serve.” This is not a decision to put off. Choose now. Joshua continues, “But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.”
I retell this piece of history not to accuse us of anything, but to invite us to put some sort of boundaries around ourselves. Setting kind standards for ourselves before we face difficult choices can save us a lot of heartache. My prayer is that we choose activities, and how much time we spend on them, that are life giving and not life draining. Honestly, I am speaking to myself just as much as putting it out there for others to consider.
How do we spend our “optional” time? How do we choose the entertainment we engage in? Where does respect for the sanctity of life fit in? How do we choose to think about and make these choices? What do we want to invite into our minds, our relationships and into our homes? All of these and so much more affect how we behave and who we become.
As seasons of life and personal circumstances evolve we can all re-evaluate from time to time. We need to re-evaluate. Not to be unnecessarily restrictive, but demands change so assessing our current realties is helpful.
I have a few long-standing personal guidelines in several areas of my life. I developed them over time by doing what God told Joshua in chapter one and in community with like hearted people. My guidelines are not completely inflexible. Generally, I do not cross them without a conversation with God that I initiate or where conviction from the Holy Spirit gets my attention. I still have free will. So do you.
As you read this, are you receiving any Holy Spirit promptings to evaluate what, whom or how you will choose your guidelines? The Holy Spirit is gentle and kind, not accusing and forceful like the enemy.
PS 27:11,13-14 NLT, “Teach me how to live, O Lord. Lead me along the right path, for my enemies are waiting for me…. Yet I am confident I will see the Lord’s goodness while I am here in the land of the living. Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.
