Thursday Devotion

I read somewhere once that a person makes up to 5,000 choices every single day. To get out of bed, what to wear, what to eat for breakfast, which route to take to work, thousands of little and big choices every day. Most of these are so unconscious that we don’t even realize that we are making them. I mean, does it really make a difference if I choose the brown boots over the black boots today? Will that change the course of today’s events?

I can hear you now, “Well, Melissa. It’s the larger choices. Those would make a difference.” You’re probably right. If I chose to take the interstate or expressway to work instead of the side streets, maybe I will get into a car accident. Or maybe I will avoid a car accident. That choice could make a large difference. Or I choose to relocate my family thousands of miles for a job. That would result in a large change for our lifestyle and family.

But what God teaches is that we should consider and consult Him in every choice, in every decision. The Psalm I chose 🙂 above read: “Who is the man who fears the Lord? He will instruct him in the way he should choose.” (Psalm 25:12 NASB). He will instruct him in the way he should choose. That says to me that I should consult Him in all of my choices; that He will direct me towards the right choice.

This sounds silly when you think about those small choices. But God does care about what I wear. He would want what I wear to honor him: I can be stylish and still modest. And God does care what I eat and drink. He would want me to be healthy and strong. He would want me to get enough rest so that I can live as He intended, raise my children, and spread the Gospel. I need the energy!! He will instruct him in the way he should choose.

But sometimes those hard decisions are just so…difficult to leave to God. Do you know what I mean? I just can’t let it go, let Him be in control. I almost need to remember what I have taught to young children: God sees the whole picture. He can see so far ahead into our future, far beyond what we can fathom. He knows what is coming. We need to trust him and to keep praying about our choice, our decision. The direction we should choose will be revealed; the Bible promises it.

Choice.

It is such a simple word. A small word. And yet it holds so much power. Who is the man who fears the Lord? He will instruct him in the way he should choose.  Have you asked God about those 5,000 choices you made today?

Most Awesome God, please come into our hearts. Help us to understand that you are in control. That you have plans for us that we may not always understand. Help us to remember to turn to you a thousand times each day, asking for your guidance in those big and small choices that we have to make, asking “What would you have me do, Lord?”  Amen.