Choosing to Listen
“Choosing life allows us to experience God‘s perfect design for us.”
Deuteronomy 30:19-20 (ESV)
“I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore, choose life, that you and your offspring may live, loving the Lord your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days, that you may dwell in the land that the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.”
Reflection
I've heard it said that the average adult in the United States makes approximately 35,000 conscious decisions per day. Based on the average life expectancy in the United States, that’s just shy of a billion decisions over a lifetime! With this in mind, I can’t help but ponder what our most important decisions are.
In today's reading, Moses is posing an offer to the Israelites that requires a response: "...I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse" (verse 19).
This scripture was written over 2,000 years ago, but what Moses presents to the Israelites is still relevant to us today. In fact, it’s not only relevant but prompts our most important decisions: Life or death? Will you choose to accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior? Blessing or curse? Will you choose to pick up your cross daily and walk in obedience? Choosing life allows us to experience God ‘s perfect design for us.
Today’s culture, however, doesn’t make it easy for us to choose this route. Making 35,000 decisions every day is a clear indicator of just how much noise consumes our minds and hearts. Our culture is filled with endless and constant content that pollutes our focus toward choosing life.
Friends, we must block out the distractions and seek God. Moses describes a picture of what it looks like to choose life: "Therefore, choose life, that you and your offspring may live, loving the Lord your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him...” (verse 20).
Loving, obeying, and holding fast to God requires us to:
Invite Him into the chaos of our daily life.
Surrender our agenda.
Spend time with Him.
Converse with Him.
Listen to Him.
This is the blueprint for how we choose life.
Action Steps
Take a few moments right now to block out the noise and spend time with God. You can do this through prayer, praise and worship, or reading your Bible. Then, sit quietly in God's presence and patiently listen for what He's speaking to your heart.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for loving me. Thank You for continuing to be present with me even when I’m distracted. God, please help me to block out the loud noises so I can better focus on You. In Your mighty name, Amen.
“I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore, choose life, that you and your offspring may live, loving the Lord your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days, that you may dwell in the land that the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.”
Reflection
I've heard it said that the average adult in the United States makes approximately 35,000 conscious decisions per day. Based on the average life expectancy in the United States, that’s just shy of a billion decisions over a lifetime! With this in mind, I can’t help but ponder what our most important decisions are.
In today's reading, Moses is posing an offer to the Israelites that requires a response: "...I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse" (verse 19).
This scripture was written over 2,000 years ago, but what Moses presents to the Israelites is still relevant to us today. In fact, it’s not only relevant but prompts our most important decisions: Life or death? Will you choose to accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior? Blessing or curse? Will you choose to pick up your cross daily and walk in obedience? Choosing life allows us to experience God ‘s perfect design for us.
Today’s culture, however, doesn’t make it easy for us to choose this route. Making 35,000 decisions every day is a clear indicator of just how much noise consumes our minds and hearts. Our culture is filled with endless and constant content that pollutes our focus toward choosing life.
Friends, we must block out the distractions and seek God. Moses describes a picture of what it looks like to choose life: "Therefore, choose life, that you and your offspring may live, loving the Lord your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him...” (verse 20).
Loving, obeying, and holding fast to God requires us to:
Invite Him into the chaos of our daily life.
Surrender our agenda.
Spend time with Him.
Converse with Him.
Listen to Him.
This is the blueprint for how we choose life.
Action Steps
Take a few moments right now to block out the noise and spend time with God. You can do this through prayer, praise and worship, or reading your Bible. Then, sit quietly in God's presence and patiently listen for what He's speaking to your heart.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for loving me. Thank You for continuing to be present with me even when I’m distracted. God, please help me to block out the loud noises so I can better focus on You. In Your mighty name, Amen.
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