Living with Purpose is a Choice

“… choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.”
Joshua 24:15 (NIV)

A life with purpose is a life lived on purpose. Indecision causes stress. God wants us to live our lives on purpose. What is your purpose in life?  How do you live your life with purpose?  You make an intentional choice. Joshua illustrates this when he gave his farewell address to the people of Israel. He knew how prone they were to drift away from the Lord. So, he challenges them with these words: “… choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.” Joshua 24:15 (NIV)

Elijah made a similar challenge to the nation, while on Mount Carmel years later, when he said,

“How much longer will you waver, hobbling between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him! But if Baal is God, then follow him!” 1 Kings 18:21 (NLT) 

If you’re tired of hobbling between two opinions, stressed by indecision, try purposing in your heart to follow the Lord. When you do, you won’t have to make the decision every weekend as to whether you will worship Him at church or sleep in. You won’t have to wonder about what you may give or when and where you may serve. Spiritual habits are formed as we purpose in our hearts to follow Jesus. When we make up our minds ahead of time, we’ve won the battle over indecision, and we live our lives with a sense of purpose. The power of purposing in your heart protects you from drifting and enables you to fulfill your God-given destiny.     

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To read this devotional online or catch up on past ones, visit https://kerryshook.org/blog.

Another important part of your daily devotional is spending time with God in prayer. The Woodlands Church Prayer Board lists prayer requests submitted by our members and provides a way to send them some encouragement by using a button on the page to let them know that you prayed for them. Whether you use the Prayer Board, or pray from your heart, the goal is to build the habit of incorporating prayer into your quiet time.

Need prayer yourself? Let us know by submitting a prayer request on the Woodlands Church Prayer Board.