Dear Ones,
Hope you have a good day and put God first in all your choices! I plan to make Rice Krispie bars, go to Exercise class, craft time, and Bible Study’
Devotions from Judy’s heart
How often do we choose our will over the Lord? I think we can all recall times when we had to make a choice but instead of choosing for God, we took an easier path and it did not work out as we hoped. There are times we don’t know initially which way God is leading, and it is good to wait until we sense the way He would have us go. What quickly comes to my mind is the times we had to make a choice if we would leave a church to answer a call to another one. We put much prayer into that and some days it felt like the Lord was leading us to leave and other times it was to stay put. But we waited until we felt a firm word and desired to go His way.

Sometimes what we choose is pivotal, for going our own may lead us away from God. At times we have to give up something that we have held dear, but only as we let go of the familiar can we step into the new the Lord has for us. It takes trust to lean into what the Lord has for us, especially if we have to give up relationships, our present career, our old friends, etc., but He is so worthy of our trust. We are warned not to be like Lot’s wife (Genesis 19), who looked back as she was told not to do and turned into a pillar of salt. When we follow the Lord, we are to leave everything behind and not be double-minded and look back. We are to desire Him above everything else and center our lives around Him.

There are times we are not sure of what to do and we need to keep looking to the Lord and listening for His way. I was reading today from II Chron. 20 when King Jehoshaphat was told a multitude was against him from beyond the sea. Although he was afraid, he sought the Lord and proclaimed a fast. He prayed, “We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.” A Levite gave a word to him and the people, “Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but God’s…Tomorrow go out against them, and the Lord will be with you.” The next day singers went out before the army singing praises, and the Lord set an ambush against the enemy and destroyed them. The army returned home with joy and more spoils than they could cart away. They had sought God first and followed His instructions and were blessed beyond measure. Let us also put the Lord first and follow His chosen path for our lives.

Challenge for today: Choose the Lord above all things and give Him your undivided heart.
Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy