“Choose today whom you will serve.” Joshua 24:15 NLT
“I will daily focus on Kingdom priorities and eternal realities.”
My thoughts today are about “life’s defining moments.”
The reality is that your life is the sum and effect of the choices that you make along the way. Most of them are consequential in differing measure, but not all. You need to recognize the ones that subtly or significantly may shape your well being and future, from the ones that have only momentary importance.
Here’s why that is important to your everyday life. Decisions define direction; direction determines destiny. Casual friendships may be formed without considering the lasting fingerprint friends leave on who you are becoming. Behavior may be indulged that forms binding habits without your notice. Mistaken assumptions form frivolous opinions that solidify into unwarranted convictions that are unfounded. A course in life can be set without projecting the possibility of its unwanted destination. I think that life is the product of so many everyday decisions that were given little thought or prayer at the time.
The larger, enduring impact on your lifetime comes from what could be called defining moments. Joshua presented Israel’s families with just such a moment. Individually and nationally, they were at a major fork in the road, one way would lead to blessing, the other could lead to judgment. “Choose today whom you will serve. As for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15 NLT. The indecision of “maybe this or maybe that” does not usually cloud such times.
More generally the options in such defining moments are more clear cut – matters of your whim or will, right or wrong. It is rarely a factor of your not knowing which is best to do or right to do, but rather deciding which you are willing to do. Remember; decisions define direction; direction determines destiny. Life is best lived with a clear sense of purpose. Some years ago, I felt the Lord challenging me with a resolve that “I will daily focus on Kingdom priorities and eternal realities.” I have learned that doing so makes a right decision simpler, whatever the situation.
Another has written that defining moments: demonstrate to yourself who you really are, not who you thought you were – display for others who you are, not just what you appear to be – determine inwardly who you are becoming, not who you have been. The apostle Paul had such a defining moment enroute to Damascus (See Acts 9:1-19 and Philippians 3:7-14 NIV) and later wrote, “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away; the new has come! All this is from God . .” 2 Corinthians 5:17-18 NIV.
Refuse to be defined by the world’s culture and style; decide that you will be defined by the One you have chosen to serve, “. . the Lord . . whose I am and whom I serve.” Acts 27:23. Be defined by the One you have chose to serve. Be His servant alone! Such a life-changing decision presents you with new options and an invaluable opportunity to redirect your path and reorient real purpose. That will change your destiny, and settle your eternal destination!
My prayer for you today is: live deliberately everyday, always keeping eternity in view.