Choose Whom You Will Serve

Hardly a day goes by that I don't hear from or about a friend who is going through a hard time.  Sickness, death, loss of a job, financial stress, family tension, marriage breakups - the list is endless.  And in this time of worldwide pandemic, everything is especially stressful.  At times it feels like the whole world is broken.  It can be quite overwhelming.

I was thinking about this in light of some recent news, and I was praying for some dear ones in pain.  Clear as a bell, I heard the Lord reminding me that He is FOR us!  In the midst of difficult events, it can be easy to forget that.  But it's so true - He is with us and for us!  Always!

Every day, all day long, through the long, dark night - He is right by our side.  He feels our pain.  He gathers our tears.  He hears every prayer, every moan of our heart.  He tenderly holds our hand.  He sends angels to minister to us.  He is constantly at work to help us.  He loves us and cares for us.  He is so, so, so FOR us! 

He turns stumbling blocks into stepping stones to lead us on our way.

"God has a purpose in our heartaches,

The Savior knows what's best;

We learn so many precious lessons

In sorrow, trial, and test."      - Jarvis

"We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him."  Romans 8:28

"The Lord is near to all who call on Him."  Psalm 145:18

"God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.  Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea."  Psalm 46:1,2

"Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken."  Isaiah 54:10

Whatever we are going through, God is with us and FOR us!  We must never let the enemy rob us of that truth - whatever we are facing.

We have a wooden sign in our home that says "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."  It's taken from the verse in Joshua 24:15.  The photo of it is above.  We've had it for a long time, so it has hung in several places where we've lived.  Right now it's in our kitchen, so I see it every day.  

When we have workmen in our home, it's often an interesting conversation starter.  Some have said they believe the same thing.  Others have asked if it's really true - and why did we choose that.  For me it's always been a proclamation of where my heart is - it's in serving the Lord!!

The beginning of the verse actually says "choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve."  I like that because I think it is a continual, daily choice.  We have to make a fresh commitment in our hearts each day to love and serve the Lord.  The cares of life enter in.  The pressures of the world around us can erode our commitment.  Disappointment can easily undermine our choice.  Unanswered prayers can cause us to challenge the choices we made.  It's imperative that we continually CHOOSE who we are going to serve.

We can't serve anything or anyone except God Himself.  He has to be number one.  He has to be our focal point.  He has to be the one who guides us in every other decision we make.  Then we can proclaim that our household serves the Lord!

Over and over again in recent years on our unexpected journey I said to the Lord that I didn't understand, but I chose afresh to love and serve Him.  There's something about making that conscious choice that releases strength to persevere.  Every time I made that choice, I sensed fresh releases of His grace.  He carried me through.

"Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, O Lord.  They rejoice in your name all day long; they exult in your righteousness."  Psalm 89:15,16

"I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."  Romans 8:38,39

"Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him!"  Psalm 34:8

"My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth, He will not let your foot slip - He who watches over you will not slumber."  Psalm 121:2,3

My earliest memories are of talking to the Lord.  I must have been about 3 or 4 years old.  It's been a wild life of adventure in serving Him, but I wouldn't want anything else.  I'm 73 years old now, and my "household" is only me - but I choose once again to serve Him.....all the days of my life.  He is worthy!