{{Today is Friday!!! It is the day I link with Lisa Jo Baker for Five Minute Friday. Here is how it works…. One word prompt. Five minutes. No editing. Lots of women. Everyone writes on the same word.}}
The word today is …. Choose.
As soon as I read the word for this week, “Choose”, His Word came through my head…
“….then 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)
We all choose for ourselves. But we all worship something, someone.
And isn’t that what this Lent Season is supposed to be all about? Choosing to give up something to make room for Who and what truly matters? Choosing to tear down any idol which I may have allowed to creep into my life? Perhaps I have known it was erected in my heart and it seemed like too much work to remove. Or maybe it served a purpose in my life, not of Him, but of my own doing & goals. It became comfortable, had settled right into heart and wanted to stay put. No matter the reason, it is wrong.
So what will I choose this Lent – to worship the One and Only Savior or something else?
But I must choose or my heart will remain divided with parts of my heart strewn about. As I have typed, her words came flooding back …..
“Whatever rules our heart becomes our lord. ” (Jennifer Dukes Lee)
I will choose to have a heart that is undivided, loyal to One God, One Savior.
I will choose to let Him alone rule my heart.
Today I am joining … Five Minute Friday and Faith Filled Fri. and Essential Fridays and Beauty Observed and Fellowship Fri. and Heart-Filled Fri. and Everyday Jesus .
“I will choose to have a heart that is undivided, loyal to One God, One Savior.” AMEN!!
I always love the way you use your gift to point to Christ-
Every Single Post.
You are a steady stream, Joanne. And a gift to so many.
Love your take on this prompt.
Thank you, Lori. I love reading what God is doing in your neck of the woods. Praying He continues to show up big!
This is the best choice, the only choice we have.
So very true, Laura. May we have the wisdom to know what is good for us.
Jo, thank you for the word “choose” and the Scripture from Joshua 24:15. The other comment that stood out to me is that “We all choose for ourselves. But we all worship something, someone.” If I am not choosing God then I by default have chosen “me” and all me implies….carnality, love for people and things and love to do my own thing. Dear God save me from me. I choose to listen and follow you.
I choose to be alert and listen to what my Heavenly Father has to say to me I choose by the grace of God to believe Him. I have asked Him to reveal the idols of my heart and He is doing just that. I am so grateful. He is my awesome, loving, sovereign and unfailing Heavenly Father.
Jo, I love and appreciate you. Thank you for loving God and following His call. I love your honesty and openness about your walk with God. I am encouraged to be honest with myself and ready to choose (obey) God.
Mare – May He do a work in our hearts in the days ahead by which we will never be the same! Blessings!
not “love for people” but love of people’s approval.
I love this….I’m here from Whatever is Lovely.
I’ve been thinking a lot about what I’ll choose to focus on during Lent.
I pray that whatever you choose to focus on, you will learn in & through. May you be blessed this season!
you are right about idols…they do so often “creep” into our lives… and you’re right sometimes they do seem to be useful, serve a purpose…fly under the radar.. Thanks for the post
Idols are insidious. May He help us to identify & uproot them quickly. Thank you for sharing here!
Wonderful words here, Jo! Love your heart behind this powerful word “Choose.” Praying for God to move in mighty and powerful ways as you seek Him to determine your call for Lent this year.
Also, thanks for connecting with #EverydayJesus. Blessings to you!
I thought of the same verse, Joanne, although I chose a different one for my choose post. And my memory verse for 3/1 is “Jesus answered, ‘It is written: Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.'” Luke 4:8. Good reminder as I go into Lent to remove any love idols that block my worship of Him and Him alone. Great post, friend!
Such a great challenge here, Holly.
Thanks for linking up at Essential Fridays.
Blessings
Mel from Essential Thing Devotions
Your writing always touches me. Yes, too many idols in my life that need to be torn down this Lenten season. I also want to have an undivided heart. Thank you for challenging me, Joanne.
And thank you for linking-up last week at BeautyObserved! I hope to see you tomorrow. <3