Everything we experience, whether it be on a daily basis or during certain seasons, we are not without hope. Some things seem to be more difficult than other and they seem to be taking its toll on us. As we hear on the news reports day in a out, we can be taken out of focus. But as Believers in the Lord our God, we have to answer the question, what do we choose?
“And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of [e]the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15
Joshua summons all of Israel (Jos. 24:1) to be confronted with the same question. Through Joshua, God laid out his past presence, providence and protection of them from Abraham’s father Terah, through Caanan, through the bondage of Egypt. He told of the Lord’s grace when he heard their cries and sent them a deliverer by way of Moses. Even after their constant complaining and rebellion, God saved them from war being waged against them Balak, Balaam, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Girgashites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. And he reminded them how God had delivered them into their hand.
God encourages and challenges us to take a few minutes to look at his presence, providence and protection in our lives over the years. As with Israel, he has demonstrated himself to be the faithful God he has always been, currently is and will always be. It is imperative that we take this time to examine and balance all the things we are currently experiencing. Place them in a proper and right perspective and answer the question. God has been faithful and wants to know He can be trusted. Staying focus requires us to take in to consideration the reality of God’s love for us and balance our circumstances. God and all he is will outweigh the overwhelming daily issues and seasonal circumstances. As one member recently reminded us, “Because He lives, I can face tomorrow” Choose you this day to day focused.