Making Courageous Choices

Should I wear my white, collared shirt or my plaid sweater today? Drink coffee at home or on the go? Listen to talk radio or let the kids choose the music in the car? It is estimated that the average adult makes about 35,000 remotely conscious decisions each day. Wow! That’s a lot of decision-making going on in our heads all day long.

And while the minor decisions don’t make all that much difference—peanut butter and jelly or ham and cheese—we are faced with harder decisions, too. How can I best help my child who is struggling at school, how do I communicate hard things with my spouse when they are deployed, or how can I help my aging, ailing parent?

Many of the decisions we make require a real reliance and faith in God’s provision and guidance—especially when it’s hard to know what to do next. Many decisions require us to be courageous and stand apart from culture, in order to truly stand for God. Our kids are faced with these hard decisions every day, too—especially as they navigate growing up in today’s culture.

In this today’s passage, Joshua had led the people into the promised land. They had won the battles and secured peace and prosperity for the people of Israel. Now, he lectures them on how they are to handle this new life. He pushes the Israelites to declare which side they are on.

But if you don't want to worship the LORD, then choose here and now! Will you worship the same idols your ancestors did? Or since you're living on land that once belonged to the Amorites, maybe you'll worship their gods. I won't. My family and I are going to worship and obey the LORD!

Joshua 24:15 (CEV)

You see, even though Joshua had led the Israelites to victory, they still had an important choice to make. He was concerned about their loyalty to God. God's continued faithfulness to his people warrants a response of true faithfulness. Joshua's mission was to challenge them to make a choice, as God's chosen people.

With all the decisions we make every day, the most important choice is to courageously serve God in all we do. And it’s a choice we can help our kids make, as we teach them about God’s faithfulness and his call on our lives.

God is with you, and he is for you. He is with your children and for your children. What he requires from all of us as believers is obedience and faithfulness to him.

Amid all your daily decisions, will you make the courageous choice today to be a Christ-follower? Put him first. Ask him for his guidance and wisdom. He will give it to you!

Pray

Lord, help me courageously choose you every day. Help me teach my children to be courageous Christ-followers, too. We choose to worship you and you alone! Amen.

Time to Talk

Conversation starter for kids: Provides you with questions and prompts to facilitate a time of applicable discussion with children to lead them towards knowing God and His Word more deeply.

Question(s): What is one really hard decision you have coming up, or one you made recently? How is God part of your decision-making process?

Apply: Share with your kids how important it is to put God first in all the decisions we make, so he can guide us to the next steps that are best for us.

Keep It Going

Related passages: These additional verses will help parents expand Scriptural knowledge and place on the armor of God’s Word to tackle each day. Swipe to read the passages today.

Ruth 1:16

Matthew 22:37-38