Unspoken - Jaci Velasquez
- I wake up in the morning and I have a choice about what attitude I take into the day.
- My husband questions something I have done, I have a choice about how I react to his doubts.
- Someone cuts me off as I drive to the shops, I have a choice about what my response will be.
- The sermon on Sunday morning challenges my thinking about giving. I can make a few different choices about what to do now...what will I choose?
Every day we are faced with so many choices. It is the one guaranteed event in our days...to face decisions and make choices. Some are easy....which cereal I'll have for breaky? Some are more difficult....why is Baby j crying? Some are downright hard....how do I tell my friend something she doesn't want to hear?
But one choice I can make every step of the way is one that will influence all the rest of the choices and help me make the best ones. This choice is sung about by Jaci V in Unspoken:
He is there, use your voice
Reach for Him, make a choice
None of us are alone
Don't leave your heart unspoken
God heals us when we're broken
Don't leave your heart unspoken
God is ready, waiting, desiring us to make Him part of each day and each decision. Let's commit to including Him...not just when we feel like it...but every step of every day. Write yourself notes and post them around the house if you are like me and need reminders to do just that. What better way to live than with the God of all wisdom directing our thinking and influencing our choices?
King Asa is one of the unsung heroes of the Old Testament...of the entire Bible really. Funny how most of us have probably never heard of him. Although I guess you would have if you've ever read II Chronicles 15-16.
In a nutshell, his story is short but oh so sweet. Well, those 2 chapters are sweet...it looks like things get a bit ugly in Ch. 17 but I will be reading that next week in my Bible reading plan.
The first description we find of Asa in Ch. 14 is one I want people to say of me...'he did what was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God'.....change the pronouns though.
Look at the verbs that follow. Seek, obey, removed, built, rely. Doing what is good and right in God's eyes looks the same today. Are we seeking Him....wholeheartedly? Moment by moment? With our thoughts...words...actions?Are we obeying all His commands...not just the ones that suit us? Are we removing the idols, obstacles, hinderances, habits that take our focus away from God? Are we building ourselves in knowledge and understanding of what God wants for us and how we are to live? And are we relying on Him as our sustainer, provider, protector?
The rewards for Asa and for us are great. Asa not only had military victorys...that's one we might not revel in....but also, he prospered.....was at peace.....and was given rest. Ahhhh delightful words......even better experiences.
Then God promises Asa 2 things at the beginning of Ch. 15....that He will be found by Asa if A seeks Him and if A forsakes God, God will forsake A. Seems logical to me...a fair trade even. And perhaps an easy choice to make. A choice we all get to make...both on a macro level....where does God fit in my life? And a micro level....each day we make the decision to seek and acknowledge God or to ignore His presence and directions.
Asa makes the wisest choice he could.....with the people, he makes a covenant with God....a binding promise...to seek God. Not half heartedly...or when the going is good....or when they remember too....but with all their heart and soul (v12).
And doing that is not a chore...it brings them such joy and they did it eagerly (v15). How much joy do you have in living for God....do you do it eagerly?...or is a slog? A chore? A requirement so I get the ultimate reward of an eternity in heaven?
I hope, that like Asa and the people he ruled, we too can live for our God with a great passion and willingness. That we would be faithful and ruthless in our obedience and devotion to Him and that we would know the great benefits of living that way.
Finally, like Asa, I want people to say of me....(her) heart was fully committed to the LORD, all her life (Ch. 15 v17).
