Bonnie Peacock and her husband attend the First United Pentecostal Church in Odessa, Texas. Terry Pugh is their pastor. She is a freelance writer for various Christian publications. She also self-publishes The Pastor's PIT Crew for her local church and "First" Ladies which is sent to the ministers' wives of the Texico District and both Foreign and Home Missionaries. We are all a work in progress. With every decision, we are constructing our lives, homes, and ministries. We make these decisions each day.
We decide to get out of bed in the morning. We decide to be a faithful spouse, responsible parent, and dedicated to God’s work. We can either shuffle through life, taking the easy way out, or we can decide to live productive lives and be a positive influence on those around us.
Often a decision seems to only alter a portion of our lives, but each resolution has far reaching effects that lasts long after the emotion-of-the-moment has passed. Often the most valuable things we do in life are fueled by a decision that we made long ago.
Face it. We can not trust our emotions, they are fickle. It is so easy to react to popular opinions in the heat-of-the-moment. Without a firm foundation laid in our hearts and minds, we will find ourselves vacillating and making choices that we never thought we would make.
Joshua made a decision, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15). A decision like that becomes the cornerstone our families can build their lives upon.
Living a life based on principles, integrity, and excellence does not happen by accident. Choosing our values, priorities, and level of commitment is imperative or we will find ourselves caving under pressure and tempted to give up.
Life demands more. Our families are worth it. Eternity is not a fairy tale. Every word, motive, and deed takes on new meaning when we consider the long-term consequences of short-term, spur-of-the-moment decisions. The choices that lie at our door are of eternal consequences.
Lord, open our eyes so that we can clearly see the way. We cannot walk nonchalantly into the future without Your guiding us every step of the way. We dare not make decisions lightly and with little thought. Each day, Lord, we choose You!
“I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and
thy seed may live” (Deuteronomy 30:19).