If you went into a new store in search of an item, which would be your choice – to look around and find it yourself or to just directly ask an employee where to find it?

Even in our daily experiences we have to make this type of choice.

In some situations we might choose the indirect route in order to get sidetracked to delay a task. Other times we might choose the direct route, because we want to get the job done. Plenty of factors can play into our decision, and sometimes the outcome is affected.

Even within the spiritual aspect of ourselves, we have such choices to make. Do we tap away at our own ideas and selfish will until we finally go to God for wisdom, help, or comfort? Do we get side-tracked along the way and complain even as we do what is “right?” Or, do we choose to let the ways of God guide us right from the start?

The Israelites are the classic example of wandering around and complaining (Exodus 16:1-3, Numbers 14). They saw God do miraculous works on their behalf, but they forgot so quickly. When God led them in the wilderness after escaping Egypt, they lost focus of him and complained and disregarded him, even to the point of substituting God with an idol to worship (Exodus 32). We like to point at them, aghast, wondering, “How could they do that?”

Yet, don’t our own thoughts and actions sometimes cast a similar shade?

We diminish the greatness of God and forget the ways he provided for us in our own challenges. We go about our way searching for peace or satisfaction on our own accord, often disgruntled as we look for it. We take our eyes off Christ and get sidetracked along the way. In God’s patient mercy, he is waiting for us to acknowledge his holy presence and seek his ways. We need to “seek the LORD while he may be found; call upon him while he is near” (Isaiah 55:6 ESV). And then, in reverence and love, obey him.

The best choice to make is to seek God first, confident that he is all-knowing and all-powerful.

As we draw near to him and remain in him, we can’t help but make the choice

-          to have an attitude of thankfulness to keep God’s faithful care at the forefront of our mind

-          to have a mouth that praises God to keep our thoughts on him and his greatness, and

-          to have a moldable heart to accept and desire God’s ways.

Let’s make the choice to trust God wholeheartedly, confident that he will direct our paths (Proverbs 3:5-6).

Try for yourself a Heart Training book and see how it helps you choose to seek God first each day!