This day!

In my rearing up years, we had a common wooden plaque that hung in the hallway of our homes. It didn’t matter which state we were in or where we landed, my parents would always hang up this plaque. It had a scripture painted on it from the book of Joshua, “… as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD (24:15).”

To often this saying gets convoluted in the menagerie of life and its complexities. Hand picked scriptures to build the faith. Or does it?  How often can you walk by something and not really see it? How often is it a glance or nod or just fully ignored?  Probably a bit to often. In my years, it was probably mostly ignored more than pondered… until…

If you flip to the scripture in your bible or on your phone you’ll notice there are more sections to this particular verse. The full verse states: “And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods of the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD (Joshua 24:15).”  

The house of Joshua made a bold declaration in that moment. The next day, they did it again. This sequence repeated for the rest of Joshua’s life. He chose on behalf of his household to serve the LORD. Stating and leading the way forward and the people followed. Joshua was both bold and sincere and he served the LORD faithfully.

I wanted to take a moment to stop from the holiday busy-ness and share this point with you.  It is important to start each day and declare if you intend to serve the LORD. It is a beginning point for each one of us to make this choice each day. Will I serve another or GOD? Do I follow Jesus, or someone else? Take the time, even if you are rushing, to say aloud, “as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” It is a declaration that your family won’t regret and then carry on with your day.

We are living in a time that has not passed by before in our lifetimes. It is imperative to live in the present of each day, choosing whom you will serve. Perhaps you’ll say, “ I did this 20 years ago it carries forward to today.” True enough, but do you still hear your voice saying it? Faith comes by hearing (Romans 10:17) and we need to build our faith each day. Make it a point to recite a core group of scriptures each day. Have intention when you do. I have a handful I recite each morning and the last pieces come from Ephesians 6.

Isaiah 54:17

Joshua 24:15

Exodus 15:26

Jeremiah 30:17

Ephesians 6: 12-18

And yes, I do pray these aloud each day. Sure I may miss one here and there, but all in all, this is how I build my faith.. Its creating and intending to have good habits that enables a successful walk with the LORD. In this manner, I am choosing and declaring my intentions to serve the Lord.  I hope you take time each day to grab a scripture to announce before the Lord. It does not have to match mine, but you need to have at least a handful of verses for yourselves. Choose you this day whom you will serve… I will chose the LORD. 

Godspeed, The Journeyman

PS. I usually don’t like to dictate in a journal entry, but as times change, sometimes writing styles have to adapt too. I encourage you to choose the Lord this day and then do it again tomorrow, and the next and the next… Keep Him a priority in your life as Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6).