Choose Everyday

Choose today whom you will serve. To whom will you honor...bow down...praise loudly ...worship continuously...boast in? Who will you look to for comfort...power...love...attention? You can only serve one. Choose wisely.

“How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.” 1 Kings 18:21 

Will you choose the gods of this world?

Money, Netflix, Laziness, Movies, Instagram, Food, Music, Boys, Friends...?

Or will you choose the God of the Universe?

Ultimate Sustainer, Sovereign God, Everlasting Father, Wonderful Counselor, Almighty Savior, Prince of Peace, All-Powerful, God...?

Let two bulls be given to us, and let them choose one bull for themselves and cut it in pieces and lay it on the wood, but put no fire to it. And I will prepare the other bull and lay it on the wood and put no fire to it. And you call upon the name of your god, and I will call upon the name of the Lord, and the God who answers by fire, he is God. 1 Kings 18:23-24 

I do not know why I expect more out of the things of this world. It is silly, really. They are nothing compared to God. I expect fleeting things to satisfy me and sinful people to please me. I expect them to answer my prayers for joy and peace and rest. I put too much hope into the most unworthiest of things. How ridiculous I must look dancing around these false gods, demanding things from them that they are incapable of producing! 

 And they took the bull that was given them, and they prepared it and called upon the name of Baal from morning until noon, saying, “O Baal, answer us!” But there was no voice, and no one answered. And they limped around the altar that they had made. 1 Kings 18:26

Am I so delusional to think that a 30 minute television will comfort me more than 30 minutes with my Heavenly Father? Sure it takes effort. Sure it requires reading and thinking. But only God can offer abundantly more than anything I can ever ask or imagine (Ephesians 3). False gods do not care about me. They do not answer when I call. They do not comfort me when I am sad. They do not rejoice over me with singing. They do not value what is valuable or honor what is honorable. They do not even pay attention. 

 And as midday passed, they raved on until the time of the offering of the oblation, but there was no voice. No one answered; no one paid attention.  1 Kings 18:29

We can; however, expect much from God. We can expect Him to do great things. He will never disappoint. We can pray according to His will, on His authority, and He will answer! Elijah was so confident that God would rain down fire that he prepared his alter with buckets water. He was that sure of God's promises! He was that sure God's fire would burn down from heaven even upon trenches of water! And it did. 

Fill four jars with water and pour it on the burnt offering and on the wood.” And he said, “Do it a second time.” And they did it a second time. And he said, “Do it a third time.” And they did it a third time. And the water ran around the altar and filled the trench also with water. 1 Kings 18:33-34  

Pray boldly on the authority of God. Expect great things from God and prepare for even greater things. When we pray according  to God's will (the glory of His Name), He will answer in a way that brings most honor to Himself. When we pray that He will be glorified, God will answer. 

Answer me, O Lord, answer me, that this people may know that you, O Lord, are God, and that you have turned their hearts back. 1 Kings 18:37 

God loves to show off His power! He wants to make His Name known! He wants to do great things in our life to shock and awe not only us, but those around us. 

Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt offering and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces and said, “The Lord, he is God; the Lord, he is God. 1 Kings 18:38-39 

Put to death any doubts, slaughter any lies, and destroy any hindrances that quench your faith in God. God wants us to come boldly to Him, without doubt. He wants us to pray confidently to Him, without a double-mind. An unbelieving heart is uncontrollable. It is always being pushed around by the ever changing circumstances of this fallen world (James 1:6). But God is stable. You can always count on Him. Choose everyday whom you will serve. This is not a one time decision. You have to wake up every morning, deny yourself, put to death your own desires, and submit to the Lord. 

And Elijah said to them, “Seize the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape.” And they seized them. And Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon and slaughtered them there. 1 Kings 18:40

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The Girl Next Door