Decisions During the Journey

Life has often been compared to a journey. While there is truth in this analogy, there is also truth in the fact that the journey is filled with Ys in the road, where decisions have to be made on which road to take. Those of us who grew up in or around a church were challenged early to decide to follow Jesus vs. Satan; God’s way vs. the world’s way. The youth evangelists of those days told dramatic stories of lives filled with drugs and alcohol, until they decided to follow Jesus. Most of my friends decided to follow Jesus, a few chose the other road. The most popular seminar subject in college retreats and conferences was how to decide on God’s will for one’s life – as to a mate, a career, friendships, etc. Adult life is filled with decisions, from medical to material to management of time and resources. Nor does it end this side of the grave. Retirement years bring a whole new set of choices – keep working, play more golf, spend more time with grandkids, or take a long trip to get away from it all. In Acts 20:16, Paul, “decided to sail past Ephesus” and in Titus 3:12 he “decided to spend the winter” in Nicopolis. Decisions are everywhere. It’s possible you will face a decision today. Chose well. The big thing about decisions is that, while you can make adjustments, you seldom, if ever, get a redo.

Join me this week in praying for the following global issues:
• The Winter Olympics begin this week. While praying for safety from threatened terrorist attacks, pray also for clear and bold presentations of the gospel by hundreds of volunteers. Life really is about “more than gold.” A prayer guide can be accessed at EngageSochi.org/prayer.
• Pray for missionaries in Amsterdam as they distribute Gospels of John to over 18,000 people living in 7,500 homes.
• Pray for Ukraine’s leaders and those who lead the opposition as protests continue throughout Ukraine. May the uncertainty of these times turn many to God as their source of strength and hope.