I've often wondered what my life would be like if I had taken a different path; turned a different corner; went through a different door. I almost married someone different when I was younger and I've wondered where I would be living now, if I would still have children and what kind of job I would have if I had made different choices back then. I've made some choices in my life that I regret and some that I wouldn't change if I could. But what makes us choose certain paths over others? Sometimes it is beauty. Some paths are more appealing than others. And sometimes we just simply choose the road that looks smoother and easier to walk. But these are not good reasons for directing our lives. The most difficult paths are often the most rewarding. If we constantly take the flat, smooth trails, we will never be able to see the view from the mountain top!

Why are you working at your present job (or being a stay-at-home mom or dad)? Why are you living where you live? Why do you eat the foods you eat? Why do you drive the car you drive and wear the clothes you wear? Why do you go to church (or not go), and why that church or denomination? Examine your life choices. Are they selfish? Maybe you are stuck in a thankless job of some kind that you absolutely hate. If you are doing the job because it is all you can find right now and it puts food on the table, that is a good, selfless reason and you are doing it "to the glory of God!" But if you are working 12 hours a day 7 days a week only for money and self advancement when your family needs you at home more and you are missing worship on Sunday, that is not glorifying God! If you are overeating (or starving yourself) because of unresolved feelings you are not glorifying God. If you are driving a car or living in a house or wearing clothes way beyond your means you're striving to glorify yourself and that is a sin. If you are going to church out of a sense of duty or habit you are not bringing glory to God; church is a place of worship and spiritual renewal. God is watching our lives and our motives. He sees everything we do and knows what our motives are. We can hide nothing from Him. He wants us to do everything for His glory. Even cleaning house, cooking your family a hot meal and washing clothes (the same clothes week after week), although seemingly thankless tasks, are glorifying to God. He can even get glory from the flowers you plant in front of your house but if you are doing it to keep up with the people next door you are doing it for your own glory!

Every day we make choices. Sometimes small choices such as what to eat for lunch and sometime huge choices such as job changes or marriage. We should seek the will of God with each choice we make. I know no one has time to agonize over every meal and ask God what He wants them to have for dinner each night but we can be aware of why we are eating (often when we are not hungry). The scripture above says to "do all to the glory of God." That means every single breath we take should glorify God. Arguing with your spouse in front of the children does not glorify God and neither does taking your bad day out on your family at night. I know if I had sought God's will in my life I would have made different choices along the way. I am still hiking along through the woods, some of the time in the dark, and still coming to forks in the road, but now I'm pausing more and kneeling to pray before I choose a direction. I know He sees me there in the woods and is waiting for me to ask for directions. Sometimes I have to camp in the clearing for awhile until I can figure out which way I should go, but I'm learning to wait on Him to lead the way!

Take some time this week to think about some choices you have made in the past and what you could have done differently. Try to answer some of the questions above. See if you are glorifying God in your life or if there are some things you should be doing differently. It is never to late to change! And be sure to watch for the forks in the road from now on and seek His direction in your life! He wants to guide you but He can only lead if you are willing to follow!

LOVE,
MEME

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