Choose Today Whom You Will Serve...

This devotional came to my email the other day. One of the best I've received so far...hit me in the gut!

Choose Today Whom You Will Serve

"But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD."
Then the people answered, "Far be it from us to forsake the LORD to serve other gods! 17 It was the LORD our God himself who brought us and our fathers up out of Egypt, from that land of slavery, and performed those great signs before our eyes. He protected us on our entire journey and among all the nations through which we traveled."

Joshua 24:15-17

This part was written by Robert Dugall:

We all have many choices to make every day. Choices come in all shapes and sizes, from the easy to the complex and difficult. We make choices that don't make much difference in our lives, those that mold the quality of our character, and those that profoundly influence us. Many of us probably don't think about this on a day-to-day basis but it is indeed true: we are the sum total of the choices we make. With every choice we reveal what we actually believe. There really is no confusion in figuring out who a person is and what he really believes...simply look at his choices!
Someone once told me that every decision we make either brings us closer to God and His design for our lives, or moves us further from Him and His design. In my life, this saying has proved itself true time and again. I realize that I am only a choice or two away from completely melting down or even destroying my life. Every choice is filled with potential failure or success. Every choice is filled with opportunities for growth or for stepping backwards.
Frankly, there are a lot of voices to which we can respond when making choices. Each voice comes from something or someone who demands your allegiance. Remember, God is calling you to choose. Which voice are you going to respond to most often in your life? Are you going to listen to those other 'gods' who are calling for you to follow them, or are you going to tune into God's frequency and follow His voice? As you think about your life today, remember how God has loved you and guided you faithfully. Then as each voice comes and seeks your allegiance, choose to follow the voice that leads you into paths of righteousness, holiness, and grace.