The Valley Of Decision

As teens, we are going through a time in life where we will make many decisions. We will choose either to obey God, or disobey God. We will decide  what stands we will make for Christ. We will make choices about jobs, schools, friends and churches. The question is, how will we make those choices. Based on the Bible and the Holy Spirit, or based on what our flesh wants?

In my youth group's Sunday School Class, we have been going through the book of Joshua. This week, we were in chapter 8. Chapter 8 is the moment in time where the children of Israel conquered Ai. After we went through the exciting way that Israel beat Ai, we talked about where the children of Israel ended up after the battle. 

They were in between two mountains. The Lord said in verses 33 and 34, "And all Israel, and their elders, and officers, and their judges, stood on this side the ark and on that side before the priests the Levites, which bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD, as well the stranger, as he that was born among them; half of them over against mount Gerizim, and half of them over against mount Ebal; as Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded before, that they should bless the people of Israel. And afterward he read all the words of the law, the blessings and cursings, according to all that is written in the book of the law."

So, the children of Israel were in a valley of decision: should they follow the Lord and reap blessings, or follow their flesh and reap cursings? 

We often feel stuck between two things, but the question is how to we make our decisions? 

1. We have a free will. We can choose to do right or wrong. 

2. We are accountable for every choice we make. 

3. Deciding not to decide is still a choice. 

4. You cannot choose the consequences for your choices. 

5. You can't go throughout life without making choices. 

The most important thing to remember about choices is that your life is a sum of the choices that you've made. You will be accountable to God for each and every choice that you make.

~Charis