Making the choice, today

See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. For I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the LORD your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess.

This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the LORD is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. (Deuteronomy 30:15-16, 19-20, NIV)

At times in my life, I think I can ignore this passage. After all, I have made this choice. I think I have chosen to talk in God's ways, and I think I'm doing it. I'm baptized; I go to church. I pray. I'm "in," right?

But then there are days when I'm not entirely on the beam. I may be a little bit off - maybe I've missed my morning prayers, agreed to do something at work that would cause me problems (like overworking, instead of working a normal day and exercising). Maybe I've slipped further off the beam - choosing that piece of pie or ice cream more than I should, and my weight creeps up. Each decision is not a huge, sinful act.
And then the voice in the back of my head says, "It's not like I'm killing someone, or anything..."

And then the pants don't fit. Or the blood-sugar meter shows a value that just isn't right. Something happens, and I come to the uncomfortable realization that I may think I love God, I may be taking actions like other believers at times, but I obviously haven't been obeying God. And now I have a choice. Right, or wrong. Life or death. Prosperity or destruction.

"Now choose life," the writer of Deuteronomy says - not so I suddenly get the "good stuff" in life, but so that I may love God, hear God's voice, and follow God's plan for me. Once I do *that*, then there is hope of "many years" and the rewards that go with them. The other option just isn't good news...

Today, Lord God, I choose life. I choose you, and your way. Period. But now that I've made that decision, I will need all your help to stick with that choice. I will trust that you are with me this day, and do my best to see your presence in every choice I make today. Amen.