Proverbs 1:5
“A wise man will hear and increase in learning, and a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel.”
Several years ago, I preached a message called “I Choose To.” It came from a season when God was teaching me that spiritual growth doesn’t just “happen.” Just like in work, family, or personal goals, growth comes when we choose to be intentional.
Back then, I was working as a teacher, and one thing was constant: assessments. We were always evaluating our lessons, our methods, and even our interactions with students. There were meetings, observations, and honest conversations about what could be improved. Some changes were easy. Others forced me out of long-held habits. But they made me better.
It struck me, if I’m this intentional about my profession, why wouldn’t I be just as intentional about my walk with God?
Think about it:
God’s desire is for us to grow:
But that won’t happen by accident. It’s a choice. And over the years, I’ve learned that three choices, in particular, have changed everything for me.
Matthew 6:33 – “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
We all have needs, problems, and dreams. God knows every single one— even the ones we don’t see yet. He never says to ignore them, but He does say this: Seek Me first.
I think of it like a moment I had with my son when he was little. He loved Matchbox cars, and one day several rolled too far under the sofa. He tried everything—reaching in with his arm, using a stick—until he finally gave up and came looking for me. As his father, I walked over, lifted the entire sofa, and suddenly he not only found the cars he was looking for but also others he didn’t even remember losing.
That’s what God does when we seek Him first. He lifts what we cannot move, and He often gives us more than we were asking for.
Philippians 4:4 – “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!”
Paul wrote those words, not from a tropical beach, but from a prison cell. His joy didn’t come from his surroundings but from his unshakable faith in Christ.
I learned this personally during a time when my electricity was about to be shut off. I had no way to pay the bill, and my pride kept me from asking for help. During a prayer service, I heard God speak to my heart: Praise Me. At first, I struggled, weighed down by my situation. But as I obeyed, praising Him for who He is, not for what He could give, joy and peace filled my heart.
The next morning, a friend I hadn’t spoken to in years called and said, “I felt from God to give you $???” It was the exact amount I needed.
Rejoicing isn’t pretending everything is fine—it’s trusting that God is still good, still in control, and still worthy of praise.
Psalm 150:6 – “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.”
Hebrews 13:15 – “Let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise…”
Praise is a choice, especially when it’s a sacrifice. Sometimes we come into God’s presence carrying the weight of the world, feeling unwell, or just drained. That’s when praise matters most.
I’ve learned these lessons as a former worship leader. Some Sundays, I’ve stepped onto the platform feeling heavy and worn. But as I chose to lift my voice in praise, God’s presence met me, strengthened me, and reminded me that He is still God.
Paul and Silas modeled this in Acts 16. Chained in a filthy prison, surrounded by the stench of death, they sang hymns to God. And in the middle of their worship, the prison shook, chains broke, and lives were changed. Praise always makes room for God to move.
Living for God is not accidental, it’s intentional.
Every day, we have the choice to:
1. Seek God first.
2. Rejoice always.
3. Praise and worship continually.
When we choose these things, God shows up, in ways that surprise us, lift us, and change us.
So today, I’ll ask you the same question that started this journey for me:
Why do you do what you do?
If the answer is, “Because I choose to honor God in every part of my life,” then you’re on the right path. Keep choosing Him, every day.