Isaiah 22:9-11  You inspect the breaks in the walls of Jerusalem. You store up water in the lower pool. You survey the houses and tear some down for stone to strengthen the walls. Between the city walls, you build a reservoir for water from the old pool. But you never ask for help from the One who did all this. You never considered the One who planned this long ago. (NLT)

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After centuries of warnings, Israel and Judah were about to suffer the consequences of turning their backs on God. From the time they entered the Promised Land, he told them to choose life. They had other plans. 

An old friend only had the oil changed on his car when the warning light came on. He only bought tires when one went flat. That’s how God’s people behaved. If things really, really went bad, they would turn back to God. Now they were really, really bad and they no longer bothered with God. 

Warning upon warning came. Repentance never endured. People finally replaced God with personal fortitude or other gods. Then they realized how weak they were. They realized how impotent were their gods. Still, they would not turn back to God. 

If you were God, what would you do?

Whatever path we choose, whatever decision we make, there will be consequences. The right path leads to the right place in the right time under God’s protection and provision. The right decision leads to more and better opportunities. 

We get to choose our own adventures. We choose our own consequences. Wise choices produce less friction and more delight. Pain is inevitable, and it is minimized by choices that honor God and serve others. Problems will come, and so will their solutions when we turn to God for his wisdom and direction. 

God pours out his blessings on those who please him. 

How will you live a life that pleases him and benefits everyone you meet?

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I will seek God’s direction in all things and trust him from the bottom of my heart.

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Our Father, I want to live a Psalm 23 life. You are my Shepherd. I belong to you. In you, I have all I need for all I will ever face. You guide and provide. You pursue and protect. You give delights undeserved and joy overflowing. Turn my heart ever more in your direction. Make my heart more like yours. Amen.