Building Blocks

There is a quote by Lynn Cowell and it says this, “Every single day we are constructing our lives. With each decision we make, those intentional and those not, we’re putting down building blocks in our lives; blocks we’ll build again tomorrow. This building needs to begin with a solid foundation; the type of foundation that holds up when life is good and when it’s not.”

Let’s talk today about the decisions we make in our everyday lives.

As I have been raising my kids, I am doing my best to teach them about making wise choices. Often, over the years, they act on pure emotion or impulse. We talk about why they chose what they did because I want to understand their reasoning, and I also want them to understand the reasons behind their choices. I want them to develop problem-solving skills, and I believe that if I can help teach them a solid foundation for navigating life, they will make better-constructed choices by seeing things from a broader perspective. God's perspective.

Deuteronomy 30:20 says, “You can make this choice by loving the Lord your God, obeying him, and committing yourself firmly to him. This is the key to your life. And if you love and obey the Lord, you will live long in the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”

The best foundation I can teach my kids is to love the Lord first and to go to Him with all things.

We live in a world that provides many choices: religions, careers, and relationships. Even the Bible commands that we make choices. God provides us with sufficient information so that our choices will be informed. We can see this in the Bible.

Joshua 24:14-15 says, “So fear the Lord and serve him wholeheartedly. Put away forever the idols your ancestors worshiped when they lived beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord alone. But if you refuse to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.”

Information is necessary to make intelligent choices. God has given us information about Himself, including His holiness, man’s sinfulness, God’s provision for that sin through Jesus Christ, and promises about what will happen if one accepts or rejects His promises.

The foundation we stand on and what we choose truly sets our life in motion.

When making choices, sometimes I experience anxiety because I don’t know what to choose. I fear choosing wrong or that my choice will negatively affect others. I tend to overthink everything and only feel confident about my decision after I see it through.

This indicates that I am not fully trusting the building blocks the Lord has given me, but instead, leaning on my understanding.

When I rely on my thoughts alone, things become jumbled and confusing. However, when I go to God and ask Him for guidance, the thought process becomes much clearer.

Through this, I have learned that the best way to ensure a strong foundation for thought and decision-making is to go to God first and let Him be the foundation on which I stand. By seeing things from His point of view, everything becomes clearer.

Matthew 6:33 says, “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.”