Choose Your Hard
Choose your hard. Have you heard this phrase before? I recently came across this online:
“Marriage is hard. Divorce is hard. Choose your hard.
Obesity is hard. Being fit is hard. Choose your hard.
Being in debt is hard. Being financially disciplined is hard. Choose your hard.
Communication is hard. Not communicating is hard. Choose your hard.
Life will never be easy. It will always be hard. But we can choose our hard. Pick wisely.” – Unknown
Those statements ring true, don’t they? But you know what’s missing? A spiritual application.
Once you’ve experienced life in relationship with Jesus, you know He is the way, and there is nothing better than walking in the security of knowing Him. Why do we so often neglect the wise choices that lead to intimacy with our Heavenly Father? Why do we long to walk by faith and hear God’s voice, but fail to do the daily things that cultivate that intimacy?
What if we remembered some of the following phrases, and purposed today to make wise, disciplined choices?
What could you add to that list? I’m sure all of us could add our own personal life lessons to the comparative lists of “hard” when we choose life without Jesus.
Matthew 7:13-14 says, "You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it."
Anything worth attaining in this life requires discipline. One definition of discipline is training yourself to do something in a controlled and habitual way. The word habitual stands out to me. It is in creating good, consistent habits that we begin to see real change.
What are you looking for today?
Do you desire to hear the voice of God?
Are you searching for peace in a situation?
Do you wish you really knew the Bible?
Do you wish you could speak more confidently about your faith?
You can find the answers to these questions and desires by daily choosing Jesus first.
Make time. Read your Bible. Pray. Every day.
Pray continually. Get in church. Find your people.
Serve others. Intentionally talk about Jesus with people you know, and even those you don’t.
Be bold. Be disciplined.
It might be hard, but so is the alternative.
Life is hard. Choose your hard.
Prayer: God, help me daily draw near to You through prayer and Your word. Teach me and guide me through Your Holy Spirit so that I always hear Your voice. Just like Psalms 73:28 says, I am grateful today: But as for me, how good it is to be near God! I have made the Sovereign Lord my shelter, and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things you do. Amen.
“Marriage is hard. Divorce is hard. Choose your hard.
Obesity is hard. Being fit is hard. Choose your hard.
Being in debt is hard. Being financially disciplined is hard. Choose your hard.
Communication is hard. Not communicating is hard. Choose your hard.
Life will never be easy. It will always be hard. But we can choose our hard. Pick wisely.” – Unknown
Those statements ring true, don’t they? But you know what’s missing? A spiritual application.
Once you’ve experienced life in relationship with Jesus, you know He is the way, and there is nothing better than walking in the security of knowing Him. Why do we so often neglect the wise choices that lead to intimacy with our Heavenly Father? Why do we long to walk by faith and hear God’s voice, but fail to do the daily things that cultivate that intimacy?
What if we remembered some of the following phrases, and purposed today to make wise, disciplined choices?
- Following Jesus is hard. Not following Jesus is hard. Choose your hard.
- Praying consistently is hard. Not praying at all is hard. Choose your hard.
- Reading your Bible is hard. Not knowing what you believe is hard. Choose your hard.
- Going to church is hard. Neglecting fellowship with other believers is hard. Choose your hard.
- Volunteering to serve others is hard. Not showing the love of God through serving is hard. Choose your hard.
- Witnessing is hard. Keeping the gospel to ourselves is hard. Choose your hard.
- Making prayerful decisions is hard. Not considering Jesus in our decisions is hard. Choose your hard.
What could you add to that list? I’m sure all of us could add our own personal life lessons to the comparative lists of “hard” when we choose life without Jesus.
Matthew 7:13-14 says, "You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it."
Anything worth attaining in this life requires discipline. One definition of discipline is training yourself to do something in a controlled and habitual way. The word habitual stands out to me. It is in creating good, consistent habits that we begin to see real change.
What are you looking for today?
Do you desire to hear the voice of God?
Are you searching for peace in a situation?
Do you wish you really knew the Bible?
Do you wish you could speak more confidently about your faith?
You can find the answers to these questions and desires by daily choosing Jesus first.
Make time. Read your Bible. Pray. Every day.
Pray continually. Get in church. Find your people.
Serve others. Intentionally talk about Jesus with people you know, and even those you don’t.
Be bold. Be disciplined.
It might be hard, but so is the alternative.
Life is hard. Choose your hard.
Prayer: God, help me daily draw near to You through prayer and Your word. Teach me and guide me through Your Holy Spirit so that I always hear Your voice. Just like Psalms 73:28 says, I am grateful today: But as for me, how good it is to be near God! I have made the Sovereign Lord my shelter, and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things you do. Amen.
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