City Life Starter

Written by Aisha Darwesh

The Word

¹⁹ I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; ²⁰ that you may love the Lord your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days; and that you may dwell in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them.”

Deuteronomy 30:19-20

Of course God knew what would happen if they used their freedom the wrong way: apparently He thought it worth the risk…What Satan put into the heads of our remote ancestors was the idea that they could ‘be like gods’–could set up on their own as if they had created themselves–be their own masters–invent some sort of happiness for themselves outside God, apart from God. And out of that hopeless attempt has come nearly all that we call human history–money, poverty, ambition, war, prostitution, classes, empires, slavery–the long terrible story of man trying to find something other than God which will make him happy.

C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity, Book 2, Chapter 3, The Shocking Alternative

Aisha’s Analysis

Decisions, decisions. This is something we’re faced with every day. But did you know that your decisions lead you into your destiny? Perhaps that’s why decisions are so tough. 

    According to a very reliable source (i.e. Wikipedia):

In decision making and psychology, decision fatigue refers to the deteriorating quality of decisions made by an individual after a long session of decision making. It is now understood as one of the causes of irrational trade-offs in decision making. Decision fatigue may also lead to consumers making poor choices with their purchases. There is a paradox in that “people who lack choices seem to want them and often will fight for them”, yet at the same time, “people find that making many choices can be [psychologically] aversive.” For example, major politicians and businessmen such as former United States President Barack Obama, Steve Jobs, and Mark Zuckerberg have been known to reduce their everyday clothing down to one or two outfits in order to limit the number of decisions they make in a day.

Cited from the very reliable Wikipedia

It’s worth mentioning because it’s real. I’m sure we’ve all experienced decision fatigue. In a consumer-driven world where we are constantly bombarded with options vying for our attention, how can you not? 

Let’s face it, we live in a swipe-right culture. We weigh our options with practically every decision we make. When we are deciding what church to go to, we visit a few and choose the one we like best. If you are looking for a job, you apply to a few, if not dozens. If you are deciding what restaurant to go to in an area, out comes Yelp to help. Exploring all our options helps us feel in control and more informed. What’s more, when we do end up making a choice, it’s that much more special because it meant turning down all the other options. 

I remember when I first started attending CLC, I absolutely LOVED it, but it was just so dang far–I live in Sugar Land for crying out loud. Way back in the day when we had to drive to things pre-pandemic, that was a huge time commitment for me. It meant that I would be spending an additional hour on the road for every Sunday service, every small group, every meeting, service project, and fellowship opportunity. 

Not too long after I started going to CLC, I found another church right around the corner which seemed to match CLC–it was friendly, diverse, and Bible-based, so I thought no problem, I’ll just go there. Church is church, right? Nope. When I was asking the Lord what He thought of that decision, I vividly remember He clearly told me “I called you to go to CLC, and I’ll redeem every mile you drive out of your way in obedience to Me.”  

All I can say is the Lord is true to His word! I have been attending CLC for almost ten years now, and that single decision has led me to lifelong friendships, an amazing church family, and even a job working with one of the leaders in the church who has shown me what it means to seek first God’s Kingdom in every facet of life. 

My destiny was in that decision, and I have never looked back. We may get overwhelmed with the sheer volume of decisions we have to make, or we may even have to make personal sacrifices for the decisions we make, but here’s the good news: God wants to weigh in on our decisions. He makes it very simple: choose life. Choosing life means that we live in obedience to God and look to Him for direction. That’s it. All we have to do is follow Him. It’s not always easy, especially when faced with other options that seem more gratifying, but it is just that simple. Follow Him. 

Application

There is power in decisions. What you decide can lead you into your destiny. Take some time in prayer to ask God if there’s anything in particular He would like you to do today. Just be open to His voice. He might show you a picture of someone, perhaps a relationship to end, or maybe a relationship to begin. He might want you to call a mature believer whom you trust and look up to, who can help you grow and walk alongside you in your walk with God. He might prompt you to make an adjustment to your schedule or reach out to someone you would have never thought of. 

Life with God is an adventure! I am constantly amazed to see how God works through people to bring His plans and purposes into fruition. What we do in obedience to God can make a lasting impact–this is what leads us into our destiny. 

Prayer

Father God, although I feel like I am being pulled in so many different directions, I am making a conscious effort to follow You. Show me the way. Lord, I trust You. You are my Shepherd. You restore my soul and lead me in Your paths of righteousness. Thank You, Father. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.