Momentum For Monday, January 16th 2023

"For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the Law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel." (Ezra 7:10)

I am not sure which side of the coin you land on when it comes to New Year's resolutions. Some are all about making them. Some find it pointless since they end up quitting by February. Either way, I'll leave you with a thought to consider since we’re a couple weeks into the year now.

I had a mentor when I was younger that taught about something she called a, "pre-choice choice." What she used this phrase for was to teach teenagers how to avoid temptation. Meaning, if they were to encounter a situation that would tempt them into sinning or compromising themselves to something they knew was wrong, she taught them to decide in their heart what they would do before that chance encounter occurred. Basically, make a decision of what you're going to do before it could catch you off-guard. She knew the devil can use surprises to toy with the mind until it causes a person to cave into temptations. She taught me this over twenty years ago and I've never forgotten it.

What I would also like to suggest is that making a "pre-choice choice" isn't just about averting temptation. This is a powerful tool when it comes to accomplishing goals. Let me explain.

Sudden bursts of motivation are few and far between. Honestly, I can't tell you the last time I "felt" like exercising, doing homework for school, getting up for work, or even getting this blog posted. However, these are things I committed to doing a long time ago. When I got hired on at my job years ago, I agreed to show up every day I am scheduled to work. When I went back to school, I knew that I would have to sacrifice certain things in order to finish my degree. Going to the gym is something I never consult my emotions about. If that were the case, I'd never go. Instead, I pack my things the night before and go directly after work. You see, motivation isn't something you need in order to be productive.

Now, back to our opening verse. Scripture tells us that Ezra had a desire to serve his country, which is not a small thing to do. However, his intention was to serve it with the integrity of God's commands, which makes this task even more difficult. But he decided in his heart before he ever started, that he was going to learn the God's laws for himself before he ever taught them to Israel. That type of preparation doesn't just happen within a few days. That means Ezra had been preparing his heart for years. I believe the long season of preparation was required for Ezra to be successful when the opportunity came about. In other words, he made "pre-choice choices" for years to train him for the hard choices that were coming.

What about you? Is there a "pre-choice choice" or two that you can decide in your heart today about that will make for a better tomorrow? In any regard, don't wait for motivation, make a decision and prepare now.

"I will instruct you (says the Lord) and guide you along the best pathway for your life; I will advise you and watch your progress."

(Psalm 32:8)