Today I invoke heaven and earth as a witness against you that I have set life and death, blessing and curse, before you. Therefore choose life so that you and your descendants may live! (Deuteronomy 30:19)
A South Pacific rendition of Amazing Grace flew loops inside my chest. Dancers swayed, and their fingers circled then sprang open, until all palms reached in supplication. The worship dance was elegant, emotion filled worship.
But union with God isn’t based on an emotional feeling.
When I was still thirtysomething, I devoured research about the historical validity of the New Testament. My knowledge lifted me out of the flatlands and into alpine spires. Datable fragments, textual validation, and historical confirmation towered about me. But acceptance from God isn’t based on intellectual conviction.
Emotion is a butterfly that lands for a moment and then flits away. Intellect is stone for anchoring as much as it is for drowning. Many academics are pulled down to self-reliant doom. What I need, what is required, is volition.
A volitional life duly considers options, decides, then takes action. My volition is my will, my decider. Emotion and intellect have consultations with volition, but volition is in charge of destiny.
I exercise volition when I act on my choice to receive forgiveness and journey with Christ. If my choice is based on emotion or intellect, then when my feelings or focus change, I’ll abandon conversion. But a volitional choice brings growth until the end.
The ability to act volitionally is what sets me apart from the animal kingdom. I’m gifted with a bit of sacred volition because I’m made in God’s image. My daily act of worship, then, is to decidedly admit my sin and order my life around God’s mercy.
Prayer: Mighty God, this day, I choose life, I choose forgiveness, I choose you.