Daily Focus - No Brainer

"Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child" (Proverbs 22:15a).

What seems an obvious choice to us as homeschooling parents is not so easy for our children. When we say "What were you thinking?" to our children for making foolish decisions, we forget that we, too, found ourselves in difficult situations when we were young. Many times, the only thing that separates our choices from our children's is a few years of wisdom from having been there and done that. What is even worse is when we as homeschooling parents make foolish choices, even when we know the right thing to do.

Saul is an example of this foolishness in the Old Testament. God had chosen him to be king of Israel, and following the Lord seemed like a "no brainer." However, Saul made a bad choice for the last time when he chose to assume the role of a priest. Instead of waiting for Samuel to come and offer the sacrifice to the Lord, he panicked when his army began to disband for fear of the Philistines, and he offered the sacrifice himself. This foolishness and desecration of God's holiness brought the end to his reign as king (1 Samuel 13:8-14).

Foolishness usually seems more obvious in others than in our own lives. Even though we know what we should do, we allow circumstances to force us into making decisions that are wrong. We listen to the voice of everyone but God and wonder how we ended up in debt, in court, or on our backs looking up at the One we should have followed in the first place.

What about you? Have your foolish actions led you down a road you never intended? Do you wish you could turn around and get back to where you started? Just as the prodigal son finally came to his senses in the pig pen after living a foolish life that wasted his inheritance and broke his father's heart, you can come to your heavenly Father and seek His forgiveness, too. He is waiting with outstretched arms to welcome you back. Don't wait! Turn around and come back to Him today!

Lord, forgive the foolish choices I have made because of fear and pride. I submit my life to You in humble obedience. Help me live according to Your Word. In Jesus' name, Amen.