LUKE 10:41 …“Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; 42 but only one thing is necessary; for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”

Intimacy with the Lord shapes our decisions. When we draw near to Him, we learn to choose what truly matters.

PRAYER

Heavenly Father,

One thing is truly necessary—to be close to You. Forgive us, Lord, for the times we become worried, distracted, and overwhelmed by many things. Our hearts often become busy with concerns, responsibilities, and thoughts that pull us away from Your presence.

Teach us, Lord, to choose the better part. Help us to sit at Your feet, to listen to Your Word, and to treasure our time with You above all else. May our intimacy with You shape our hearts, guide our decisions, and set our priorities in the right order.

Quiet our restless minds and draw us nearer to You each day. Give us the wisdom to focus on what truly matters and the grace to remain in Your presence. May our relationship with You grow deeper so that our lives will reflect Your peace, love, and purpose.

We surrender our worries and distractions to You, trusting that what we gain in Your presence can never be taken away.

In Jesus’ name we pray,

Amen. 🙏

MATTHEW 7:13 “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is constricted that leads to life, and there are few who find it.

Jesus teaches that there are only two paths in life. One is the wide gate and broad road that many people choose because it is easy and popular, but it ultimately leads to destruction. The other is the narrow gate and difficult road that leads to life, and only a few are willing to find and follow it.

The narrow gate is Jesus Christ Himself. No one can come to the Father except through Him. Salvation is not found in religion, good works, or human effort. There is no salvation apart from Jesus Christ. He alone is the way, the truth, and the life, and only those who trust in Him will enter the path that leads to eternal life.

Intimacy with God helps us make the Right Decisions

HEBREWS 11:8 By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he left, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he lived as a stranger in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise; 10 for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

Abraham demonstrates what it means to walk closely with God. When God called him, Abraham obeyed by faith and left his homeland, even though he did not know where he was going. His obedience flowed from his trust and intimacy with God.

Because of that faith, Abraham lived as a stranger in the land of promise, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob. Though the land was promised to him, he did not cling to earthly security or permanent possessions. Instead, he lived as a pilgrim, looking beyond this world.

Abraham was able to make the right decisions because his heart was fixed on God’s promise. He was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

Likewise, intimacy with God helps us make the right decisions. When we trust Him and walk closely with Him, we learn to value eternal things over temporary comforts and follow His leading by faith.

GENESIS 12:1 Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country, And from your relatives And from your father’s house, To the land which I will show you; 2 And I will make you into a great nation, And I will bless you, And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing; 3 And I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.”

Abraham Heard God’s Call. God called Abram to leave his country, relatives, and father’s house and go to a land that God would show him. This was a call that required complete trust because Abram was asked to leave the familiar and step into the unknown.

God also gave Abram great promises: He would make him into a great nation, bless him, make his name great, and through him all the families of the earth would be blessed. Abram’s journey of faith began when he heard the voice of God and responded in obedience. True faith begins when we listen to God and trust His word.

GENESIS 12:6 Abram passed through the land as far as the site of Shechem, to the [oak of Moreh. Now the Canaanites were in the land at that time. 7 And the Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your [f]descendants I will give this land.” So he built an altar there to the Lord who had appeared to him.

Abraham Saw God’s Promise. When Abram arrived in the land, the Lord appeared to him and promised that his descendants would inherit it. In response, Abram built an altar to the Lord.

The altar represented gratitude, worship, and acknowledgment of God’s presence. Abram did not merely hear God’s command; he also recognized God’s faithfulness and responded with worship.

GENESIS 12:8 Then he proceeded from there to the mountain on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east; and there he built an altar to the Lord and called upon the name of the Lord.

Abraham Worshiped God. Abram continued his journey and pitched his tent between Bethel and Ai. There he built another altar and called upon the name of the Lord.

Abram lived in tents, showing that he did not see the land as his permanent home. At the same time, he built altars, showing that God was the center of his life. His pattern was simple but profound: a tent for temporary living and an altar for devoted worship. This reflects a life of intimacy with God, where daily dependence on Him guides every step.

GENESIS 13:1 So Abram went up from Egypt to the [a]Negev, he and his wife and all that belonged to him, and Lot with him.:2 Now Abram was very rich in livestock, silver, and gold... 5 Now Lot, who went with Abram, also had flocks, herds, and tents. 6 And the land could not [d]support both of them while living together, for their possessions were so great that they were not able to remain together.

Abram became very wealthy in livestock, silver, and gold. Lot, who traveled with him, also prospered. Their possessions increased so greatly that the land could not sustain both households together.

Blessings can sometimes create new difficulties. Prosperity led to tension between the herdsmen of Abram and Lot. Even in times of abundance, wisdom and humility are needed to maintain peace.

GENESIS 13:7 And there was strife between the herdsmen of Abram’s livestock and the herdsmen of Lot’s livestock. Now the Canaanites and the Perizzites were living in the land at that time. 8 So Abram said to Lot, “Please let there be no strife between you and me, nor between my herdsmen and your herdsmen, for we are relatives! 9 Is the entire land not before you? Please separate from me; if you choose the left, then I will go to the right; or if you choose the right, then I will go to the left.”

When conflict arose, Abram addressed it with humility and wisdom. Although he was the elder and had the right to choose first, he allowed Lot to decide which land he wanted.

This shows Abram’s spiritual maturity. He was willing to surrender his personal rights to preserve peace. A believer who trusts God does not need to fight for every advantage, because he knows that God is the true provider and guide.

GENESIS 13:10 Lot raised his eyes and saw all the [f]vicinity of the Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere—this was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah—like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt going toward Zoar. 11 So Lot chose for himself all the [h]vicinity of the Jordan, and Lot journeyed eastward. So they separated from each other. 12 Abram [i]settled in the land of Canaan, while Lot [j]settled in the cities of the [k]vicinity of the Jordan, and moved his tents as far as Sodom. 13 Now the men of Sodom were [l]exceedingly wicked sinners against the Lord.

Lot looked at the plain of the Jordan and saw that it was well watered and fertile. From a practical standpoint, it seemed like the best choice for his flocks and herds. However, the area was near Sodom, a place known for great wickedness.

Lot made his decision based on outward appearance and immediate benefit. He did not seek God’s direction. As time passed, he moved closer to Sodom, placing himself and his family in a spiritually dangerous environment. This illustrates the danger of making decisions without seeking God’s wisdom.

PROVERBS 1:10 My son, if sinners entice you, Do not consent. 11 If they say… 14 Throw in your lot with us; We will all have one money bag,” 15 My son, do not walk on the way with them. Keep your feet from their path,

This verse warns against being influenced by sinful environments or companions. Decisions made without spiritual discernment can lead to serious consequences.

GENESIS 13:14 The Lord said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him, “Now raise your eyes and look from the place where you are, northward and southward, and eastward and westward; 15 for all the land which you see I will give to you and to your [m]descendants forever. 16 I will make your [n]descendants as plentiful as the dust of the earth, so that if anyone can count the dust of the earth, then your [o]descendants could also be counted. 17 Arise, walk about in the land through its length and width; for I will give it to you.” 18 Then Abram moved his tent and came and lived by the [p]oaks of Mamre, which are in Hebron; and there he built an altar to the Lord.

After Lot separated from him, God told Abram to look in every direction because the entire land would belong to him and his descendants. God reaffirmed His covenant and promised that Abram’s descendants would be countless.

Abram did not need to compete with Lot or worry about what he had given up. God Himself secured Abram’s future. This shows that when we trust God and act with integrity, God faithfully fulfills His promises in His time. Throughout his journey, Abram repeatedly built altars. These altars were expressions of devotion and gratitude. They demonstrated that Abram’s life was centered on worship and fellowship with God. His consistent worship revealed a heart that depended on God in every season.

GENESIS 15:6 Then he believed in the Lord; and He credited it to him as righteousness.

Abram’s relationship with God was not based on achievements or possessions but on faith.

His obedience, worship, and decisions all flowed from this faith. Abram trusted God’s promises, and that trust shaped the way he lived.

JOHN 10:27 My sheep listen to My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me;

This verse describes the relationship between Christ and His followers. Those who truly belong to Him recognize His voice and respond to it. Listening is intentional. Believers hear the voice of the Shepherd primarily through God’s Word. As we read and meditate on Scripture, we learn His will and His character. True listening leads to obedience. When our hearts are attentive to God’s voice, our choices and direction in life begin to align with His guidance.

JAMES 4:13 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit.” 14 Yet you do not know [l]what your life will be like tomorrow. For you are just a vapor that appears for a little while, and then vanishes away. 15 Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that.”

James warns against making confident plans about the future without acknowledging God. People often assume they control tomorrow, but Scripture reminds us that life is brief and uncertain, like a vapor that quickly disappears. Instead of relying on our own plans, we should recognize God’s authority over our lives. Saying “If the Lord wills” reflects a humble attitude that seeks His direction before moving forward. Wise decisions are made when we submit our plans to God and depend on His will.

JUDGES 21:25 In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.

During the time of the judges, Israel had no king, and the people lived without spiritual direction. As a result, “everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” This describes a society where personal preference replaced God’s authority. When people rely only on their own judgment, moral confusion and disorder follow. The verse highlights the danger of living without submitting to God’s guidance. A life that ignores His truth eventually leads to wrong choices and spiritual decline.

Lack of Intimacy with God Affects the Choices We Make

GENESIS 19:1 Now the two angels came to Sodom in the evening as Lot was sitting at the gate of Sodom. When Lot saw them, he stood up to meet them and bowed down with his face to the ground. 2 And he said, “Now behold, my lords, please turn aside into your servant’s house, and spend the night, and wash your feet; then you may rise early and go on your way.” They said, “No, but we shall spend the night in the public square.” 3 Yet he strongly urged them, so they turned aside to him and entered his house; and he prepared a feast for them and baked unleavened bread, and they ate.

In ancient cities, the gate was the place where leaders and respected men conducted public affairs. This suggests that Lot had gained a position of influence in the city.

Earlier, Lot merely pitched his tent toward Sodom, but now he had fully settled there. His decision to choose the fertile plain had gradually led him into the center of a corrupt society. Although he showed hospitality to the visitors, his presence in Sodom shows how easily a believer can become comfortable in a spiritually dangerous environment.

GENESIS 19:4 Before they lay down, the men of the city—the men of Sodom—surrounded the house, both young and old, all the people from every quarter; 5 and they called to Lot and said to him, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us that we may have relations with them.” 6 But Lot went out to them at the doorway, and shut the door behind him, 7 and said, “Please, my brothers, do not act wickedly. 9 But they said, “Get out of the way!” They also said, “This one came in as a foreigner, and already he is acting like a judge; now we will treat you worse than them!” So they pressed hard against Lot and moved forward to break the door.

The men of Sodom surrounded Lot’s house and demanded that the visitors be brought out to them for immoral purposes. Lot tried to stop them and appealed to them not to act wickedly. However, the people rejected his words and even threatened him. This reveals that although Lot held a position in the city, he had no moral influence over its people. His long association with their culture weakened his ability to stand firmly for righteousness.

GENESIS 19:12 Then the two men said to Lot, “Whom else do you have here? A son-in-law and your sons and daughters, and whomever you have in the city, bring them out of the place; 13 for we are about to destroy this place, because their outcry has become so great before the Lord that the Lord has sent us to destroy it.” 14 So Lot went out and spoke to his sons-in-law, who [k]were to marry his daughters, and said, “Up, get out of this place, for the Lord is destroying the city.” But he appeared to his sons-in-law to be joking.

The angels warned Lot that God was about to destroy the city and instructed him to bring his family out immediately. Lot went to warn his future sons-in-law, but they thought he was joking. This shows that Lot’s testimony within his own family lacked weight. Because his life had been intertwined with the culture of Sodom, his warnings about judgment did not seem believable to them. A compromised life often weakens the credibility of our spiritual influence at home.

2 PETER 2:7 and if He rescued righteous Lot, who was oppressed by the perverted conduct of unscrupulous people 8 (for by what he saw and heard that righteous man, while living among them, felt his righteous soul tormented day after day by their lawless deeds),

The New Testament describes Lot as a righteous man who was deeply distressed by the wickedness around him. Day after day, the sinful behavior of Sodom troubled his soul.

Although Lot was righteous before God, he had placed himself in an environment that constantly oppressed his spirit. His story shows that a believer can belong to God yet still become spiritually ineffective when living too close to persistent evil.

GENESIS 19:15 When morning dawned, the angels urged Lot, saying, “Up, take your wife and your two daughters who are here, or you will be swept away in the punishment of the city.” 16 But he hesitated. So the men grasped his hand and the hand of his wife and the hands of his two daughters, because the compassion of the Lord was upon him; and they brought him out and put him outside the city.

When the time came to flee, the angels urged Lot to leave immediately with his wife and daughters. Yet Lot hesitated.

His reluctance suggests that his heart had become attached to the life he had built in Sodom. In mercy, the angels physically led him and his family out of the city. Their rescue highlights the compassion of God, who intervenes even when His people struggle to let go of what endangers them.

GENESIS 19:17 When they had brought them outside, [o]one said, “Escape for your life! Do not look behind you, and do not stay anywhere in the surrounding area; escape to the [q]mountains, or you will be swept away.” 18 But Lot said to them, “Oh no, my lords! 19 Now behold, your servant has found favor in your sight, and you have magnified your compassion, which you have shown me by saving my life; but I cannot escape to the mountains, for the disaster will overtake me and I will die; 20 now behold, this town is near enough to flee to, and it is small. Please, let me escape there (is it not small?) so that my life may be saved.”

After being brought out of the city, Lot was told to escape to the mountains. Instead of obeying immediately, he pleaded for permission to flee to a nearby town called Zoar. Lot’s response reveals a lingering attachment to the familiar. Even after being rescued, he hesitated to fully trust God’s instruction. Sometimes people respond to God’s commands with hesitation, argument, or negotiation rather than simple obedience.

GENESIS 19:24 Then the Lord rained brimstone and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah from the Lord out of heaven, 25 and He overthrew those cities, and all the surrounding area, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and what grew on the ground. 26 But Lot’s wife, from behind him, looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.

God judged Sodom and Gomorrah with fire and brimstone from heaven. As Lot and his family fled, they were warned not to look back. Yet Lot’s wife turned and looked behind her, becoming a pillar of salt. Her action reflected a heart that was still tied to the city she was leaving. Though her body was escaping the judgment, her affections remained in Sodom. This moment illustrates how deeply the influence of a sinful environment can affect a person’s heart.

GENESIS 19:30 Now Lot went up from Zoar with his two daughters and stayed in the [y]mountains, because he was afraid to stay in Zoar; and he stayed in a cave, he and his two daughters. 31 Then the firstborn said to the younger, “Our father is old, and there is not a man on earth to have relations with us according to the custom of all the earth.

After leaving Zoar, Lot lived in a cave with his two daughters in the mountains. Fearing that their family line would end, the daughters concluded that they must take matters into their own hands. Their reasoning reflected the moral thinking they had absorbed in Sodom. Instead of trusting God for the future, they adopted a desperate and sinful solution shaped by the culture they had grown up around.

GENESIS 19:32 Come, let’s make our father drink wine, and let’s sleep with him so that we may keep our family alive through our father.” 33 So they made their father drink wine that night, and the firstborn went in and slept with her father; and he did not know when she lay down or got up. 34 On the following day, the firstborn said to the younger, “Look, I slept last night with my father; let’s make him drink wine tonight too, then you go in and sleep with him, so that we may keep our family alive through our father.” 35 So they had their father drink wine that night too, and the younger got up and slept with him; and he did not know when she lay down or got up.

The daughters made Lot drunk and committed incest with him on two successive nights. The narrative notes that Lot did not realize what was happening because of his intoxication. This tragic moment shows how far the situation had deteriorated. Lot had lost the moral authority to guide and protect his family.

GENESIS 19:36 And so both of the daughters of Lot conceived by their father. 37 The firstborn gave birth to a son, and named him Moab; he is the father of the Moabites to this day. 38 As for the younger, she also gave birth to a son, and named him Ben-ammi; he is the father of the sons of Ammon to this day.

Both daughters conceived and gave birth to sons—Moab and Ben-ammi—who became the ancestors of the Moabites and Ammonites. These nations later became persistent enemies of Israel.

What began as a decision based on outward advantage eventually produced long-term consequences. Lot was delivered from Sodom, but his choices left a legacy of conflict and sorrow.

PRAYER

Heavenly Father,

We come before You with humble hearts, thanking You for Your Word that teaches us and warns us. Lord, we see from the life of Lot how easily a person can be influenced by the world and how compromise can slowly weaken our walk with You. We confess that at times we have allowed our hearts to be drawn toward the things of this world instead of seeking You first.

Father, help us not to choose the broad road that leads to destruction, but to walk on the narrow path that leads to life. Give us wisdom to make decisions that honor You. Guard our hearts so that we will not become comfortable with sin or influenced by the values of this world.

Lord, teach us to live with intimacy with You, just as Abraham did. May our lives be like his—lives that build altars of worship and dependence on You. Help us to listen to Your voice through Your Word and to obey You with willing hearts. Strengthen us to stand for righteousness so that our lives will have a godly influence on our families and those around us.

Thank You for Your mercy and compassion, for even when we are weak, You reach out to rescue us. Lead us by Your Spirit each day so that our lives will bring glory to Your name.

In Jesus’ name we pray,

Amen. 🙏

The content of this article is adapted from the source below:

Intimacy with God