Joshua 24:1-26
In Joshua 24, Joshua challenges the people of Israel to choose whom they will serve. He calls them to put away the other gods that have claimed a place among them and to renew their commitment to God.
We might hear this passage and think that it doesn’t really apply to us. We don’t have little statues in our homes that we bow down to. We don’t imagine ourselves worshipping other gods. But maybe the things that claim our devotion aren’t always so obvious.
Sometimes they look like the need to be successful, the desire for approval, the fear of what others think, or the endless pursuit of more, more, more. Sometimes they are our worries, our resentments, our need to be in control, or even the busy schedules that leave us with no room to breathe.
These things aren’t necessarily bad in and of themselves. Work matters. Relationships matter. Planning for the future matters. But sometimes something that begins as a good and ordinary part of life slowly grows until it begins to shape our choices, consume our attention, and determine our sense of worth.
Before we realize it, we may be giving something more of ourselves than we intended.
The invitation of Joshua’s words isn’t simply to choose God once and for all. It’s to keep noticing what has claimed our hearts, and to ask whether it still deserves the place we’ve given it.
Sometimes making room for God begins with learning what we need to let go of.
For this week’s spiritual practice, take a few quiet minutes this week to consider this question:
“What has been claiming more of me than I want to give?”
It might be a habit, a worry, an expectation, a resentment, or something that constantly demands your attention. Don’t judge yourself for what comes to mind. Just acknowledge it.
Then ask yourself:
“What might I make room for if I loosened my grip on this?”
Choose one small, practical step toward letting go. Maybe you put your phone away for a while, release the need to have the last word, set aside time to rest, or stop giving so much energy to something you cannot control.
As you do, offer a simple prayer:
“God, help me let go of what claims too much of me, so I can make more room for you.”
Let this be an invitation. The goal isn’t to feel guilty about the things that matter to you. It is to become more aware of what is shaping your life, and to choose intentionally what deserves your attention, your energy, and your heart.
Sometimes faithfulness isn’t about adding one more thing to our lives.
Sometimes it’s about letting something go.
Let’s pray:
God of our hearts, help us recognize the things that have claimed too much of us. Give us courage to loosen our grip, wisdom to know what truly matters, and grace to make room for you. May our lives be shaped not by fear, the need for approval, or the endless pursuit of more, but by your love, your wisdom, and your peace. Amen.