Our life is the sum total of all the decisions we make every day

Myles Munroe, the preacher of purpose and the herald of discipline, once declared: “Our life is the sum total of all the decisions we make every day, and those decisions are determined by our priorities.” In these words lies the ancient truth that destiny is not crafted in a single moment, nor by fate alone, but through the steady stream of choices that flow from dawn to dusk. Each decision, however small, is a stone laid upon the road of life, and in the end, that road reflects not chance, but the compass of our priorities.

The origin of this saying rests in Munroe’s lifelong mission: to call men and women to live with intention. He taught that life without clear priorities drifts like a ship without anchor, tossed by every wave. But when priorities are firm—when the heart knows what it values most—decisions fall into alignment, and life takes shape with clarity. This wisdom is not new, but Munroe’s gift was to clothe it in words that pierced the hearts of modern listeners, urging them to see that their daily choices, repeated a thousand times, shape the whole of their existence.

The ancients, too, proclaimed this. Aristotle declared that excellence is not an act, but a habit, born of repeated decisions aligned with virtue. The Stoics taught that the wise man orders his life by what is in his control, placing reason and virtue above fleeting desires. In the East, the sages of Confucius declared that harmony in life begins with order in priorities: family before ambition, virtue before wealth, integrity before gain. All traditions whisper the same truth: decisions reveal priorities, and priorities shape destiny.

Consider the life of Mahatma Gandhi. He was not born a saint, nor did he begin as a leader. But day by day, he chose to place truth and nonviolence above comfort, wealth, and safety. These priorities governed his decisions—from rejecting luxury, to leading marches, to enduring imprisonment. Each choice seemed small at the moment, yet together they created a life that altered the destiny of a nation. Gandhi’s story shows that our lives are not determined by a single grand gesture, but by the steady weight of daily decisions guided by our highest values.

The lesson for us is fierce and clear: if your life feels aimless, examine your priorities. For every wasted hour, every destructive habit, every broken path begins with a decision that reveals what you value most. If you prize ease above growth, your decisions will bring stagnation. If you prize honor above gain, your decisions will lead to respect. Life does not lie; it mirrors your priorities in the path your choices carve. Therefore, guard your values as you would guard your soul.

Practical actions flow from this wisdom. Begin by naming your true priorities: faith, family, health, growth, service. Write them down, and measure your decisions against them daily. Ask yourself: does this choice bring me closer to my highest values, or does it betray them? Choose to rise early rather than sleep away your purpose. Choose honesty even when lies seem easier. Choose to invest in relationships rather than squander time on empty distractions. In these choices, repeated and compounded, your destiny is forged.

Thus, O listeners, remember the wisdom of Myles Munroe: “Our life is the sum total of all the decisions we make every day, and those decisions are determined by our priorities.” Your life today is the harvest of yesterday’s choices, and your life tomorrow will be the harvest of today’s. Do not blame fate, chance, or others, for the power lies in your hand. Order your priorities, and your life will gain order. Lose your priorities, and your life will scatter like dust in the wind.

And remember this eternal truth: you are not the prisoner of destiny, but the craftsman of your own future. With each decision, you write a line in the story of your soul. Let your priorities be noble, let your choices be steady, and your life shall rise like a monument of purpose—unshaken, enduring, and worthy of remembrance. Choose well, for your choices are your life.