Lessons | JOURNEY OF THANKFULNESS

DAY 51 of Random (hopefully inspired) Thought. Today I Am Thankful For…Choosing God.

Lately, the state of the world and America have been heavy on my heart, for lack of a better description, what I am seeing grieves my heart. It scares me to think about where we are heading, especially as I watch people I respect and some I love fall into the trap of the world and its traditions. If we, who are called to be salt and light, look like the world, what hope is there? This question has been an ever-present fixture in my heart and mind for a while now. Sometimes it leads me to a sweet time of reflection and growth as I seek God and His words for direction and wisdom, and other times, it leads me to deep sadness and near depression because instead of looking to my Lord and Savior who walks on raging seas, I focus on the darkness I see engulfing us.

Here’s a reminder from God’s word of who we are and what God has given us, but most importantly, it’s a reminder that sin is subtle, it sneaks in, like satan in the garden, and distracts us with half-truths and tries to redirect our hearts and minds with questions like, “Did God REALLY say…” How do we combat this? By KNOWING WHAT GOD DID SAY.

“That their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments…See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ…Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch,” (Colossians 2:2B-4, 8, 21).

Our hope is Christ, our guide and the director of our path is Christ. Christ is who we look to when the world is upside down. Christ is where our hope and safety are found, NOT religion, NOT man, and NOT the world. God says DON’T handle, DON’T taste, and DON’T touch. We are God’s representatives to the world. Our call is to represent Him correctly, and God takes this charge seriously; we should, too.

“Now therefore fear the Lord and serve Him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the river and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, CHOOSE YOU THIS DAY WHOM YOU WILL SERVE.” (Joshua 24:14-15A).

Here’s the truth, friends, we are going to serve something. Whether that be self or God is our choice to make. I hope, like Joshua, your answer is, “But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:15B)

So, what am I thankful for today? That we can choose God.

Day 8 of Random (hopefully inspired) Thought. Today I Am Thankful For…Lessons.

Today, part of my devotions took me to Deuteronomy chapter 8. The entire chapter is a call to the children of Israel to remember the Lord their God. Not because they’re prone to forgetfulness (although history proves they are), nor because God was going on a trip to a faraway land and wouldn’t be around (our Father is forever beside us). No, it was a memorial, an understanding of why those forty years in the desert were necessary and what the consequences of forgetting and repeating the same mistakes would be.

Moses charges them to remember that their clothing never wore out, their feet did not swell, and when they were hungry, God provided them manna, which literally fell from heaven. All so they would understand that He could meet every single need they had. As I read this chapter, I thought to myself, forty years is a long time to learn one simple lesson. The truth is, in our humanness, we often want to rush the lessons, learn things quickly, so we can get to our promised land faster. But God doesn’t skimp on time, because the lessons are necessary, the waiting, the hurting, the pain, and the discomfort are all necessary. Why? So we don’t believe the lie of pride. So that when we enter our promised land, we know it wasn’t due to our own strength but to God’s.

“Beware lest you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand has gotten me this wealth'”(Deuteronomy 8:17)

Don’t try to hurry the lessons, friends, let God have His perfect will in your life, “that He might humble you and test you, to do you good in the end.” (Deuteronomy 8:16)

So, what am I thankful for today? All the lessons.