by David Brenneman
"The Lord your God who goes before you will Himself fight on your behalf." Deuteronomy 1:30
I learned one of my most valuable lessons on prayer when I took a mission trip to a rather remote country, even though a crucial meeting would take place at home in my absence. As I traveled, I
found myself constantly worrying about the outcome. This was
before cell phones, so I couldn't get updates and was very distracted
Although there was an eight-hour time difference, I decided to pray
at the precise time the mecting was held. As I talked to the Lord late into the evening, God spoke clearly to my anxious spirit: Who would you rather attend the meeting, you or Me?" I laughed out loud as God quickly put an end to my fretting.
This is a principle that is essential for you to grasp. When you pray, you are inviting God to become involved in your circumstances and actively placing the results into His sovereign, capable, willing hands. So today, is there a situation that is out of your
control? Are you anxious because you cannot plead your case or
change your situation? Remember, the Lord can. He is the One
who stands in your place and defends you. Trust Him to be and do what you cannot.
Jesus, thank You that these circumstances are in Your strong
capable, and wise bands, Amen.
-Trusting God with Today, Dr. Charles Stanley
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Remembering from where you have already come, through all that the Lord has brought you, is imperative to continuing on in your walk with Jesus.
This devotional from Dr. Stanley was one such reminder to me of past things...and added an element that I had neglected to consider: If it's necessary the Lord will have us involved in the outcome. If it's for Him to do then maybe our fingers don't need to be involved.
I have had many times where the Lord has gone where I could not. Many times where I saw the effects of the Lord dealing with people whom were out of my reach. Some He meted out justice in a way that I would never have considered possible. Others He created a way for a long distance conversation that was otherwise impossible because it took place in a place outside the physical world. I can speak to provisions where we weren't even in the same city and He worked out solutions to our situations that we knew nothing about until it was all over.
This passage that Dr. Stanley points to is and has been a reality of our lives in Christ. He tells us not to worry about tomorrow for tomorrow has enough trouble of its own. He isn't being cliche, He’s explaining that He knows because He’s always already there.
Our human nature gets in the way oh so much. We struggle to trust what we cannot see.
We are so deep into a world of sensory overload that we can't perceive what we ought to about spiritual things for lack of practice.
We hear noise all the time yet don't realize the still small voice of the Spirit is still speaking peace to us, comfort to us.
How important are your relationships to you? How important is your relationship with Jesus to you? You will spend time, energy and effort to cultivate and keep friends and family here where you see them, touch them but are you the same towards your Savior?
He goes before you yet is with you where you are. He knows your thoughts from afar. He knows every square inch of your heart, mind and soul. Your name is etched into His hands.
We worry about tomorrow and then tomorrow comes and we learn of what all He’s done but don't realize it was Jesus all along...keeping His word.
What he speaks to in this devotional is found in one of his Life Principles. Obey God and leave the consequences to Him. Further found in Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight."
It doesn't matter what tomorrow threatens because our undefeated Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is always already dealing with what is trying to come our way.
Look back over your life.
Has He ever failed you in anything?
He may not have done what you've had in mind but He’s always done what was best for you.
Do you meet with Him daily? Do you thank Him for what you have and have gone through? Scripture says to give thanks in everything. The good, the bad and all things in-between.
Do you take the time that He’s provided to you to read His Word?
Are you seeing things a little differently this morning? I hope so.
I have been unemployed since June and He’s been providing every day.
We had a storm hit our house after we were married yet living in another city far from it. The gutters came off and we got a notice they needed fixed. While so far away we were trying to contact people and nothing we did was working out. After a time we learned that there were new gutters on our house. All we could figure out is a repair company fixed the wrong house and we never could track them down. Their logo said "Doing Awesome Jobs for an Awesome God".
Before worrying about anything take the time to thank Him for everything. Remember that the Lord goes before you.
All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.
New American Standard Bible
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