Psalm 107:4-9
Some wandered in desert wastelands, finding no way to a city where they could settle. They were hungry and thirsty, and their lives ebbed away. Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He led them by a straight way to a city where they could settle. Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men, for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.
Many times I read the news of someone who is missing in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Being lost in the wilderness is a frightening experience. When this happens, there is no course of action that is worse than wandering aimlessly. The best thing to do is either to stay put and wait for help, or to walk downhill and down stream.
As we look around at our society, we see many people who are wandering aimlessly with their lives. Without a compass or a direction for their soul, they live and die without ever reaching their destiny. It should be the number one priority to find your purpose in life.
This is why quality time with the Creator is so important in the life of a believer. It gives you the chance to set your heading with the Word of God and through prayer. Only by finding your God-given destiny will you be assured of living a life that means something.
Don’t allow yourself to live a life of wandering. Go before the Lord today and seek His plan for your life. Obtain vision from His hand. Live a life that reaps eternal benefits.
Tags: Bible, calling, compass, destiny, direction, God's plan, God's will, God's word, Holy Spirit, lost, mountain, prayer, presence of the lord, purpose in life, spiritual direction, wandering, wandering aimlessly
Genesis 16:9-10
Then the angel of the LORD told her, “Go back to your mistress and submit to her.” The angel added, “I will so increase your descendants that they will be too numerous to count.”
I don’t know about you, but I hate getting instructions like that. Unfortunately, this is sometimes the case in life. The only way forward is to go back.
I have learned this the hard way on many occasions. I love to go on road trips with my wife. Most of the time it’s great fun. However, there have been times when I have missed an exit or a road I needed to go down.
That’s when the “man pride” starts to kick in. Do I keep going forward as if nothing’s wrong? Do I humble myself, admit the problem, and turn around? Sometimes it can be a hard decision.
Backtracking is never easy to do. It requires you to acknowledge that you’re not perfect. But, the fact is that not turning around can compound the problem. If I hadn’t gone back to the right exit, who knows where I would have ended up.
In life, don’t be too proud to backtrack. Sometimes you need to find the place where you last knew you were in God’s plan. If you find yourself a little “lost” in life, take the time to go before the Lord and seek His wisdom to get you back on track. Don’t be too afraid or proud to work on the areas He speaks to you about. Do what is needed to bring restoration.
Tags: backtrack, calling, destiny, go back, God's will, God's wisdom, Holy Spirit, humble myself, lost, path, pride, restoration, running away, turn around, victory
Genesis 12:7-8
The LORD appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.” So he built an altar there to the LORD, who had appeared to him.
From there he went on toward the hills east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. There he built an altar to the LORD and called on the name of the LORD.
In all his traveling through the wilderness, Abram kept his focus upon the true purpose of life; to be a worshipper of God. This is the highest calling we could attain to.
Just thinking about the miles that he traveled is daunting. I Don’t say that because of the great distance he traveled. There are many long-distance hikers who do an incredible amount of miles each year. Following the trail is the easy part.
Here we have a man who left all to follow God on a trail that he didn’t know where it ended. When he got there – he was a stranger. Yet the first task he set for himself was to build an altar and worship God.
Where has the path of your life taken you? What kind of place do you find yourself at right now? No matter what your answers to those questions might be, follow the example of Abram.
Make this place your altar. Take some time right now to worship God. Without asking for anything, simply exalt Him for who He is and where He has brought you to – even if it is not the best of situations. Let the Lord know that He is the central focus of your life.
Tags: Abraham, Abram, calling, destiny, faith, God's faithfulness, God's will, path, purpose, trust, worship
Genesis 12:4-6
So Abram left, as the LORD had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Haran. He took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, all the possessions they had accumulated and the people they had acquired in Haran, and they set out for the land of Canaan, and they arrived there.
Abram traveled through the land as far as the site of the great tree of Moreh at Shechem. At that time the Canaanites were in the land.
The story of Abram’s life always amazes me. The Word of God was not in written form yet, so he had no Bible. He had nothing written, upon which to base his trust of God. Yet, with open arms, he received the promise of God as the path for his life.
Not only was he convinced of the Lord’s faithfulness himself, but it spilled over. A whole host of others were willing to put their future into the hands of his God based solely upon Abram’s word. Two whole households moved to a new country in response to the call of God.
Is your faith that evident? Are there people that have trusted God based upon your word and the testimony of your life? We need to walk in the things we believe. Our faith needs to be seen and felt by those around us.
We have the written Word of God. We have thousands of years of history to view the faithfulness of God. How can we ever doubt Him?
If you have never made a decision to set the Word of God as the path for your life, today is the day for you. Spend time, today, placing your destiny firmly in the hands of the Lord.
Tags: Abraham, Abram, Bible, calling, Christian witness, destiny, faith, God's faithfulness, God's will, promise of God, trust, word of God
Isaiah 2:2-3
In the last days the mountain of the LORD’s temple will be established as chief among the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and all nations will stream to it.
Many peoples will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths.” The law will go out from Zion, the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
When the temple was established in Jerusalem, no gentile could ever enter it, no matter how devout they were. Temple worship was the exclusive right of the nation of Israel.
Things are different now. Because of what Christ has done, all nations may now enter the invisible, holy temple of God. We can now climb the heights to His very presence. What was formerly impossible is now accessible by grace.
It is now possible to sit at the feet of the Lord and allow Him to teach you His ways. Even when the temple was open to Israel, only the priests had that privilege. Now, because of the cross, we can all experience the move of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
Make that climb today, to the top, to the mountain of God’s temple. Approach the majestic presence of the Creator of all things. Worship at His feet, for He is worthy to receive it. Wait on Him, for His Spirit to move upon your heart. Lives are forever changed up on that mountain. Let yours be one of them.
Tags: accessible, Bible, calling, changed lives, Christ, Christian, cross, devotion, disciple, encouragement, fellowship, glory, God's temple, higher, holy, Holy Spirit, holy temple, holy worship, intimacy, invisible, Jesus Christ, mountain, power, praise, prayer, presence of the lord, revival, temple, victory
Exodus 15:27
Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve springs and seventy palm trees, and they camped there near the water.
Every so often I find it, when I’m hiking. That place where the view, the temperature, the shade, the water, everything lines up for that “perfect spot.” I know that one is coming, just ahead, maybe around the next corner. It is the search for those spots that keeps me hiking.
It is because of this that I can take the cold, the rain, the bugs, and other trail problems. Just knowing that once in a while I’ll find an Elim on the path gives me hope.
Our journey through life should be no different. I’d like every day to be an Elim type day, but I know that won’t happen. As a matter of fact, it would probably make for a very boring life. We know that we’re going to encounter problems. But just when we need it, up comes a day that makes all the others worthwhile.
We must live in hope, the expectation that there are good days ahead. The only guarantee of an Elim, however, is if we follow the trail mapped out for us by the Master. His Word, the Guide for your life, brings you out to the best spots on the trail of life.
Meditate on His Word to you today. Allow it to sink deep into your heart. Only then will it guide your steps and take you to those perfect spots in Christ.
Tags: Bible, calling, Christian, destiny, devotion, distractions, Elim, encouragement, expectation, faith, God's faithfulness, God's will, hiking, hope, meditate, Moses, overcoming, path, perfect spot, problems
Job 39:1-4
“Do you know when the mountain goats give birth? Do you watch when the doe bears her fawn? Do you count the months till they bear? Do you know the time they give birth? They crouch down and bring forth their young; their labor pains are ended. Their young thrive and grow strong in the wilds; they leave and do not return.”
It is amazing to think about it. When we are in the woods or at a zoo we may see a deer, a moose, or a bear. But how often do we think about how they live in the wild? They grow up, they find mates, and then bear their young – repeating the cycle again and again.
With no help from man, they understand instinctively what they were born to do. They know how and where to forage for food. They build their dens and protect themselves and their families from the elements. God has placed in the very core of their being the ability to live and thrive in a wilderness setting.
We could learn a great lesson from them if we would only listen. They teach us to find our place in God’s kingdom, then live out our lives in devotion to that call, whatever it may be. We need to find and accomplish the Lord’s will for us as individuals – this is where our fulfillment is found. We need to be who we were created to be.
Take the time today to praise God for such a diverse and wonderful animal kingdom. It is truly a precious gift that God has made mankind the caretakers over. Give God glory for His awesome kindness towards us. Seek to hear from God concerning your purpose. Strive to know and accomplish God’s plan for your life.
Tags: animal kingdom, animals, Bible, calling, caretakers, Christian, destiny, devotion, encouragement, faith, fulfilled, fulfillment, God's kingdom, God's plan, God's will, life cycle, prayer, purpose, wilderness
1 Peter 1:15-16
But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”
To be “holy” means to be “set apart.” It means that we see ourselves as reserved exclusively for God’s use. I am no longer a part of a crowd, headed for destruction. Through Christ, I have been singled out to serve the Lord.
Having a special time and place to meet with the Lord each day, helps to reinforce that mindset. As I make a break with the general population and come away to His presence, a change starts taking place. I am transformed from just a tiny drop in a huge bucket to a unique servant of the Most High God.
It is God’s desire to work in me through my own particular personality, strengths, and weaknesses. He has a calling for my life that no one else can accomplish quite the way I could. There is a destiny and a purpose set-aside just for me. I am special in the eyes of God.
Make that break from the pack today. See yourself as set apart, holy to the Lord. Don’t settle on just being a number or a statistic on somebody’s role somewhere. Start today seeing yourself as God sees you, as a chosen and unique vessel exclusively for the Master’s use. Armed with that knowledge, you can come boldly into the awesome presence of his holiness. Receive from the Lord today all that you need for fulfilling your destiny in Him.
Tags: Bible, calling, Christian, destiny, devotion, disciple, distractions, encouragement, fellowship, God's will, holiness, holy, Holy Spirit, personality, prayer, presence of the lord, purpose, servant, set apart, strengths, transformed, unique, weaknesses
I love the Fourth of July. It’s one of my favorite holidays. Picnics with family, outdoor fun, not to mention fireworks at night. Even more than that, I thank God for a nation where I’m granted the freedom to do all these things without fear.
Galatians 5:13
You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.
We are called to be free. Freedom is something that God wants for all humanity. Unfortunately, what most people consider freedom is not the real thing. Society thinks that freedom is the ability to do what I want, whenever I want. Their opinion is that freedom means that I can feel good all of the time.
That’s a very selfish definition. Freedom is not all about me. Our founding fathers gave selflessly in the cause for freedom. It was definitely not about their personal good, but the betterment of all that drove them to resist the most powerful nation on earth at that time. Many lost their lives to win this precious gift for us.
There are still those in the armed forces and public safety positions that lay their lives on the line each day, so that we can continue to live free. Freedom is more of a responsibility than a pleasure. I have to put as much into it as I receive from it.
That is what Paul was trying to tell us in the verse above. Freedom is not all about indulging my every desire, but the ability to serve one another unhindered. We need to listen to his exhortation. As believers, we have not only been blessed with our spiritual freedom in Christ, but our physical freedom in the USA.
Let’s live out that freedom responsibly. Not in the granting of our every desire, but in seeking the blessing of all through a life of service. Live free. Be a blessing to all those around you. And thank God for the freedom we share.
Tags: Bible, calling, Christ, Christian, Christian witness, devotion, encouragement, fellowship, fireworks, founding fathers, fourth of July, freedom, God's will, independence day, love, responsibility, serve one another, service, testimony
Mark 1:35-39
Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. Simon and his companions went to look for him, and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!”
Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else – to the nearby villages – so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.” So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.
Many times Jesus would leave a house to find a solitary place to pray. Most of the time He would leave while it was still dark. I’m sure that He didn’t even tell anyone He was leaving. It must have been much later when the disciples started their search.
When the disciples finally caught up with Him they rebuked Him for “getting lost.” It is amazing to me that in reply Jesus ignores their complaints and simply tells them what He had heard from the Father – the next step in their ministry to Israel.
Do you need to know the next step in your life? If Jesus needed to seek God in that way, I assume that the same has to be true for us. We desperately need a Word from the Father to complete our task.
Find that peaceful place today. Go before the Lord in the stillness that surrounds you and open up your soul to Him. Spend some time just listening for His still, small voice to your heart. Then answer the call in obedience to His will.
Tags: Bible, calling, Christ, Christian, destiny, devotion, disciple, distractions, encouragement, fellowship, God's will, Holy Spirit, intimacy, Jesus Christ, next step, prayer, presence of the lord, revival, seek God, solitary place, solitude, still small voice, word from God
The Spirit and the Word 