Bible Reading: Exodus 16

It is so easy for us 21^st century Christians to judge those 1st-century children of Israel. I mean they woke up every day to manna in the morning and quail in the evening, just waiting for them. They didn’t have to look for it; they didn’t have to work for it; they didn’t have to store up any and figure out how to manage it – well except for the 6^th day, they were just required to collect a double portion of what they would normally get. Simple enough, right? They had it made, but why was it so darn hard for them to just follow directions?

…because it was something new, something they weren’t used to. They had come from a place that was so much different from where they were currently.  And, I don’t know about you, but I’ve never taken a test that didn’t have some level of challenge to it (Exodus 16:4).

It’s so easy for us to say, “God rain bread down from heaven, for you, you had it made.” That is until we have to trust God DAILY for direction and provision. It seems that it would be so simple until you actually have to do it.

Put yourself in the shoes of the children of Israel for a minute: You left everything you knew to go to a foreign place, a place you know nothing about. Yes, your former place may not have been the best place for you, there may have been abuse there, there may have been bondage there… but you knew that abuse, you knew that bondage, and you learned how to cope with it so it didn’t seem so bad, especially now that you are in this new place, a place that you know absolutely nothing about.

Now you have to learn everything over again. Some things you may have known for years, but now you are being told something different. Does that still seem so easy?

What do you do when God is taking you out of that familiar place you once knew, to explore all new territory? What do you do when after you have surrendered to the new thing and done everything He has instructed you to do, the outcome is not what you expected? Will you, like the children of Israel, want to go back to Egypt, the place of familiarity?

You may want to, but I guarantee you, deliverance is better than what’s familiar. So what do you do while you are navigating this new place? You pray like Jesus instructs in Matthew 6:11, “Lord give me this day, my daily bread…” You believe that God didn’t deliver you in 2015, for you to go back in 2016. You wake up daily and say, “What are we doing today God?” You ask Him for His strength and courage for today while knowing that tomorrow will worry about itself (Matthew 6:34).

Prayer: Father God, thank you. Thank You for providing for me even when I don’t know that’s what You are doing. Thank You for doing exceedingly, abundantly above, all I could ever ask or think, even when I don’t understand. Forgive me for wanting to go back to what was familiar and not appreciating where You are elevating me to. Open my eyes, so that I see spiritually in the midst of natural frustration. Thank You for continually being good to me. It is in Your Son, Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Bible Reading: 1 Samuel 17: 31-37

Focus Verse:  Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, since he has taunted and defied the armies of the living God.” 1 Samuel 17:36

When David was a shepherd, looking after his father’s sheep, protecting them from lions and bears, he didn’t realize he was indeed preparing daily to ultimately fight for the freedom of Israel.

Don’t despise where you are now; considering it a small task, the sheep you’ve been entrusted with. The very place that you are serving faithfully, consistently showing up to is the training ground for you to defeat your “Goliath” and ultimately usher you into your “Kingship”.

What have you been wrestling with? Possibly thinking God has forgotten about you? You have been serving faithfully, waiting for your turn. Others have gone before you, causing you to think you have been overlooked.

David’s brothers were chosen for battle, while he was left behind to tend to the sheep. Some may have looked at David’s life and thought it of no significant value to God’s Kingdom. But David was ultimately accounted for being a “man after God’s own heart.” See Acts 13: 22

What are you preparing for?

Prayer: Holy Father, thank You for never forgetting about me. The place that You have me now, is exactly where I need to be. I am not here by accident. Every assignment in my life in preparation for something. Help me to remember that You work all things together for the good of those who love You and are called according to Your purpose. I embrace this preparation period. In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen!

 

Focus Scripture: In the morning, O Lord, You will hear my voice; In the morning I will prepare [a prayer and a sacrifice] for You and watch and wait [for You to speak to my heart]. Psalm 5:3 (AMP)

I had been praying for direction, guidance, and wisdom in a particular area of my life. One morning, while I was reading the Word, I was lead to three different scriptures:

For the vision is yet for an appointed time;
But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie.
Though it tarries, wait for it;
Because it will surely come,
It will not tarry. Habakkuk 2:3

But those who wait on the Lord
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31

Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him;
Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way,
Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass. Psalm 37:7

Now at first, when I “read” these verses, I didn’t really READ them, because I felt like I was already familiar with them. I mean, I had heard them all before, none of them were new to me. But, as I continued to read over them, I realized the theme of each of these verses was, wait. The New King James Version specifically uses the word “wait”, in each verse. As I was meditating on each scripture, I realized, this was the answer to the prayers I had been praying!

I began to thank God for answering my prayers and resolved in my spirit that at this moment, I just needed to wait; and I would until God gave me further instructions.

But, because God’s love and care for His people exceed far beyond anything we could ever hope or imagine, He didn’t just tell me to wait. After focusing on each verse, I realized God was showing me 3 things:

1) The posture in which to wait. Psalm 37:7

2) The purpose in the wait. Isaiah 40:31

3) The waiting period does not last forever. Habakkuk 2:3

Have you been praying for direction, guidance, and wisdom for a particular area of your life? Have you been waiting for an answer from God? Have you been coming across a certain verse regularly? What is God saying to you, regarding the concerns of your heart?

Prayer: God, You are so amazing! Thank You so much for hearing my prayers and answering them, with so much care and attention. Thank You for Your Living Word that I can go to for guidance regarding my everyday concerns. Your Word says that You are concerned about the things that concern me. So I bring all of my concerns to You, and I will wait with expectation for how You will settle them. It is in Your Son, Jesus’ name I pray, Amen!

Bible Reading: Concerning this I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might leave me; but He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you [My lovingkindness and My mercy are more than enough—always available—regardless of the situation]; for[My] power is being perfected [and is completed and shows itself most effectively]in [your] weakness.” Therefore, I will all the more gladly boast in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ [may completely enfold me and] may dwell in me. 2 Corinthians 12:8-9 (AMP)

Often times when God is transitioning you from one place to another, He will make your current place uncomfortable. The place that once was home and everything once was familiar, is no longer that way.

I can recall a time in my life where I was so frustrated with my current situation. I would often pray and ask God to allow me to get back to where I used to be when life was less confusing and I experienced less frustration. I just wanted to go back. Like the Children of Isreal when they were in the wilderness, I found myself often times fanaticizing about when my life was much simpler. Quickly forgetting that I actually prayed for the new life and everything that comes along with it!

However, with that transition to my new life also comes His grace. I wasn’t able to see it at first because I was too busy complaining about what I didn’t have. The free time that wasn’t as available. The responsibility that became greater. The assignment that required more discipline. I was blinded by these things and unable to see the abundant grace He gave to me with every new task, every new responsibility, and every new assignment. His grace carried me from place to place as I got familiar with the transition to my new life.

And His grace will do the same for you. I don’t know what new transition you are in, but I would encourage you to not look at it through natural eyes, but with spiritual eye and see just how much grace abound in your life!

Prayer: Father, I thank You for Your lovingkindness and mercy You show towards me. Thank You for all the blessing and lessons You are showing me in this new transition. Forgive me for not seeing it as a blessing. I give You all the glory because You have truly been carrying my through. In the mighty name of Jesus, Amen!