Rest For A Weary Soul Daily Devotional - Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Praise the Lord and Good Evening,
Perspective. God understands every one of us has our own perspective. God isn't concerned about preserving our perspective....actually, the Lord wants us to abandon our perspective. Isn't it interesting though how often we still hold on to what we think we know about how the Lord is working in/through/around our lives.
I'm certain at various points in life, you've said God is blessing.....and then the bottom falls out. Yes, God is still blessing, even though circumstances appear to say the complete opposite. All throughout scripture we find situations that screamed "hopeless" and yet, the results stated that blessings were accesssible under those circumstances.
For the past couple of days I've been mulling over the Israelites journey to Canaan. I don't know about you but sometimes it's difficult to understand how they went through so much with God (I mean they witnessed the 10 plagues, the death angel passing over them all because of blood on doorposts, the great exodus followed by an incredible deliverance at the Red Sea, to name a few) and yet their pespective was all wrong!! They didn't enjoy the beauty of possession because of their perspective. How could you not go into battle knowing God had already promised you would win? It wasn't like they hadn't experienced God moving for them before!! But somehow their pespective was skewed and it stopped them dead in their tracks (no pun intended).
A mental view. That's what was wrong. They had a mental view of themselves....unable to conquer and possess. And their mental view of God was poor too (even though they had so many examples to build their faith)...That is tough to process since God had done so much....the fact that they had become a nation....starting out with one man and a God-given promise!! And you mean to tell me that God is going to stop working now? But they held fast to their perspective and refused to budge.
But a couple days later and they had a change of heart. Their perspective was so off base. When they finally came to the conclusion they were wrong and had sinned, they decided it was okay to go now....althought it was too late. They'd seen the 10 spies die before their eyes, they'd been given word that God wasn't pleased and that they would wander in the wilderness 40 years until that entire generation died out (except for Joshua and Caleb). But their perspective drove them forward.....implying that they still didn't believe what God said. Moses told them not to go because the Lord wasn't with them and if they went they were going to lose and Moses refused to go as well. But their perspective pressed them on through.....and their perspective spoke volumes....they weren't relying on God. Perspective.....
It's tough to understand.....until we start looking at ourselves. How many times have you thought, "I don't know about this." It's fleshly thinking that causes you to have a mental view (we're supposed to crucify the flesh daily, but why would we do that).....perspectives. Like I said at the beginning, we can bring perspectives to things....but God isn't after us living according to our perspectives....the just shall live by faith!! Who's report will you believe?
And Moses said, wherefore now do ye transgress the commandment of the Lord? but it shall not prosper. 42) Go not up, for the Lord is not among you; that ye be not smitten before your enemies. 43) Fore the Amalekites and the Canaanites are there before you, and ye shall fall by the sword: because ye are turned away from the Lord, therefore the Lord will not be with you. 44) But they presumed to go up unto the hill top: nevertheless the ark of the covenant of teh Lord, and Mosess, departed not out of the camp. 45) Then the Amalekites came down, and the Canaanites which dwelt in that hill, and smote them, and discomfited them, even unto Hormah. (Numbers 14:40-44 KJV)
In the Master's Service,
Pastor Michele D. Turner
Rehoboth Apostolic Ministries, Inc.
Author/Publisher of Rest For A Weary Soul Daily Devotional
Copyright 2005 - 2009 www.restforawearysoul.com
Email: restforwearysoul@aol.com
Matt 11:28-29 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
Becoming Daughters of Sarah: The Journey Women's Conference in Dayton, OH., October 10, 2009.
Go to http://becomingdaughtersofsarahdayton.eventbrite.com to register!
