Daily Devotional for September 12, 2013

Deuteronomy 30:9-10
“The Lord your God will then make you successful in everything you do. He will give you many children and numerous livestock, and he will cause your fields to produce abundant harvests, for the Lord will again delight in being good to you as he was to your ancestors. The Lord your God will delight in you if you obey his voice and keep the commands and decrees written in this Book of Instruction, and if you turn to the Lord your God with all your heart and soul.
 
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
 
Friends of ours have just sold their house and pretty much everything in it, bought a motorhome and car to tow behind, and made plans to “hit the road”!  Every day, countless people across the country sell or give away virtually all that they own, buy an RV (recreational vehicle) and begin traveling America’s highways.  At the very least, many of them downsize tremendously… pare their belongings to just what will fit into less than 350 square feet of living space… and trade a conventional lifestyle for the lure of travel, adventure, and a relatively simpler way of life.  This can be a daunting choice… but for some, it’s an easy one.  For others, the thought of giving up all of their “stuff,” leaving their home and virtually starting over is just too much.  It seems difficult, fraught with challenges, and downright fearful.
 
A lot of people go through the same struggles as they wrestle with the thought of giving up an old, sin-filled life and choosing to live for Jesus.  It’s tough to set aside deep-rooted lifestyles… long-time friends…and “fun” habits.  The fear of the unknown looms large on the horizon.  Will it be as good as promised?  Will there truly be abundance, blessings, and delights?  Or will serving God be boring, lonely, and sad?  This is a question thousands have asked… and one that exponentially more will ask in the days/weeks/years to come.  There is no “crystal ball” to see into the future and know for sure that what God has promised will come true.  That’s why it’s called “FAITH!”
 
So how do you know what to choose?  How do you know with anything in life?  In a lot of cases, you talk to people who have already made a choice.  You ask them about the challenges… the “pros and cons”… you get a “testimonial” for how their lives have been since they made the move.  This applies to everything from picking a college – or fraternity or sorority – to choosing a career, deciding who to marry, having children, buying a house and/or car… and yes… choosing whether to follow Jesus.  There is no shame in asking around and talking to those with experience.  Having all the facts before you make a choice is a wise move.
 
In the end, I hope you will find that those who have chosen to serve God shore up your confidence and build your faith.  I hope that those of us who have chosen Jesus serve as active examples of His abundance, blessings, and the joy of living for Him.  I pray that you decide to “downsize” your baggage and lighten your load… to step out and take a chance on Jesus and all that He offers.
 
Anyone who has ever owned an RV will tell you that, “the minute you leave your driveway, something will go wrong.”  It’s part of the lifestyle.  RVing, like most things in life, is not 100% smooth sailing.  There are challenges, breakdowns, limits to how much you can carry, and more.  But most take these in stride and rely on a strong support network in the RVing community and industry to keep the wheels turning… just as we Christians rely on our Heavenly Father to help us through any and all challenges we encounter.
 
So whaddya say?  Are you ready to take a giant leap of faith and serve God with your whole heart?  If you’re already a Christian, can you truly say you are “all in” for Jesus?  Do you need to recommit to serving Him completely – to say, “LORD, here I am, ready to give my heart fully to you and receive all that you are offering!”?  Isn’t this the perfect time to “hit the road” with God and see where He takes you?  Will this be the day you start your new adventure with Him?
 
©2013 Debbie Robus

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