May 22 ~ Numbers 14:9
So don't rebel. We have no reason to be afraid of the people who live there. The LORD is on our side, and they won't stand a chance against us!
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
New and/or unfamiliar situations can be daunting for anyone. Small children who are entering the kindergarten or pre-school classroom for the first time may stall at the door – or even turn and cling to their mothers. More than once, I’ve had to reassure a mother, “Go ahead… five minutes after you leave he/she will have stopped crying and be fine.” I’ve even pried at least one child from the support post on the covered walkway as he screamed while his tearful mother drove away. Every single child was indeed fine after a few minutes. But stepping into the unknown and out of a comfort zone was huge for them.
In Numbers 13 and 14, Moses and Aaron have sent Caleb and Joshua to scout out the land of Canaan. They returned and reported it was “flowing with milk and honey.” It was also home to some large fortified cities. Caleb admits that there is opposition to a takeover there, but he believes the Israelites can do it. But once the people see the land for themselves, they are not so sure. They rebel and want to turn and go back to Egypt, claiming they would have been better off to die there than step into what they perceive as a death trap. So in essence, they are “clinging to the pole on the covered walkway” – frozen in their tracks with fear.
Now the point is, God had told Moses to investigate the land of Canaan. He had sanctioned this, and Moses was obedient. And when we are obedient – even when it seems like a scary - or even risky - leap of faith, God paves the way and protects us. So when your friends want you to go do things with them you know you shouldn’t, don’t fear being ridiculed. Trust God to protect you. When your boss is asking you to lie or do something dishonest or illegal at work, don’t fear losing your job… trust God to make sure that you will always have one – even if it means relocating. When someone invites you to church or a new Bible study, and you don’t want to go because “I won’t know anyone there,” step out in faith that God will help you get acquainted, if He is leading you to attend.
The key to success in this is to always consult God about everything. Don’t take a new job, accept a marriage proposal, have a baby, or move to a new city without talking to Him about it first. But also don’t join a Bible study, serve on a committee, or even run for Class President without consulting God. Make sure you have talked to God about every decision and choice in your life, both the big ones and those that seem insignificant. In all things, ask God where He is leading you… then let go of the pole and move forward.
©2010 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label mountains. Show all posts
Showing posts with label mountains. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for May 19, 2010
May 19 ~ Hebrews 13:6
That should make you feel like saying, "The Lord helps me! Why should I be afraid of what people can do to me?"
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
One of the hardest lessons for us to learn as Christians is how to lay our burdens at the feet of Jesus – and not pick them up again. We say we trust Him to care for us and meet our needs. We say we believe that He will help us and that all things are possible through Jesus Christ and His strength. Then we wring our hands and wallow in self-pity and doubt… and we worry about everything!
Sometimes I think we enjoy our little pity parties. I knew a woman once who was always complaining about some ailment. If her eyes were open and her lips were moving, she was telling about her latest health problem, doctor visit or medical treatment. Someone once remarked, “That woman delights in poor health.” Another woman I know seems to always have about ten family crises happening at once. One of her relatives is in the hospital, while another just had an accident, while another is struggling in school, and so on… and this woman almost seems to be thriving in the chaos!
To me, the difference in these two women is how they handle their circumstances. The woman who is always ailing seems to delight more in poor health than relying on God to handle her situations. She enjoys talking about her problems and doesn’t seem to ever mention that “God is taking care of me” or “I’ll be alright.” Unlike others who I know are suffering with serious illnesses and never mentioning them, she wants the whole world to know and suffer with her! The woman with the family struggles seems to take them more in stride. She will readily say, “The Lord will take care of it!” If asked, she will share her story, but she also shares her hope and faith that God will help her and recognizes that most of these situations are beyond her control – but well within God’s ability to address them perfectly.
What is your story? Are you known to others as one who delights in problems and self-pity and seems to have little faith? Or are you known as a person who may have BIG mountains to climb, but an even bigger faith that God will lift you up and over them? I hope that I am viewed by others as a woman of faith. I am working hard to lay my worries at Jesus’ feet – and leave them there! What are you doing with your burdens? Who has your back these days?
©2010 Debbie Robus
That should make you feel like saying, "The Lord helps me! Why should I be afraid of what people can do to me?"
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
One of the hardest lessons for us to learn as Christians is how to lay our burdens at the feet of Jesus – and not pick them up again. We say we trust Him to care for us and meet our needs. We say we believe that He will help us and that all things are possible through Jesus Christ and His strength. Then we wring our hands and wallow in self-pity and doubt… and we worry about everything!
Sometimes I think we enjoy our little pity parties. I knew a woman once who was always complaining about some ailment. If her eyes were open and her lips were moving, she was telling about her latest health problem, doctor visit or medical treatment. Someone once remarked, “That woman delights in poor health.” Another woman I know seems to always have about ten family crises happening at once. One of her relatives is in the hospital, while another just had an accident, while another is struggling in school, and so on… and this woman almost seems to be thriving in the chaos!
To me, the difference in these two women is how they handle their circumstances. The woman who is always ailing seems to delight more in poor health than relying on God to handle her situations. She enjoys talking about her problems and doesn’t seem to ever mention that “God is taking care of me” or “I’ll be alright.” Unlike others who I know are suffering with serious illnesses and never mentioning them, she wants the whole world to know and suffer with her! The woman with the family struggles seems to take them more in stride. She will readily say, “The Lord will take care of it!” If asked, she will share her story, but she also shares her hope and faith that God will help her and recognizes that most of these situations are beyond her control – but well within God’s ability to address them perfectly.
What is your story? Are you known to others as one who delights in problems and self-pity and seems to have little faith? Or are you known as a person who may have BIG mountains to climb, but an even bigger faith that God will lift you up and over them? I hope that I am viewed by others as a woman of faith. I am working hard to lay my worries at Jesus’ feet – and leave them there! What are you doing with your burdens? Who has your back these days?
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for May 18, 2010
May 18 ~ Ephesians 3:12
Christ now gives us courage and confidence, so that we can come to God by faith.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
When my brother was in the first grade, we lived in Oklahoma for a while, and we would travel to a little town called Wagoner, where we took swimming lessons at a junior college. The indoor pool had two diving boards – a low board and one that was very high. My little brother wanted so badly to dive from that high board. His friends were all jumping from that height, and his instructor encouraged him to try it, too.
So Tim climbed the ladder and walked out to the edge of the board… and froze. The instructor below was encouraging him… “C’mon… just jump. I’m right here.” Over and over, Tim would shake his head “No!” The kids in line behind him grew restless, but he was still trying to muster his courage to jump. The instructor continued to tread water and encourage, but this was going nowhere. Finally, my little brother left the board and climbed back down the ladder, dejected and a little defeated… but still uncertain that it would have been okay if he had jumped.
How often are we like this with God? We walk to the edge of the high board, and then we end up climbing back down the ladder. We lack the faith that God won’t ask us to do anything He can’t help us handle. We don’t trust that He will really be there to catch us and keep us from drowning. In my brother’s defense, I didn’t jump off the high board, either, and I was in the fifth grade! It was a daunting height for a six-year-old. But when it comes to leaps of faith with God, I’ve taken my share… and He has never failed me. I can promise that what He does for me, He will also do for you. Be confident and full of courage in Christ Jesus, and boldly step out in faith to do whatever God requires.
©2010 Debbie Robus
Christ now gives us courage and confidence, so that we can come to God by faith.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
When my brother was in the first grade, we lived in Oklahoma for a while, and we would travel to a little town called Wagoner, where we took swimming lessons at a junior college. The indoor pool had two diving boards – a low board and one that was very high. My little brother wanted so badly to dive from that high board. His friends were all jumping from that height, and his instructor encouraged him to try it, too.
So Tim climbed the ladder and walked out to the edge of the board… and froze. The instructor below was encouraging him… “C’mon… just jump. I’m right here.” Over and over, Tim would shake his head “No!” The kids in line behind him grew restless, but he was still trying to muster his courage to jump. The instructor continued to tread water and encourage, but this was going nowhere. Finally, my little brother left the board and climbed back down the ladder, dejected and a little defeated… but still uncertain that it would have been okay if he had jumped.
How often are we like this with God? We walk to the edge of the high board, and then we end up climbing back down the ladder. We lack the faith that God won’t ask us to do anything He can’t help us handle. We don’t trust that He will really be there to catch us and keep us from drowning. In my brother’s defense, I didn’t jump off the high board, either, and I was in the fifth grade! It was a daunting height for a six-year-old. But when it comes to leaps of faith with God, I’ve taken my share… and He has never failed me. I can promise that what He does for me, He will also do for you. Be confident and full of courage in Christ Jesus, and boldly step out in faith to do whatever God requires.
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for March 8, 2010
March 8 ~ Isaiah 26:4
So always trust the LORD because he is forever our mighty rock.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Think about Sugarloaf Mountain. Picture the strong, sturdy rock formations at the top of that hill and how they have stood for centuries. Consider the strength of those rocks and try to imagine what type of force it would take to destroy them. Hard to even fathom, isn’t it?! The only force I can envision that could destroy Sugarloaf would be GOD Himself! So when we consider God as our “mighty rock” and think of Him in terms of such strength… it makes perfect sense to trust Him, doesn’t it? Think about climbing to the top of Sugarloaf and resting underneath a clear blue sky - feeling the wind blow across your face - and how comforted you are by this sensation… how exhilarated you are to have accomplished reaching the summit. Doesn’t the idea of trusting God to give you these feelings in everyday life make sense?
Don’t you want to trust Someone who will never let you down… Someone who will never let you fall? Don’t you want to trust someone who will always be there, day after month after year? Don’t you want to trust Someone who has the power and strength to, literally, move mountains… yet has the love, grace, mercy and compassion to treat us with the gentleness of an adoring father each and every day? Don’t you want to live in a way that you feel the “wind of God’s love” blow across your face?
We can have all of this, and more… God IS our mighty rock… and He is waiting for us to trust Him. I’m ready – are you?
©2009 Debbie Robus
So always trust the LORD because he is forever our mighty rock.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Think about Sugarloaf Mountain. Picture the strong, sturdy rock formations at the top of that hill and how they have stood for centuries. Consider the strength of those rocks and try to imagine what type of force it would take to destroy them. Hard to even fathom, isn’t it?! The only force I can envision that could destroy Sugarloaf would be GOD Himself! So when we consider God as our “mighty rock” and think of Him in terms of such strength… it makes perfect sense to trust Him, doesn’t it? Think about climbing to the top of Sugarloaf and resting underneath a clear blue sky - feeling the wind blow across your face - and how comforted you are by this sensation… how exhilarated you are to have accomplished reaching the summit. Doesn’t the idea of trusting God to give you these feelings in everyday life make sense?
Don’t you want to trust Someone who will never let you down… Someone who will never let you fall? Don’t you want to trust someone who will always be there, day after month after year? Don’t you want to trust Someone who has the power and strength to, literally, move mountains… yet has the love, grace, mercy and compassion to treat us with the gentleness of an adoring father each and every day? Don’t you want to live in a way that you feel the “wind of God’s love” blow across your face?
We can have all of this, and more… God IS our mighty rock… and He is waiting for us to trust Him. I’m ready – are you?
©2009 Debbie Robus
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