Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10 (English Standard Version)
When God led Israel out of Egypt, He led them with a cloud – a puffy one at day and a fiery one at night. “... the cloud lifted... and the cloud settle down in the wilderness...” (Numbers 10:11-12). It was impossible to miss God’s leading. The people’s problem was not lack of direction, it was lack of trusting God as they went. Sometimes we are like that, especially when He leads us into the wilderness.
It is wonderful when God leads us into green pastures beside still waters (Psalm 23:2), but at times He leads us into the wilderness, just as His Spirit led Jesus there (Mark 1:12). Sometimes we end up in the wilderness due to our own stupidity, but sometimes it is because God sent us. Regardless of the reason, to benefit we must embrace the wilderness, not fight against it. Embrace it because a loving God who is all wise and all powerful is leading, and will cause all things to work for our good when we surrender to Him. Ponder that. – David
"Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.” No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.
"And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:35-39 NLT)
Oh, how I love all you've revealed; I reverently ponder it all the day long. Your commands give me an edge on my enemies; they never become obsolete. I've even become smarter than my teachers since I've pondered and absorbed your counsel. I've become wiser than the wise old sages simply by doing what you tell me. Psalms 119:97-100 (The Message Bible)
"Trust your own vision as you follow the Lord. ... Don't try to plan your life, but follow Jesus and you will find yourself being moved along by God. ... Keep your humility intact, and keep your mind on God. He will use people to assist the vision, but He is the source. ... Open your heart and let Jesus speak through you. Don't try to build up great plans for yourself; He has plans you cannot imagine." They were the last words of council my dad gave me before he went to be with the Lord a few years ago.
Jesus beckons us to follow Him. Much of the time it is not clear to us where He is going or what He is doing. We may have a general idea, but the details are often very unclear or even confusing. Consider how Joseph must have felt looking frantically for lodging that evening in Bethlehem. As Mary’s labor pains intensified, I can imagine Joseph screaming at God, “Hey, where are you? Don’t you know this is an emergency? Where is the plan?” That stressful hour for Joseph and Mary was part of God's perfect plan.
Maybe you are in a stressful hour, trying to find God's perfect plan. Maybe you are in the middle of it and don't recognize it. God is always at work even in the mundane affairs of life. His plans are usually hidden, disguised as ordinary circumstances. Ponder that. – David
Jesus said: I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels—a plentiful harvest of new lives. Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who care nothing for their life in this world will keep it for eternity. Anyone who wants to be my disciple must follow me... John 12:24-26 (NLT)
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