“You cannot stay the way you are and go with God”
p.21
Share to the group a statement or scripture that resonates with you from today’s reading and a responding prayer…
Archives
- January 2024
- December 2023
- November 2023
- October 2023
- September 2023
- June 2023
- May 2023
- April 2023
- December 2022
- November 2022
- October 2022
- September 2022
- August 2022
- May 2022
- April 2022
- March 2022
- February 2022
- January 2022
- December 2021
- November 2021
- October 2021
- September 2021
- July 2021
- June 2021
- May 2021
From an RPer: The verse that resonated most with me from today’s reading is: “Surely the Sovereign Lord does nothing without revealing His plan to His servants and the prophets,” (Amos 3:7). The statement connected with that verse was: “The Bible is designed to help you understand God’s ways. Then when God starts to act in that manner in your life, you will recognize that it is He who is working.” It seems to me that this very closely ties in to what I spoke about yesterday, and I see this principle to be true in my own life, and in present circumstances. I am grateful for the chance to be accountable to be in God’s Word daily for the past few years, for I truly believe that this was partly God’s way of preparing me for some of the things I and my family have gone through. And though I don”t fully understand what He is doing, today, amidst some very painful circumstances, I am absolutely certain that He is at work… all the time. His Word has revealed more of His heart to me, so that I know I can trust Him, no matter what. I can even already begin to recognize some of the ways in which tragic events can be turned around to bring Him glory, and for our good! “The sovereign Lord does nothing without revealing His plan to His servants.” Amen.
Lord, I pray that we would continue to seek You with all our hearts, as You continue to reveal Yourself to us through Your Word, prayer, and circumstance. Use us, Your servants, in whatever way You will to bring You glory, and to further Your kingdom here on earth, until the day of Your return! Thank You for Your unending love, and for Your care and protection. “By awesome deeds, you answer us with righteousness, O God of our salvation, the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas,” (Psalm 65:5).
I felt that the quote “Whenever God prepares to do something, He reveals to a person or His people what he is going to do”, similar to Amos 3:7, resonated with me today. I often wonder how I’ll know when Gods speaking to me, but after reading this days passage and the “seven realities,” I’m motivated to read more and look at examples from the past to see how he interacted with his people.
Lord I thank you for all you e done, I pray that you can continue to motivate me to want to learn more, and to read your word every day.
Asking what God is doing for His people rather than just for me is an important distinction. I usually get caught up in “what is God doing in my life” rather than seeing the work He’s doing around me in and through other people. It reminds me of the story of Esther in how her uncle tells her that God will have His will done with or without her (paraphrasing). But it’s really prideful of us if we think we’re necessary isn’t it? There have been times when Ive thought to myself “if I don’t do this, this event will flop”. That’s so freakin arrogant of me. I definitely need to take a step back in those moments and see that God is the one working and I’m just a tool. In terms of doing the work, im replaceable. Not to say im insignificant; everyone matters to God; but it’s not like He needs me or His will can’t be done. God I pray you open my eyes to the work You’re doing around me and allow me to be humble in joining alongside You. Help me hear from You and the people You’re working through and not compare my relationship with You against theirs’.
“Even though Moses was an exile in the desert, he was on God’s schedule, in the fullness of God’s timing, in the middle of God’s will.”
God is always at work around me, whether I’m on a metaphorical mountain and able to look about and see everything around me, or in a desert where I feel like I’m wandering without my own cause. I want to be moved into a wholly trusting relationship with God, that no matter where I am, I am able to identity’s God’s presence and voice and readily partner with him. I pray that I would come to know and trust God’s voice just as other characters of the Bible, that my life would be marked by joyful trust in His will as He draws me to Him
From Parker:
I felt that the quote “Whenever God prepares to do something, He reveals to a person or His people what he is going to do”, similar to Amos 3:7, resonated with me today. I often wonder how I’ll know when Gods speaking to me, but after reading this days passage and the “seven realities,” I’m motivated to read more and look at examples from the past to see how he interacted with his people.
Lord I thank you for all you e done, I pray that you can continue to motivate me to want to learn more, and to read your word every day.
From Charlie:
The passage in today study that speaks to me is Exodus 33:7-11. We speak of a loving relationship with God but it is still one of respect and maybe fear but that doesn’t seem to be conducive to a “loving” relationship. We call him Father but even a Father children relationship is based on respect and fear since a Father has tremendous authority to his Children and up to a certain point a Father authority is absolute. But in Ex 33:11, Moses speaks with God as he would with a “friend”. This is quite a bit different in the standing of two people. God is Lord. He is Father. He does have absolute authority over us. He can do anything and whether he invite us to join Him in His work or not, He really doesn’t need our consent to use us as He sees fit. This causes me to constantly wonder, what choices do we have as a “lump of clay” in His hand? We are nothing. But the point here is that, yes God could do whatever He wishes and He doesn’t need our consent and He would in the end accomplish His purpose regardless if we listen to His call or not. He may even force our steps and use us as puppets. But because of His grace and by His choice, He WANTS a loving relationship with us. HE WANTS to be our friend…I read this before but I don’t think I picked up that idea so clearly until today. God, the almighty, to Him, I’m as a lump of clay, WANTS to be my friend. He wants me to be a part of his work. He wants me to share in His glory. He wants me to be a willing participant in His plans for me. How glorious is that? How loving is that notion!
Dear Father, I am wordless to thank You for the honor You give me. I’m only hope that You will help me to be worthy of being Your friend and to share in Your work and to be a part of Your family. The glory is all Yours but through Your love, You allow me to warn in the light of Your glory. There is no word I can say to express…I don’t even know what it is that I’m trying to say…just thank You Father!
What’s really eye opening for me about this whole experience is being able to see more of God’s heart and how intentional He is with me. Even when I don’t see it. For example the story of Moses, even though it was hard for Moses to see what God had in store for Him we were able to see it. And I think it’s important to recognize that it was for Moses but for His people and Moses was used as an instrument to do God’s plan. It’s an encouragement for me to trust that God is preparing me for something as well. Maybe not something like that but definitely something that I know only God can do.
Thank you God for today’s devotion as it encourages me to continue to pray to you and obey you even when times get difficult. For now I want to continue to lift up my brother to You. With this devotion in mind I pray that you are using someone like Moses to bring him closer to You.
The most meaningful statement I read in today’s study was that “you cannot stay the way you are and go with God”. This statement reminds me that I cannot expect to experience God while continuing to be close-minded and hesitant toward my Lord. Instead, I must pursue a real and personal relationship with God and accept His invitation to join Him in His work. Moreover, I must persevere through times of crises and make major adjustments in my life. With each step at a time, I will be able to recognize God’s ways and allow Him to accomplish His work through my own self.
Father God, I once again thank You for Your unbounded love and Your constant work around me. Lord, may You continue to speak through the Bible to reveal Yourself, Your purposes, and Your ways. May You guide me and not let me stray away from my faith when it comes time for me to embark on a crisis of belief. May You allow me to come to know You better by experience as I obey You so that You may accomplish Your work through me. In Your Heavenly Son’s name, I pray, Amen.