Obedience In Faith

So, I'm back in the Old Testament--Deuteronomy to be exact. What can I say? I really actually love it.

Yesterday and today I have been reading in the first 4 chapters, and to give you a quick summary, it is a recapping of Gods deeds for the children of Israel. If you haven't read Deuteronomy, I would actually encourage you to take a look. It is a very rich book. I was reading in the same room with my friend (who was working on an email) and I basically stopped every 3 minutes to read her a verse. *teehee*

I just get excited, ok? ;)

I was reading today of the victories God did----and I mean things GOD clearly did----through the Children of Israel. It is remarkable. If you think about it "logically", this group of people were formerly making bricks and used to doing manual labor! Yet God used them to completely wipe out cities "fortified with high walls, gates, and bars [...] and we utterly destroyed them" (Deut. 3:5,6). Just stop and think about it for a minute..............a people who were mostly builders defeating armies.

Pretty crazy,huh? 

But in all actuality, what I really have been blown away with is in chapter 1. The chapter is describing how the people of Israel moved God to anger because of their unbelief. Even after all He had fulfilled, answered, rescued, and preserved, they allowed themselves to forget his goodness. They forgot his favor, his tenderness, his mighty hand, and his victorious right arm. As a result, that entire generation was prohibited in seeing a promise fulfilled. Because they did not believe God would actually follow through in His word, they missed out on seeing yet another incredible miracle. When God sent them to scout out the land he promised that they would inherit, most of the scouts allowed their fear to creep in. They only saw (and found) reasons why they should not obey God--why it would be wise to rethink directions directly from Jehovah. 

Except 2 men.

2 men who believed God.

 And they were not forgotten by their Master.

Nope. 

And He called them out---by name.

"Not one of these men of this evil generation shall see the good land which I swore to give to your fathers except Caleb the son of Jephun'neh; he shall see it, and to him and his children I will give the land upon which he has trodden, because he has wholly followed The Lord! [...] Joshua the son of Nun,who stands before you, he shall enter; encourage him, for he shall cause Israel to inherit it."

-Deuteronomy 1:35,36,38-

My heart even now quickens at the thought of being singled out of an entire generation---to be singled out by I AM? To be chosen from a generation of faithlessness because of true belief?  The boldness that Caleb and Joshua took in seeking out the goodness of Gods commands, and how they
sought to find the joy of following Gods commands. They sought to urge the people to obedience, to pursue righteousness, and believed God despite what their peers urged them to believe.

  But, if you pause to think about it, God has given us (as followers) the same opportunity. Jesus has proved himself over and over to us, yet how quickly we forget his blessings, his favor, his protection and when he intervenes on our behalf! We have the opportunity to step out into situations where it may seem daunting or difficult--I am kind of in a situation like that currently, as a matter of fact.  Situations where God has asked us to step out in bold faith, not clearly seeing the end result, but having the opportunity to take God fully at his word! 

The question is how will we respond? 

In bold, faithful (joyful) obedience like Caleb, or will we forfeit our opportunity to see the full glory of God revealed?

~

I cannot express how much I want to be like Caleb and Joshua. To be bold, zealous for my God, and earnestly believing my Lord at His every word! All I know is that my Jesus is still working on me--I am a bit timid of heart and feeble of strength. 

Yet I trust Him.

I believe he is fully able to take this little heart, 

and make me as courageous as Caleb!

Praise God!

In Him,

Anna

Glorious

In the last few weeks, I have been earnestly pressing into the presence of God and fighting some intense battles against the enemy. There are some exciting things going on in this new season and my heart just earnestly wants God to be glorified. A few nights ago, as I was praying, I asked that God would strengthen me, and show me His will for me. But above all, that He would be glorified. After I finished praying, I opened up my trusty "Strengthen My Spirit" devotional and found this.

"God's great design in all His works is the manifestation of His own glory. Any aim less than this would be unworthy of Himself. But how shall the glory of God be manifested to such fallen creatures as we are?

Self must stand out of the way that there may be room for God to be exalted; and this is the reason why He often brings His people into difficulties: that being made conscious of their own folly and weakness, they may be fitted to behold the majesty of God when He comes forth to work their deliverance.

He whose life is one even and smooth path will see but little of the glory of the Lord, for he has few occasions of self-emptying and little fitness for being filled with the revelation of God. They who navigate little streams and shall creeks know but little of the God of tempests; but they who "do business in great waters," these see His "wonders in the deep". Among the huge waves of bereavement, poverty, temptation, and reproach, we learn the power of Jehovah because we feel the littleness of man. 

Thank God then if you have been led by a rough road. It is this that has given you your experience of God's greatness and loving-kindness. Your troubles have enriched you with a wealth of knowledge to be gained by no other means: Your trials have been the cleft of the rock in which Jehovah has set you that you might behold His glory as it passed by."

I cried as I was reading this. It was such a gentle reminder that my life isn't mine. I have died with Christ, crucifying my will, my flesh, and my desires, and I have become his willing servant. It was as if water from heaven had been poured over my heart. I serve a tender and kind Master, who is the definition of Holy and worthy of all I could ever give--and so much more!

My continued prayer for this week is more of Him, less of me! I want to see the full glory of God revealed through my life--in my words, my actions, and in my heart. May my "self" stand out of his way, and may I continue to be "fitted to behold the majesty of God when He comes forth to work (my) deliverance"!

In Him,