God’s promise for Week 2:
“Be bold and strong! Banish fear and doubt! For remember, the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." (Josh 1:9 MSG)
For those who want further Scripture reading each day here are a couple of suggestions:
-Read one Psalm a day and meditate on it.
-Read a chapter or part of a chapter out of Acts or Matthew or Hebrews each day, focusing on the idea of faith.
Day 8
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5 NIV
Common sense: How many of you have some choices to make right now? Let’s take a moment to think about what we base our decisions on. Not long ago, when faced with some major decisions in my life, a godly relative whom I have a deep respect for advised me to use my “God-given common sense�? to guide me. The advice agreed with my human way of thinking, yet in my spirit I knew that something didn’t line up. I began thinking about the followers of Jesus. Had they used their common sense, how many of them would have left job, family, friends, to live the penniless, transient life that Jesus was calling them to? And what about missionaries today? If they had used their God-given common sense, would they have left home and safety and financial security to bring the love of Jesus to the poor and needy of the world? When does our “own understanding" tell us to swallow our pride and try to reconcile with that family member who we know will never be the first to apologize? When does our common sense prompt us to give, like the widow “all she had to live on" (Mark 12:43)? In the midst of a painful marriage, will our common sense urge us to hold on a little longer? The answer to these questions made it clear to me that my common sense is almost never in synch with the voice of God. Some of you are facing major decisions right now. The voice of our common sense clamors to be heard: “But what about my financial needs? If I leave my security, what will happen to me?" “I’m right and she’s wrong. Why should I apologize?" “I’ve had it with this marriage! He’s never going to change!" Our “voice of reason" often drowns out the still, small voice of God. Maybe it’s time we stopped listening to it and instead begin to “acknowledge God�? in our decision making. So about those decisions you’re facing right now, which voice will you listen to? Let’s determine together that we will listen for the quiet yet persistent voice of God and know that He will—without a doubt do what He promises. He will make your path straight and He will be right by your side as you walk down it.
Prayer:
Lord, help me to listen to Your voice even when it contradicts the voice of my common sense. Amen
In Faith:
Remember to pray for your “hopeless cases"!!
