Daily Devotional for Tuesday, April 28, 2009 Have you missed any of our devotionals? Remember they can be found in the Archive section of our Website
http://www.gospelines.com "The Valley of Decision" "When they reached the Valley of Eshcol, they cut off a branch bearing a single cluster of grapes. Two of them carried it on a pole between them, along with some pomegranates and figs." Numbers 13:23 The Valley of Decision is surrounded by the slippery slopes of self-doubt. It is the place where we have been challenged to move forward but we are trapped by our inability to make the right choice. Fears of past mistakes, memories of failures lure us back into a bad decision-making process. But the fault isn't really in the process at all; it lies in the hearts and souls of the ones making the decision. A few years after Jehovah had led Israel from their Egyptian captivity, He told Moses to explore the land of Canaan (Numbers 13:1) by sending twelve men, one from each tribe, to spy out the land. They brought grapes from the Valley of Eschol, a symbol of the wealth of their new home. When the committee gave their report, they said: "But the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large." Caleb, a member of the minority report, represented by only he and Joshua, said "We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it." But he was too late. The majority had spoken eloquently and already influenced the hearts of the Israelites, who then raised their voices against Moses, Caleb and Joshua. The decision was made that Canaan was out of the question, so Jehovah punished them with forty years of wandering in the desert. What happened? Why didn't Israel accept the challenge and move forward? The problem was that they were anchored in their past. When the committee spoke about the giants they would face in Canaan, it reminded them of when they were slaves in Egypt. All the bad memories of the beatings, hard labor, and unjust treatment of their past came pouring back into their minds and they were defeated all over again. Their instinct was to stick with what they knew best. Even if it was the desert, manna and quail wasn't so bad in comparison with the fierce Amalekites and Canaanites which were awaiting them if they dared cross the Jordan River. It could have been different for Israel. And, it could be different for you the next time you are facing a critical decision in your life. Ponder these thoughts: list of 1 items 1. When faced with a decision, look backward at your journey, not your defeats. Israel had been miraculously delivered from Egypt, but all they could remember were the bad times. list end What has God been doing in your past to prepare you for this moment of decision in your life right now? Life is a journey of preparation for tomorrow, and God has a way of getting us ready for the next big step by helping us to take such small steps right now that we may not even see our own progress, but He does. And He knows when we are ready. list of 1 items 2. Look inward. Jehovah had planted the Law inside the hearts of His children, and His Shekinah Glory led them on their way. He was not asking anything from them which would contradict His covenant. list end Look within your heart. Does the decision you face ask anything of you that is contrary to the Word of God? If the Bible is your "rule book," and you are certain that what you are being asked to do is within the Truth of God's Word, then maybe that is your answer. list of 1 items 3. Look forward. There is no way that Israel could have defeated Canaan without the hand of Jehovah to go before them. It would require a miracle! The enemy was too big, the territory was unfamiliar, and they were going to have to depend upon a new leader (Joshua). list end Will your new task require something from you that borders on the impossible? When I have groaned over a major decision in my life, it is usually because it will take me way out of my comfort zone. A decision which will cause you to stretch beyond the capacity you have now is often the one which God has planned for you. When that happens, my thoughts are, "Hallelujah, and hang on!" The Valley of Decision is not a place to linger. To choose NOT do make a decision is to make a decision. Like the Valley of Eschol, our place of decision can become comfortable, a place of contentment and joy because it is there that we dream big dreams for the future. The enemy will tempt us to spend far more time "dreaming" about tomorrow than we ought. Even if the answer from God is to wait, seek His answer and it will come, for He is a God who "knows the plans He has for you," and will not leave you clueless about your future. GospeLines Prayer: Father, forbid that I allow my time in the Valley of Eschol to become a valley of indecision. Make me careful, not careless; courageous, not cautious; and consecrated, not complacent. Deliver me from haste, and set my feet in motion the very moment I hear from You. Amen and amen. O. Addison Gethers e-mail address : [email protected] or [email protected] window live messenger: [email protected] aim: durangoadd64 skype: cowboys62 yahoo messenger: OADDISONGETHERS --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Deaf-Blind Inspirational Life Group" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/DBILG?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
