Deuteronomy 11:13-14 - "Love The Lord"

There are so many people in this world who choose to ignore the writings in the Old Testament because they believe it is not written for us today or it's too hard to understand. That is very sad because there is so much history in the Old Testament. There are so many stories that bring the Bible to life as one reads it. I like how the Lord uses people in the Old Testament to direct us in the same ways of those in the New Testament. One example is the direction Moses gives to "love the Lord your God...with all your heart and with all your soul..." In Deuteronomy 11, there is a promise attached to them. The promise is when we love the Lord with our whole being, He will bless us. That does not mean everything will be a life of cherries or that nothing will ever go 'wrong.' What it means is that when we love Him with our whole being, when things go 'wrong' He will be there to give us the strength to carry on. Life is full of disappointments. Many of those disappointments could be eliminated just by following this one direction on loving the Lord with our whole being. When we follow this direction, we no longer think of 'me' but instead put Him first. As we follow this direction, disappointments become less in life. Instead we see things through His eyes and realize what use to be disappointments are now opportunities to strengthen our faith in Him. Today I am praying for some situations people are going through. I am praying they begin to see them as opportunities to strengthen their faith instead of disappointments of life. I am praying for...

• the three seeking new jobs...may they seek Jesus in every decision they make...may they not allow the enemy any foothold with doubt...may they accept the Lord's peace to come down upon their situation
• the ones going through medical issues...may they seek healing from the Great Physician
• my friend dealing with an aging mother...may she seek the Lord to be her words and actions
• the wife who is feeling like a failure in her marriage...may the Lord enable her to pray for her husband and marriage
• many who are blaming the Lord for their circumstances...may they fall on their knees, repent, surrender and allow the Lord full control over their lives
• two Momma's who are expecting yet are fearful due to the loss of other babies...may they be encompassed by the loving arms of Jesus
• the wife who is not happy with herself or life and taking it out on her husband...may she truly find Jesus

We all have a choice to make each and every day. Will we choose life or death? Will we choose to follow the Lord or allow the enemy to play havoc in our life? Will we choose to live on our own strength or will we surrender to the Lord and allow Him to be in total control? A life of surrender is a life of blessing. It is a life of His peace. It is a life that enables us to live without worrying about the decisions we are making because every decision is made through Him. Today, and every day, I choose "to love the Lord your God and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul" no matter what 'disappointment' that might try to creep in. Today, and every day, I will strive to choose joy over sorrow.

Dear Jesus,

Thank You for these words this morning that encourage me greatly. Thank You for Your love. Thank You for bringing some ones to my mind to pray specifically for this morning. Lord, may You be more people's choice. Would You please use me to draw people to You? Would You please be my words and my actions so people will have the desire in their heart to have You be the One in control of their life? Would You fill me to overflowing with more of You so I don't miss an opportunity to be You today? Thank You Jesus for being The One To Bless Me. Amen.