This morning the Lord told me to read Numbers 9. I don't remember Him ever telling me to read out of Numbers but I did as I was told. This chapter is about the Israelites and the direction God gave them about the Passover. They had a visible sign of God's presence in their lives with the cloud that rested on the tabernacle. When the cloud moved, they knew it was time to move on as they followed it until it stopped again. Then they would set up camp where it stopped. They were following God in the process. The last verse described their life. They lived obediently by God's orders as delivered by Moses. I desire to live in obedience to God. I want to be in relationship with Him where I not only hear His voice but I walk in obedience to it. That means when He tells me to go, I will go. When He tells me to speak, I will speak. When He tells me to be still, I will be still. Matthew Henry writes of this passage:
The leading of this cloud is spoken of as signifying the guidance of the blessed Spirit. We are not now to expect such tokens of the Divine presence and guidance; but the promise is sure to all God's spiritual Israel, that he will guide them by his counsel.
Romans 8:14 reads in The Message: God’s Spirit beckons. There are things to do and places to go! In order to be aware of His Spirit we must be in full relationship with Him. If we want to live in His presence, we must walk in obedience to Him 24/7. Proverbs 3:5 tells us He will take us where He desires when we trust and allow Him to do so. II Timothy 1:7 tells us we do not have to fear anything but instead allow Him to empower us to love with His love. We must pray for His will to be done every day of our lives and mean it. The enemy will put obstacles before us and because God has given us free will we may give into the enemy but we don't have to. Instead we can stand strong in our faith and allow God to work in and through us. This Scripture reminds me of our move to South Carolina. It was not a move we instigated but instead was a move by the Holy Spirit. There have been many times when the enemy has tried to convince us this move was wrong. Many people have questioned us with all that has happened since we moved.
"Are you sure God told you to move?"
"Why would God move you and then have you go through so many troubles?"
"Why would God move you so far from family and then have both of you go through cancer?"
The list goes on and on of things people have said. The coolest thing about these things is we know for certain, beyond a shadow of a doubt, we are where God called us to be. There is no better place to live than in His will. Our relationship with Him has grown in abundance through the trials over the last three plus years. We trust Him more today than ever before. His Spirit directs our lives and will continue to do so. The 'whys?' of life may never be answered and that's ok because God is in control.
Dear Jesus,
Thank You for the blessings of yesterday and the ones ahead in this day! Thank You for loving us so greatly! Thank You for Doc having a 'good' day yesterday until evening when the steroids wore off and the side effects started! Thank You for the way You will give him Your strength to not just get through today but to bask in Your presence! Thank You for: being with my friend yesterday as she saw an attorney; giving June strength for these tough days; completing Dale's stem cell transplant without side effects; giving Lynn a reason to praise You with 'no cancer' results; getting Emma into see the specialist and having a game plan with her health issues; continuing to be with Jim, Shirley, Pattie, and Renee with their first Christmas without their spouses; giving Steve strength with Peggy's situation; the sale of Mark's house; an offer for another friend's house; giving Heidi Your peace in her mother's situation; holding Becky close as she is going through a tough time; Emily's book being for sale on Amazon; and all the other ways You blessed my friends yesterday! Lord, I pray for a cleansing in my soul so You can fill me with Your Holy Spirit. I pray You will use me in a mighty way throughout this day. I pray You will not allow me to be distracted so I miss any opportunity You put before me. Thank You Jesus for being My Presence! Amen.
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