We yearn for the promised land whenever we find ourselves in the desert. But did you ever stop to think where the miracles took place?
In the desert their clothes did not wear out nor their feet become sore.
In the desert they were fed miraculously day by day without fail.
In the desert they were led by a visible pillar of cloud and fire.
In the desert water flowed from the rock.
In the desert they did not often face battles and war.
Going into the desert and coming out of the desert the river parted.
But once they reached the promised land... the manna stopped.
Sure they had fields they did not plant and vineyards they did not tend, But from that day forward bread was not sent from heaven each morning, water was not miraculously spewing from a Rock- they began to cultivate the land again, they depended on rain and the river. They went to battle. They fought to gain the land.
Isn't this similar of what we see in our lives. We look back and we see how God miraculously provided, protected,guided, sustained, refreshed and soothed us. And then we come to the promised land. Some of the miracles stop coming because they are no longer necessary. God gives what we need to work for what we do not have. He equips us to conquer, overcome and posses the land.
The promised land is beautiful and blessed but the enemy is real. There is a great danger of distraction especially when we feel secure. The Promised Land is not given all at once because then the wild beasts would be too numerous and overpower us but in the process of conquoring the land we can not become complacent.
We must remember to depend on the Manifest Presence of our Holy God no longer just for survival, but now to take over the land. No longer are we receiving the miracles to satisfy our own hunger, but we are seeking His hand on behalf of those around us. To bring healing to the hurting, hope to the hopeless, life to the dying.
If we become satisfied in just meeting our own needs and settling in the land- we may soon find ourselves mingling with the neighbors, marrying into the customs of the land, easing into the normalcy of the locals- instead of standing out as different, extreme, radical, changed people. A people who have been face to face with God and who's lives are set a part and holy.
We have experienced some of these same things in a very natural way. For years we have been in a "desert" when it comes to financially providing for ourselves. The ground has been hard, the sun has been hot, the provisions seemingly unattainable. BUT GOD, has never forsaken us. He has provided miraculously every step of the way. Food, clothing, material blessings appearing out of nowhere. Housing, utilities and needs somehow met. Debts covered, healthy bodies, new life of many perfect children. We have yearned for the day we could find jobs that provide for our own needs, ways we can bless others when they are in need.
We must not become complacent and selfish and lazy. We can't give up working hard and seeking His face because the crisis is past. If anything we need His Presence more so we can conquer the land. We must have greater faith because, like muscles, faith must continue to grow and Greater Things are yet to come. Greater Things are yet to be done! And just like marraige- there is always more to learn about our closest Friend and more ways to connect. Without continuing to grow we wither and die or are overcome by things stronger and carried off away from our destiny -away from relationship with Him for whom we were created.
In the desert their clothes did not wear out nor their feet become sore.
In the desert they were fed miraculously day by day without fail.
In the desert they were led by a visible pillar of cloud and fire.
In the desert water flowed from the rock.
In the desert they did not often face battles and war.
Going into the desert and coming out of the desert the river parted.
But once they reached the promised land... the manna stopped.
Sure they had fields they did not plant and vineyards they did not tend, But from that day forward bread was not sent from heaven each morning, water was not miraculously spewing from a Rock- they began to cultivate the land again, they depended on rain and the river. They went to battle. They fought to gain the land.
Isn't this similar of what we see in our lives. We look back and we see how God miraculously provided, protected,guided, sustained, refreshed and soothed us. And then we come to the promised land. Some of the miracles stop coming because they are no longer necessary. God gives what we need to work for what we do not have. He equips us to conquer, overcome and posses the land.
The promised land is beautiful and blessed but the enemy is real. There is a great danger of distraction especially when we feel secure. The Promised Land is not given all at once because then the wild beasts would be too numerous and overpower us but in the process of conquoring the land we can not become complacent.
We must remember to depend on the Manifest Presence of our Holy God no longer just for survival, but now to take over the land. No longer are we receiving the miracles to satisfy our own hunger, but we are seeking His hand on behalf of those around us. To bring healing to the hurting, hope to the hopeless, life to the dying.
If we become satisfied in just meeting our own needs and settling in the land- we may soon find ourselves mingling with the neighbors, marrying into the customs of the land, easing into the normalcy of the locals- instead of standing out as different, extreme, radical, changed people. A people who have been face to face with God and who's lives are set a part and holy.
We have experienced some of these same things in a very natural way. For years we have been in a "desert" when it comes to financially providing for ourselves. The ground has been hard, the sun has been hot, the provisions seemingly unattainable. BUT GOD, has never forsaken us. He has provided miraculously every step of the way. Food, clothing, material blessings appearing out of nowhere. Housing, utilities and needs somehow met. Debts covered, healthy bodies, new life of many perfect children. We have yearned for the day we could find jobs that provide for our own needs, ways we can bless others when they are in need.
But we also see and realize that when those promises are met some of the miracles will stop. Why? Because they are no longer needed! We can put food on our own table, buy clothes for our own children, keep our bills paid on time out of our own checking account... but does that mean miracles will cease? Absolutely not. Why? Because there will always be need. And because we've been there, we will see it and we will know how to help. We can believe for continued miracles and this time... on behalf of someone else!
We must not become complacent and selfish and lazy. We can't give up working hard and seeking His face because the crisis is past. If anything we need His Presence more so we can conquer the land. We must have greater faith because, like muscles, faith must continue to grow and Greater Things are yet to come. Greater Things are yet to be done! And just like marraige- there is always more to learn about our closest Friend and more ways to connect. Without continuing to grow we wither and die or are overcome by things stronger and carried off away from our destiny -away from relationship with Him for whom we were created.