Stepping Stones: Map To The Promised Land

May 3, 2012

Map To The Promised Land

Transformational Thought

Hopefully, as you have been with us, you have recognized an area we emphasize consistently: Decision-Making. All of life comes down to choices and decisions. We have many forks in the roads of our daily walks that call for decisions. Amazing as it seems, we make 10,000 decisions each day. And that is actually a conservative estimate according to most scientists.

God gave us free will to make our own decisions. But God also gave us the Best Instruction Book for Living Everyday, the BIBLE. You see, God is all about helping us make great choices so we can enjoy maximum growth and fulfillment. The biggest choice we have to make is whether we will trust Him to guide us, and then trust the guidance He gives us.

The Bible promises us that if we follow God, all things will work together for our and His good. I have found this to be so true. As I trust Jesus to help me make the right choices, I know without a doubt that no matter how things may look right now, in the end they will work out for the best. His way is always the best way … and His time is the best time.

So why should you trust God? First of all, He loves you more than you love yourself. He sacrificed more for you than you ever have or ever will sacrifice for yourself. In fact, He loves you so much that He gave up heaven and then died on the cross … for you. His love is perfect—and nothing can ever separate you from that love. You are that important to Him. 

And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death
nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.  - Romans 8:38-39

Second, He knows what is best. He knows what is best for you in the here and now. And more importantly, He knows what is best for you in the future. He sees the whole picture … a perspective we can never have. Today’s scripture beautifully expresses the blessing of trusting Him in all plans and decisions.

And lastly, He is able. He has the power over all things to work out circumstances for your growth. And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. Romans 8:28

Today, you will be on the verge of making some knee-jerk decisions that won’t be good ones. Instead, try this. Stop for 5 seconds and choose to trust His way when you get to that fork in your road. “Why?,” you may ask. Well, we laid out our case above. But if that didn’t convince you, look at your own track record. Really, what else are you going to trust? Yourself, other people, material things, your looks, your sparkling wit, your health, your job, the economy, our world leaders, your bank account? Has that strategy really delivered the abundant life and Promised Land Living you’ve been yearning for? Trust Him. You will never regret it. Life is your decision, so choose well!

Prayer

Dear Father God, forgive me for the times I thought I knew more than You. I know that You love me and want only what is best for me. And I know that no matter how things may look sometimes, Your way is always the best way. Help me to trust You more and choose to do things Your way. I pray this and all prayers in the name of the one I trust completely, Jesus Christ; and all God’s children say - AMEN!

The Truth

You're blessed when you stay on course, walking steadily on the road revealed by GOD. You're blessed when you follow his directions, doing your best to find him. That's right—you don't go off on your own; you walk straight along the road he set.

Psalm 119:1-3

The Lord your God will then make you successful in everything you do. The Lord your God will delight in you if you obey his voice and keep the commands and decrees written in this Book of Instruction, and if you turn to the Lord your God with all your heart and soul. This command I am giving you today is not too difficult for you to understand, and it is WITHIN REACH. The message is very close at hand; it is on your lips and in your heart so that you can obey it.

Now listen! Today I am giving you a choice between life and death, between prosperity and disaster. For I command you this day to love the Lord your God and to keep his commands, decrees, and regulations by walking in his ways. If you do this, you will live and multiply, and the Lord your God will bless you and the land you are about to enter and occupy.

Deut. 30:9a, 10-11,14-16