Prayer: Father, help me to see myself and be honest with myself. Reveal my heart to myself. Help me get the log out of my own eye. Amen.
Reading: Deuteronomy 9 key: vs. 6
6 So you should understand that it is not because of your righteousness that Adonai your God is giving you this good land to possess—for you are a stiff-necked people.
Attention: Have you ever heard someone say that wealth is a sign of a person’s spirituality? It is like saying that because the thermometer is registering over 100 degrees’ (outside temperature) that a person is spiritually on fire (internal heart desire). Is your wealth an indicator of your heart toward God. Is the climate outside an indicator of your fervor for the things of God?
Adonai is warning the Hebrew nation not to get the big head and forget who is giving the Promised Land into their hands. He is reminding them through Moses, that the nations which live on the land now, are squatters who are being dispossessed. God is going before them “as a devouring fire.” He is going to destroy them prior to the Hebrew children’s arrival, so that they may “drive them out and make them perish quickly.” This was a promise of Adonai.
Throughout my life I have watched various boxers, martial arts, and professional athletes who used psychological warfare on their opponent before they ever entered the ring or field of combat. The battle was already done, they only needed to show up.
This is what God did for the Hebrew nation. He even sent some of the most vicious of insects ahead of entering the land. Did you notice Moses giving notice of Adonai’s plan to send “hornets” (Deuteronomy 7:26), to assist them in conquering the land and driving all the inhabitants out?
To embrace an attitude of anything other than giving God the credit and glory is totally the wrong attitude. He called this type of people, “stiff-necked.” Have you ever had a stiff neck? I have and it is not comfortable. We use creams, heating pads, magnetic therapies, massage, and chiropractic therapies to alleviate a stiff neck. For the Hebrew nation, it was an attitude. Do you suffer from the same condition? Are you taking credit for something which God did for you? I guarantee it will cost you unless you repent.
Action: I choose today to repent of anything which I am claiming credit for.
Yield: I choose to yield to the Holy Spirit today whatever I have been stiff-necked about.
Engage: I choose to engage with the Holy Spirit in the journey of life.
Relationship: I choose to be in close intimate relationship with Adonai.
Prayer: Father, it is not worth the cost of being stiff-necked and taking the glory for my own. I choose to recognize You as the Sovereign King over my heart and the world. You are life to me! I give You all the glory, all the praise. Amen.
Memory Verse: Psalm 25:4-5
4 Show me Your ways, Adonai.
Teach me Your paths.
5 Guide me in Your truth, and teach me,
for You are God, my salvation,
for You I wait all day.
Music Video: Hope Darst—Give You the Glory https://youtu.be/5OvfBDQQ-xA
Remember, “Abide in Yeshua, today!”