Prayer: Father, when we do life in our own wisdom, we fail. Help me learn the lessons You provide in Your Word, so that I do not have to experience the consequences of ignorance, naivety, and deception. Amen.
Reading: Joshua 9 key: vs. 14
“So the men of Israel took some of their provisions, and did not seek counsel from Adonai’s mouth.” TLV
Attention: The older I get, the more mistakes and poor decisions I recognize that I have made over the course of my life. There was a time when I was glad that I didn’t live during biblical times and my mistakes and poor decisions were not written in Scripture for everyone to scrutinize for the rest of time. Now I write of them so that perhaps they will serve as a warning and instruction.
I remember discovering 1 Corinthians 10: 11 back forty years ago. It says, “Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction.” Adonai in His infinite wisdom, inspired writers who captured His story of people’s failings for our benefit, so that we would not have to experience the same failings if we would read His Word and learn from their sins.
What was Joshua and the Hebrew nations failing? They attempted to take on, conquer, another nation in their own wisdom. Their failure as documented by Joshua, they “did not seek counsel from Adonai’s mouth” (vs. 14b).
How many of us are guilty of the same misplaced confidence in ourselves? We have traveled this road before so no need to confer with the Lord. And then we experience a wreck and say, “Why me Lord?”
Let us not make the same mistake as Joshua and the Hebrew nation. May we go to Adonai first for consultation and guidance. Asking Him first will avoid the crash and burns of life.
Action: I choose to seek the counsel and guidance of Adonai first.
Yield: I choose to yield to the wise counsel of Adonai.
Engage: I choose to engage the counsel of the Adonai.
Relationship: I choose to live in intimate relationship with the Holy Spirit.
Prayer: Father, not seeking Your counsel seems like one of the dumbest moves I could make. Order my steps today and every day. Amen.
Memory Verse: Psalms 37:23
“From Adonai a man’s steps are made firm, when He delights in his way.” TLV
Music Video: Chris McClarney—I’m Listening https://youtu.be/Ef52AmdVwYI
Remember, “Abide in Yeshua, today!”