Preparing for the Promise

Preparing for the Promise

Today's Scripture:

LORD, You have heard the desire of the humble; You will prepare their heart; You will cause Your ear to hear.
Psalm 10:17, NKJV.

Today's Word:

In the scripture, it says that God didn’t lead the Israelites by the shortest route to the Promised Land; He took them the long way on purpose because they were not prepared for war. God knew that if He would have taken them into the land too quickly, they would have been easily defeated. Their enemies were much bigger and much more experienced. I’m sure they prayed many times, “God, we’re uncomfortable out here in the desert. We’re hot. We’re tired. Where’s our Promised Land?”

But God didn’t answer that prayer, not because He was trying to make their lives miserable, but because He knew what was up in front of them. He had to prepare them to step into the fullness of their destiny.

In the same way, God has already laid out the plan for your life. He knows exactly what you need and when you need it. If you are in a difficult situation that’s taking longer than you had hoped, know that God is preparing you. He is strengthening you. Stay in faith and keep praising Him as you move forward into the Promised Land He has for you!

Prayer for Today:

Father, thank You for leading and guiding me. Thank You for Your hand of blessing upon my life. I choose to trust You even in the difficult times knowing that You are preparing me for the promises in my future in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

***

More Time to Repent

14 hours ago

by Rick Warren

                                    

“The Lord isn’t being slow about his promise to return, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to perish, so he is giving more time for everyone to repent.” (2 Peter 3:9 NLT)

 

History is moving toward a climax. Why doesn’t God just shut the earth down now? Because he wants to demonstrate his grace.
The Bible says in 2 Peter 3:9, “The Lord isn’t being slow about his promise to return, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to perish, so he is giving more time for everyone to repent” (NLT).
The reason why God puts up with all the grief that he sees on this planet is because he’s being patient. And, he’s waiting for you to step across the line and start a relationship with him.
When somebody comes to you and says, “I can’t believe in a God who would stand by and watch people suffer,” here’s what you say: “I don’t believe in that kind of God, either. God isn’t that kind of God. In fact, you have no idea how much it hurts God when he sees all the sin on Earth. It hurts him more than anybody else! It grieves him when he sees what his creation is doing to each other.” 
I believe in a God who one day is going to stop evil dead in its tracks. There’s going to be an accounting. One day he’s going to judge all evildoers, and he’s going to bring those in his family to live with him forever in a perfect place.
If you’ve never turned your life over to Jesus, I am confident you received today’s devotional because God wanted you to hear this message. Jesus says in John 10:10 that he came to give us a full and abundant life, but we will only find that life by following him.
To help you understand how to begin a relationship with Jesus Christ, visit rickwarren.org. Click on the “Know God” tab, and you’ll find a video that explains what it means to become part of God’s family.

Talk It Over

• What does it tell you about God when you read about his patient waiting for our repentance?
   
• Who do you know that doesn’t have a relationship with Jesus? Can you pray that God would be patient for them and give them an opportunity to hear about Jesus?