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And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night. --Exodus 13:21 There are some people who believe that the Christian life should be an easy life. And yet, you and I know this isn’t a Scriptural perspective. After all, Jesus told us to expect life to be challenging. But one of the extraordinary aspects of our faith is learning that God’s grace and presence are always with us… especially in the hard places. We see this so clearly in today’s verse where we find the newly liberated children of Israel being lead in daylight by a pillar of cloud, and at night by a pillar of fire. Do you know what these two pillars are? They are the majestic presence of God, what’s known in Hebrew as the Shekinah glory of the Lord. Can you imagine how comforting it must have been to look into the sky, by day or night, and see God’s glorious presence leading you? Do you wish God would lead you like that? Well, he can! As you go through life’s dry and barren places, keep your eyes fixed on Jesus and on his word. Step by step, you will discover the presence of almighty God leading you into all he has promised you. AS YOU GO THROUGH LIFE’S DRY AND BARREN PLACES, KEEP YOUR EYES FIXED ON JESUS AND ON HIS WORD.

Ready to Receive God’s Blessing

by Dr. Paul Chappell

“And I will send hornets before thee, which shall drive out the Hivite, the Canaanite, and the Hittite, from before thee. I will not drive them out from before thee in one year; lest the land become desolate, and the beast of the field multiply against thee. By little and little I will drive them out from before thee, until thou be increased, and inherit the land.”
Exodus 23:28-30

Many of us remember the childhood experience of “driving” the family car while seated on the lap of a parent or relative. We would tightly grip the wheel with both little hands, while the adult pushed on the gas pedal and brake. They would be right there to steer for us if we started to get off course. The reality was that while we might have wanted to drive the car, we simply weren’t ready for the responsibility involved and didn’t have the skills needed to do so safely. It would take years of physical growth, mental development, and emotional maturity before we were ready to take the wheel.
Often people are frustrated because God is not giving them the things they want—a particular position, a promotion, an opportunity to play a certain role. What they fail to realize is the delay could well be the result of the fact that God knows they are not yet ready to handle that task. We tend to view our strengths, talents, and abilities through a lens that makes us look good, but God knows what is in our heart.
If rather than viewing delay as a judgment or a failure of God to give us what we have coming, we would view that time as a learning experience, we would probably receive new opportunities and open doors more quickly. It is always safe to trust God’s judgment and timing when it comes to our path through life.
 

Today’s Growth Principle: 

Trust God to give you the responsibilities and privileges for which He knows you are prepared.