Devotional Life With Paul and Jeanne

Some people lead a life in a fight with God, a kind of tug of war if you will, where the one struggling to have things only their way is willing to say to God over and over again, no!  The Pharaoh in Egypt tried this and everyone in his life suffered for it. There is an old expression that goes: Your Arms Are Too Short To Box With God! 

I suppose that many folks may dislike the word - repent, well, perhaps even bristle at it.  But can I  assure you it is not a word to pass over lightly.  No, in fact, is is a wonderful word that brings forgiveness of sin and a way to relationship with God.  

We might not at first think that God's judgments could bring an opportunity to know Him, but in this case both the Egyptians and The nation of Israel will have that opportunity.  The opportunity comes as they see His mighty hand to deliver them, to set His people free to worship Him.  

The Lord has a perfect will and a perfect plan, and He intends to use your life and mine to accomplish His will.  So tell me, since God accomplishes what He deems to be done, let me ask, wouldn't it be better to just go along?  

A wonderful truth is that God makes promises to us, and He is well able to keep all of them.  Would you like to hear 7 promises from God to you? 

It seems that many of us, well, more likely all of us, when things don't meet our expectations, or when things just flat out wrong, we ask God; why did You let this happen?  Perhaps even taking it to the next level in blaming God and move away from Him.  You may be surprised today when Moses starts down that same argument trail.    

Sometimes as I approach the Bible and read over one of Gods promises to us, the sense in my heart is thank you for reminding me, and please do it over and over again, because I need it.  Moses needed reminders of Gods promises and God gave them to him, listen in now to Gods loving repeat of promises made to Moses. 

There are highs and lows in everyones life, questions that come that are hard for us to answer.  Now hold on, but that is also true in following the will of God, there may be hardships ahead, judge success by obedience and know that God is the one who is over the outcome. 

What is left to do after God has given instruction and you have received His word?  How about this, now comes the doing of it!  When God has given you what to do, the one thing left to do is to do it. 

It has been said that the word random is not in the Believers dictionary, because when God is working in your life, a so called random occurrence can have the hand of God behind it. 

I wonder how many objections the Lord has to listen to every day?  It might be interesting to know that.  Well as far as giving excuses to God are concerned, Moses is pretty good at it.  Now, what might be the actual bottom line when we hand God our excuses for disobedience.  

Ever found a direction for living, or specific instructions on things you should say or do from the Bible?  But the instruction seemed somehow beyond your ability to do it?  This is where we find Moses in his conversation with God. 

I'll bet all of us at one time or another have responded to God with questioning and doubting and asking What If...?  Would you be surprised that Moses did that very thing?  Well, he did and let's see what we might learn from that. 

Let's listen in as God gives Moses the instructions he is to follow.  As well, let's take it another step, and ask ourselves, what has God instructed us to do and let's answer the question, are we doing it?  

Perhaps one if not the vital question which speaks of our faith and of our destiny is;  Who do you say that Jesus is?  

Moses knows that when he returns to Egypt after 40 years away with the very specific task namely to deliver of God's people and bring them to the Promised Land someone might ask him, by what name or authority are you doing these things? 

To use the word 'God' is one thing, but aren't there many gods around the world that are spoken of and prayed to?  But who is God Almighty, the One True Sovereign overall God, what is his name?  

Ever felt all alone in something that you were asked to do? Perhaps you were given a work assignment with a short time fuse, or some other matter that fell into the category of overwhelming?  Such things come to everyone of us.  Yet the Believer can count on this; God is with you, so you are never alone. 

How does God pick those He will work through to accomplish His will in this world?  One huge clue, one very essential necessary characteristic is humility.  Yes, God might be waiting hear you say - Who Am I, that You should use my life?  Because He might say; now I have someone I can work with.  

That is the holiest place you can think of?  How about this, it is in the presence of God, which when you think of it  can be literally anywhere, everywhere you respond to Him, call on Him, invite Him into the ordinary of your life. Now you're talking holy ground. 

On the one hand we speak of having a relationship with God, but when you stop to consider His Holiness, that should make us stop in our tracks. Am I right with Him?  Am I forgiven?  Am I approaching His presence with reverence? 

Imagine having a relationship with someone perfect, someone sinless, someone who you could say burns bright with Holiness. That would only be God. Today let's get a closer look at how this played out for Moses. As well, considering how it plays out for you and me. 

Spending time with anyone will make us more and more familiar with their voice.  Wouldn't you love to have God call you by name?  Let's see what Moses does when God calls out his name. 

Some view prayer as a last resort, as one person put it, when all else fails you have to call out the big guns, referring to prayer.  Wouldn't  it be better in every way if our common practice was to call out to God on every matter as our first resort? 

Perhaps what most folks don't like is the idea of being alone, all alone.  But what if indeed you were being called to be alone with God?  Well, you wouldn't be alone at all then because God would be with you.  The God who made you who loves you and has called you to be His own child.  A whole lot of personal spiritual growth could take place at a time like that, don't you thin...