UNDERSTANDING GOD’S REASONS
Suggested Reading: Deuteronomy 9-10
(click scripture link to read online)
The Jordan River normally is a slow meandering stream , but when the Israelites went across, it was at the time of year when the "Jordan overflowed its banks" (Joshua 3:15b).
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verse: Deuteronomy 9:5
It is not because of your righteousness or the uprightness of your heart that you go in to possess their land, but because of the wickedness of these nations that the Lord your God drives them out from before you, and that He may fulfill the word which the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
There were three reasons as to why God took the children of Israel into the Promised Land. First, because of the wickedness of the nations already there. Second, because of His promise to His friend, Abraham. Third, because Moses fasted and prayed for forty days and nights for God’s purposes to be fulfilled in their lives. Fasting, along with our prayers, does not win brownie points with God, but it does indicate the fervency of our prayers. “The fervent effectual prayer of a righteous man avails much” (James 5:16). God, through Moses, as well as through Paul, made it very clear that, “It’s not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us” (Titus 3:5a). This makes an important distinction between salvation by works and a faith that works.
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord Jesus, grant a greater level of fervency to me as I pray. May I underline and put exclamation points behind my prayers more often by fasting along with my prayers. Thank You for saving me through the greatest work of all time, Your death and resurrection. Now, I’m asking You for a greater measure of faith that works in every area of my life and for the good of others. Amen!!!!!!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
The Bible reading suggested here in “100 Words” is my morning reading. However, my New Years’ resolution is to raise my time reading God’s Word by ordering the book offer for December from Crossroads/100 Huntley Street. It’s called, What Would Jesus Read? Raised in a believing, synagogue-attending family, Jesus would have read the portions from His Bible which had been selected by a council of Jewish rabbis. Our 2-year journey through the Bible, as presented in my blog, goes from the Old Testament to the New and back again, covering every verse, every chapter, every book. I will be most interested each night, before I retire, to find out which portions Jesus would have actually read or heard read at His family altar, in His personal devotions, and in the synagogue. I’ve never done this before. God bless Bible teacher Joe Amaral for compiling What Would Jesus Read? To order your copy, click here.
Yesterday I was privileged to be present in the Canada Space Agency in Montreal for the launch into space of the future Canadian Commander of the International Space Station. I’m well over my 100 personal words already, so, God willing I’ll reflect on that experience tomorrow.
Yours for knowing God’s Word more thoroughly,
David
It must have been fascinating to view the launch of Commander Hadfield at our Canada Space Centre, and to know Chris personally. Thank you for continuing to shed light and encouragement on God’s Word. Have a great day!
Each and every one of us is welcomed into a ‘promised’ land when we come to Jesus with a repentant heart and have a desire for Him to live anew in our life. All we need do is to ask God and He is faithful to act, for His desire is to know each of His children personally and to welcome them into His ‘promised’ land.
Amen 🙂
David
As you mentioned you fasted or are about to and Moses did as well with your prayers. I never fasted before because I have Epilepsy, and I need to take medication. I don’t see how I could ever do it.
Lianne Hogg
Luanne, Perhaps a fast can be some sort of abstention from foods such as amounts, favourites , it may not be a total refrain that could be harmful due to meds.
I wonder if Jesus is more concerned with the intent of our heart rather than the content on the table. As I understand Scripture, a Fast is a gesture of our intentions and to draw us closer to God. One time during a call to fast in one of the churches my husband and I pastured, a young man challenged the ladies to eat but give up their coffee and tea. For this lady . . . Ouch! but true.
In His gentleness – Phyllis.
Some folks who cannot fast using food, do a media fast or whatever else in their life takes up their time or energy. I believe it is not about what you give up, but where your heart is.
Good morning David and fellow bloggers
It is interesting how God and his laws never change. The way in which he deals with a wicked nation has not changed. The less sinful nation rising up against the more sinful nation. Sadly I believe we are witnessing God’s wrath being pored out against a once Godly nation. Yesterday my sister e:mailed me a picture of a teashirt that read , Dear God ,why would you let this happen in our schools ?
Signed heart broken.
His reply was ; Dear heart broken, I’m not allowed in school!
The once promised land isn’t so promissing any more , We need to Pray every day that these people will turn back to God. It’s obvious what’s wrong with sosiety today , it’s the same as it was in the the days of Moses. There just isn’t enough of God in it.
M .
I struggle with not accepting people’s different faiths. I appreciate having mine; I am grateful to be able to attend church freely. I do want to share my faith. I pray for guidance.
Hi David, Great to hear you had a birds eye view of the exciting event at our Canada Space Centre. God is giving you some wonderful opportunities. In our reading for today, Moses fasted without food and water for 40 days. It is impossible to go without water for that long l’m told, as we would most likely die, which shows how absolutely supernatural the whole thing was. God was even in the fasting with Moses,keeping him alive and alert because Moses was totally dependant and obedient to our Lord at that time,his heart pure and his intentions to save the children of Israel! What a man! What a God! Fasting l’m told is much more about the heart than about the body. l was also taught that we should ask God to change us first, then petition for what ever it is we are burdened for. Hi! fellow bloggers, l’m getting to love you all very much!
I agree christine,
It is always about the heart and only God can judge the heart.
I guess that is why God commands us to love one another and leave the judging to Him.
What a place this world would be if we all genuinely loved one another and honored one another above ourselves.
I think during this Christmas season and beyond I want to discover God’s love for me and abide with Him so that I may in turn love as God’s love.
At least abiding with Him will change be and I will bear fruit because of Him.
Not striving or praying but resting in the Love of Jesus Christ
In Christ
Mellany
Thankyou
David
Enjoying the bible I have always thought I wud like to read it cover to cover
But I wud always get bogged down ….
I have read a lot of it and I hear scripture in church on Sundays .
I looked forward to reading it everyday
How come u use to be able to touch the bar and it wud show up on the ipad to read for that day…it is not happening now..
May GOD bless u and your family
Joe-Ann
Thank You Phyllis
and everyone have a merry Christmas everyone!!
God Bless you
Lianne Hogg
Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift:
Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God is the object of
our faith; the only faith that saves is faith in Him.
Amen!!
Nancy Webb-Waisberg, Edmonton, Alberta
I am getting offended by some people that have just moved to Canada and now want to make it just like where they came from!!
If one of us moved to where they came from, we wouldn’t be ALLOWED to be OFFENDED, more likely!!
This is just getting to be too much!!
God protect us from what happened in Germany!!!
Merry Christmas!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Nancy
What is happening in Germany?
I would like to be put on my e-mail.
I only would like receive the message only. Not sure how this will work. I don’t want to comment as my mail box would get full quickly.
We’ll take care of it. You will only get the daily blog email. Thanks!
Our hope is in God therefore the world with all it’s suffering, sorrow must have an end!. God is our Heavenly Father and we are truly abundantly happy abiding in His LOVE.. “Happy are the people who are in such a state. Happy are the people whose God is the Lord.” Psalm 144:15. God’s faithful Love abides forever.