Guarding Against

Deut. 8: 6-18 says, “So obey the commands of the LORD your God by walking in his ways and fearing him. For the LORD your God is bringing you into a good land of flowing streams and pools of water, with fountains and springs that gush out in the valleys and hills. It is a land of wheat and barley; of grapevines, fig trees, and pomegranates; of olive oil and honey. It is a land where food is plentiful and nothing is lacking. It is a land where iron is as common as stone, and copper is abundant in the hills. When you have eaten your fill, be sure to praise the LORD your God for the good land he has given you.
 But that is the time to be careful! Beware that in your plenty you do not forget the LORD your God and disobey his commands, regulations, and decrees that I am giving you today. For when you have become full and prosperous and have built fine homes to live in, and when your flocks and herds have become very large and your silver and gold have multiplied along with everything else, be careful! Do not become proud at that time and forget the LORD your God, who rescued you from slavery in the land of Egypt. Do not forget that he led you through the great and terrifying wilderness with its poisonous snakes and scorpions, where it was so hot and dry. He gave you water from the rock! He fed you with manna in the wilderness, a food unknown to your ancestors. He did this to humble you and test you for your own good. He did all this so you would never say to yourself, ‘I have achieved this wealth with my own strength and energy.’ Remember the LORD your God. He is the one who gives you power to be successful, in order to fulfill the covenant he confirmed to your ancestors with an oath." (large font mine)

Do you know someone or have you ever observed someone, who struggled to "make it" only to watch them stumble and fall, and perhaps loose everything they worked so hard to gain?

I have been working at reading through the Bible and I often wonder how the Israelites could watch and be part of so many amazing miracles and still mumble, grumble, complain, and blatantly disobey God; then I am reminded of myself, and perhaps others, who do exactly the same thing. I don't have all the answer as to WHY I do that, but in the above reading it tells me how to guard AGAINST it.

Deut. 8: 10-11 stands out so boldly to me.

Sometimes when life is challenging and difficult we desperately trust in the Lord, lean on Him and can't even imagine breathing without the Lord's guidance, however for many we have done exactly as the Israelites did. We think we achieved the raise, the wealth, good health, the blessings on our own, but we need to remember our blessings only come from the Lord. When the blessings flow and life is no longer moving from one struggle to another we must never forget the Lord and continue to always obey His commands.

Perhaps you need to take some time today to ask the Lord to examine your own heart (Ps. 51), thank Him for the blessings, and remember it's the Lord who blesses each of us with His abundant blessing.

Jo-Ann