This morning I began reading the book of Deuteronomy again. In the first chapter, I read a simple phrase that touched my heart: “Behold, I have set the land before you …” (Deuteronomy 1:8). When I read that simple phrase, an amazing thought came to me. If I stay within the will of God, He will always be in front of me, “setting” the land up for me to enter and conquer. Later in this same chapter, I read: “The LORD your God which goeth before you, He shall fight for you …” (Deuteronomy 1:30).
What an incredible thought! God is ready and willing to fight for us. Many preach today that God will do whatever you want Him to do, but that is not what these verses are saying. This chapter very clearly says that if we remain within the will of God, that He provides for us along the way. When I am reading Scripture, I try applying the truths that I am reading to my life today. Now, I am not planning a forty-year trip through the wilderness of the Middle East, but I do want God to lead me where I am headed today.
Too many times I find myself making plans, and then asking God to bless what I have planned. I think that is a backward way of thinking. I want to start this day by asking God to give me direction, and then to help me stay within the center of His will. I want to make sure that I am following God today so closely that I will not get off the track. I want to follow God’s Word today just like the Israelites followed the pillar of cloud and the pillar of fire. What a blessing it was for the people of Israel to not need a GPS to find their way to the Promised Land.
As blessed as they were to have the pillar of cloud and fire, I think we are even more blessed to have all sixty-six books of the Bible to lead and guide us. When I think about the blessings of having the Bible, I am so thankful. These verses I read today remind me that God wants to lead His children. He wants to go before us and prepare the way. The challenge is not for God, but for us. He is well able to lead us, but we are often unwilling to follow where He leads! Today is a good day to trust God for leadership. He wants to lead … the question is … are we willing to follow? I want to yield my heart right now to anything God wants me to do today. I want to place myself on the altar before Him for this day. I want to do the things He wants me to do, and go to the places He wants me to go. I want to be in the places that He has led me to so I can accomplish His will for my life. I don’t want to miss the direction God has for me today!