Tag: Wilderness

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Step By Step-Walking Through “It”

Today is a day where I feel that the walls are slowly collapsing all around me. The world around me seems to keep on going at warp speed while my pace is as slow as a turtle. The important thing is that I am still moving. I continue to walk through this season.

Where are you at today? Where is your focus?

I want to encourage you to not look at other people’s paces. I want you to focus on where God is taking you, one step at a time. It is okay to live step by step if you are focused on your perfect guide. What is important is that you continue and walk through, not giving up as the rocks around you begin to crumble. It is easy to get distracted, when it seems like your world is falling apart. This growing process never seems to be quiet or easy. It’s is messy and strenuous. But what if you needed those rocks that seemed to be destroying your world to crumble to make a path over the river that you didn’t know was ahead? Trust your perfect guide.

I don’t have the answers and God has not answered my ‘why’ question. What he has shown me and taught me is that I only see the here and now, while he knows the whole story of redemption. So, today I choose to say, thy will be done. God then reminds me yet again that he is with me as my perfect guide.
We may not ever know all the answers, but I do know that all we need is found in HIM.

May we both not lean on what we feel or even see, but trust in the one that see’s the big picture. The one who is pure love and is working everything out for our good. May we lay down our doubts and fear and run to our refuge during this storm and rely upon his guidance to carry us through.

Scripture To Meditate On:

  • Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me. –Psalm 23:4 NLT
  • And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness. -Colossians 2:6-7 NLT
  • Hear my cry, O God; Attend to my prayer. From the end of the earth I will cry to You, When my heart is overwhelmed; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For You have been a shelter for me, A strong tower from the enemy. I will abide in Your tabernacle forever; I will trust in the shelter of Your wings. -Psalm 61:1-2 NKJV
  • When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you. -Isaiah 43:2 NKJV
  • Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. -Colossians 3:2 NKJV


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Staying In The Wilderness-A Call To Obedience

“Why has Israel become a slave?
    Why has he been carried away as plunder?
 Strong lions have roared against him,
    and the land has been destroyed.
The towns are now in ruins,
    and no one lives in them anymore.
 Egyptians, marching from their cities of Memphis and Tahpanhes,
    have destroyed Israel’s glory and power.
 And you have brought this upon yourselves
    by rebelling against the Lord your God,
    even though he was leading you on the way! -Jeremiah 2:14-17 NLT

How many times have we asked God why… Why am I here? Why do I have to deal with this? Why does nothing seem to match up with what you promised me? Why…why…why…

I have been there, especially in a season of wilderness. But many times, especially within the past two years of living in Louisiana, God has replied back with two key truth’s.

1. His thoughts are higher than my thoughts

2. Lean not on my own understanding and he will make my path straight

During times of trials the devil loves to ask questions like, “but where is your God” and “I thought God said…”. When the truth is, God never left and God always keeps his word. It is during the hard times that the devil will tempt us to leave the wilderness, even though the wilderness is the exact place God has us for this season. I have had times in Louisiana where I have been ready to leave to go back to Michigan, what is comfortable. However, what God is doing in me and through me is so much greater than comfort.
It takes obedience, trust, and complete reliance on God to stay in the wilderness…

I am not sure what your wilderness looks like…But I do know that God is with you and he will do what he promised. Do not forfeit the promise because you gave up your land (left where God had you). Is that not EXACTLY what the devil wants? For us to abandon the blessings and abundance God has for us.

I try to be transparent and vaunerable with those who come to read Let Love Be My Motive.

I am in a wilderness season. The woods and vines are thick but his light guides my path! I cannot see the promises that he has spoken to me. There is no earthly evidence. However, we walk by faith and not by sight. God is not a man that he can lie. His word goes forth and is fruitful. I am more than a conqueror and victorious through Jesus Christ and God is working out everything for my good!

When the enemy comes to try to take me out of my land and try to deceive me about what God has promised me and who God actually is…I remind him of the ultimate truth, God’s word. Where did I learn this from?
We see this in Matthew 4 when the devil comes to tempt Jesus in, you guessed it, the wilderness! The devil does not fight fair, he comes to you in your ‘weakest’ moments because he has came here to steal, kill, and destroy. Where God has came to give us life and life abundantly! Look at what he does to Jesus and what Jesus’ response was:

 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil.  For forty days and forty nights he fasted and became very hungry. During that time the devil came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread.” But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone,
    but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Then the devil took him to the holy city, Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, and said, “If you are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say, ‘He will order his angels to protect you. And they will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.’” Jesus responded, “The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the Lord your God.’” Next the devil took him to the peak of a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. “I will give it all to you,” he said, “if you will kneel down and worship me.” “Get out of here, Satan,” Jesus told him. “For the Scriptures say, ‘You must worship the Lord your God
    and serve only him.’” Then the devil went away, and angels came and took care of Jesus. -Matthew 4:1-11 NLT

The Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness, just as I have been led into the wilderness. The devil attacks Jesus’ identity and what the Father has spoken to Jesus, just as my identity has been attacked and the promises of God. But, Jesus stayed in the wilderness and even at his weakest moment of fasting for 40 days, he took out his sword and fought! He spoke the truth, God’s Word, when the enemy came with a lie and the devil had to flee! Even in our weakest moment, God comes in with his everlasting strength.

In Jeremiah 2 (see top of reading) we see that Jerusulem was being led by God. I am sure it did not always feel nice, but what was happening in them and through them and their obedience was of utmost importance. Many times, staying in the wilderness is God’s protection and anything outside of that can cause our destruction. Remember, God’s thoughts are so much higher than ours. We as humans love to be comfortable and like to take the easy route. However, growth is not always easy. God knows what is best for not only us, but those arounds us. So lean not on your own understanding and he will make your paths straight. Take God at what his word says, he is working everything out for your good! You are victorious! The wilderness does not last forever, the promises are going to come to pass. If you need help in this season, do not be afraid to ask. Holy Spirit is our great help! Surround yourself with those who will not only encourage you when times are hard but challenge you with the truth rather than tickle your ears.

I challenge you to take your thoughts captive, get in the word of God, and pray, pray, pray. If you are having a hard time trusting God, dig to the root! What lie(s) are you believing about who he is? Being obedient to God will never turn out bad, that would contradict who he is and what his word says. Sometimes it takes faith to stay in the wilderness, but thankfully we have a God who never leaves us and never forsakes us!