Verse of the Day 1/2

Deuteronomy 31:8  It is the Lord Who goes before you; He will [march] with you; He will not fail you or let you go or forsake you; [let there be no cowardice or flinching, but] fear not, neither become broken [in spirit—depressed, dismayed, and unnerved with alarm].  Amplified Bible (AMP)

 

Throughout the Bible, the leaders of the faith, from Moses to the Apostle Paul, charged the people of God to take courage as they stood at the crossroads, as they prepared for battles, or prepared for a journey into unknown territory.  So it is for us as we head into a new year.  The call is not only to take courage but to go out with boldness.  The Amplified Bible adds "let there be no cowardice or flinching'.

 

When shooting a gun or an arrow, flinching is a nasty habit.  Just as the trigger is being pulled or the string is being released, you may tense up and "flinch" in anticipation of the recoil.  When you do so the bullet or the arrow will stray from the intended target and miss the mark.  As we head into the new year we will face new challenges in our faith.  When God calls us to go out, to face the battle may we do so without flinching.  Not flinching takes practices and requires confidence.  As Christians this confidence is in God and not in ourselves.  We need to "declare our dependence" on Him and as we do so we realize that He is with us.

 

Charles Spurgeon writes, "Cry out to God, that he would not forsake you in your business, in your family; that he would not forsake you either upon your bed by night or in your business by day. And may God grant, when you and I shall come to the end of this year, we may have a good tale to tell concerning the faithfulness of God in having answered our prayers, and having fulfilled his promise."

 

As we head into the new year may we cry out to God our declaration of dependence.

 

This is my declaration of dependence
This is my declaration of my need
This is my declaration of dependence
On the one who gave His life to me  (Steven Curtis Chapman from the song "Declaration of Dependence")

 

Psalm 138:8  "The Lord will work out his plans for my life— for your faithful love, O Lord, endures forever.
    Don't abandon me, for you made me. '  New Living Translation (NLT)

In Christ,
Mike

 

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Eph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace  NIV

Deuteronomy 31:7-9  English Standard Version (ESV)
7 Then Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, "Be strong and courageous, for you shall go with this people into the land that the Lord has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall put them in possession of it. 8 It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed."

 

The Reading of the Law

 

9 Then Moses wrote this law and gave it to the priests, the sons of Levi, who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and to all the elders of Israel.