Deuteronomy 8:2 God led the Israelites in the desert for 40 years to humble them and test them to find out what was in their heart, and whether or not they would keep His commands. We complain when we are in the desert for a short while, a mere season, and I could not even fathom 40 years. Could you imagine if whatever hardship you were facing lasted 40 years? Most likely that is not ever going to happen. We sit around and grumble and complain to others about how bad we have it, when in fact we should be thankful He puts us to the test. God only tests His children, and my question here is What is in your heart? How do you handle your relationship with God when you are in the desert? And do you honor Him and keep His commands during those times? Sometimes we do not see what He is trying to teach us as we are facing hardships and I think a lot of times He may be leading us down that path to see how we revere Him in the midst of it.
Deuteronomy 8:18-20 The Bible says, "Remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms His covenant which He swore to your forefathers as it is today." Don't forget He is the one who give you the talent and success at your work, and gives you the ability to work and make a living. Also, as in Job, remember the Lord gives and the Lord can take away. So do not get too proud about how great you do for yourself. It is God working in and through you that gives you the ability to produce wealth.
Deuteronomy 9:4-6 "It is not because of your righteousness of integrity that you are going to take possession of their land." It is not because we are righteous that God gives or blesses us with anything. Romans 3:10 states, There is not one righteous, no not one.
Deuteronomy 10:17-18 What does the Lord ask of you?
Deuteronomy 11:13-15 He is our Provider, we just have to obey His Commands!
Deuteronomy 11:25 No man will be able to stand against you~ Romans 8: 31 also says "If He is for us who can be against us", and in Deuteronomy 20: 3-4, it says when we are up against our enemies: do not be fainthearted or afraid; do not be terrified or give way to panic before them. For the Lord your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory" How awesome is it to know that He is with us and fights for us, as earlier it talked repeatedly about He will fight for you, you need only be still. God tells us over and over He is with us and for us, and who to have better in your corner than God! I am so thankful He is there to fight our battles and that He will never leave us! Find comfort and peace in that!!!!
Deuteronomy 12:30 talks about inquiring about other gods. I find this interesting because in the past I have wanted to study other religions and find out why they believe what they believe. This verse tells me, that we need not inquire, but trust and serve the one true God!
Deuteronomy 14:22 speaks of tithing 1/10
Deuteronomy 15: 10-11 speaks of giving without a grudge and giving generously. We should give expecting nothing in return. I have had to learn this lesson in a different way, and I am thankful for what He has shown me through it. If someone does not pay you back, do not hold a grudge, but know that your heart was in the right place, and He will bless you because of it.
Deuteronomy 18:10-13 speaks of not practicing sorcery, witchcraft, divination, etc... It states that these are detestable practices. We should be very mindful of what we are filling our minds with. A certain movie that practices sorcery comes to mind...it is a big hit with some, and I should also include the vampire movies too, but we should not even take the time to sit and watch them because by watching we are learning from it, and the Word says not to learn to imitate it. Be careful what your children are watching, they are impressionable!
Deuteronomy 20:5 talks about dedicating your new home. We should be grounded in Christ and our foundation built on the rock, the word of Christ. This reminded me of an author I enjoy. She said when they built their home years ago, they put a Bible in the actual foundation of the home, as a reminder that God and His truths are their foundation to build from. I love that, and look forward to building again, when I too, will place a Bible in the foundation as a reminder of what we are grounded in.
Deuteronomy 24:7 "You must purge the evil from amongst you." Enough said.
Deuteronomy 26:18 We are His people, His treasured possession! I love this verse. We are His and a treasure to Him. I tell my children almost daily how special they are to me, and what a treasure they are. I tell them how God picked them out of all the children in the world to be mine, and that is so special! My daughter has a painting of this verse in her room.
Deuteronomy 28 If you fully obey the Lord and carefully follow His commands, He will set you high above the nations on the earth, and blessings will come upon you: You will always be at the top, never at the bottom. If not, curses will come upon you. -- I have to ask myself, is this why we have trouble? I know it is absolutely why we have trouble. We have to be obedient and keep His commands.
Deuteronomy 31:6 "For the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave nor forsake you." I don't know if I have mentioned this in notes past, but I LOVE how it says the Lord YOUR God. He is OUR God, MY God, and not just the Lord God. I love this!!!!
Deuteronomy 32:52 God had Moses view the land of milk and honey from the top of Mount Nebo. He told him he could only view it from a distance, and he would not enter the land because he broke faith with him. Do you feel like you've gone through the desert, made it to the top of the mountain, but cannot get the blessing?
Joshua 1:8 "Do not let the Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night."
Joshua 1:9 "Be strong and courageous, Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged; for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." Again He shows us He is with us always!!!
**We see in Joshua how he was given wisdom by the Lord, and how God told him that no one would be able to stand up against him all the days of his life. We see lands and kings delivered unto him, and how mighty Joshua was. In Joshua 10 we are given a descriptive scene of Joshua and the Israelites fighting the Amorites. I have to put a plug here for a Pastor I follow. His name is Steven Furtick (Elevation Church) and he wrote a book based on this Chapter of Joshua called, Sun Stand Still. It is an amazing book, one I highly recommend, and talks about asking God for audacious things in prayer. Just as God made the sun stand still and the moon stop, until the nation avenged itself on its enemies-- By believing He can do great miracles and wonders, that book encourages you to get out of your normal way of praying not only believe Him for the small things, but the Great, extraordinary, the impossible. We know that with Him all things are possible, and this book challenges you to serve and believe and have the faith it takes to believe God for the impossible, and see Him work in extraordinary ways in your life. This book has been one of the best books I have read, and I think all Christians should read it.
I will end here right now, but I have so much to still get on the blog. I will try to get more done tonight.
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