Tag: promise

Entrée

Don’t Wait, Part Three: Focus on the Promise

The Manna Chef

In parts one and two of this series, I shared some details about the journey of the children of Israel from Egypt as they approached Canaan.  If you missed either part, I encourage to go back and read them. 

In Numbers 14:1-4, the Israelites decided it would have been better if they had just died in Egypt or even in the wilderness than to continue the journey to their Promised Land.  They were even prepared to select a new leader and head back.  Keep in mind, they had witnessed God supernaturally save them.  He moved beyond the laws of nature and held the Red Sea back just so they could walk on dry ground. 

As they were headed to their Promised Land, they found out there were giants living in Canaan—on the land God had promised to them—and they were afraid.  Those giants were nothing but distractions to get the people to focus on the challenges instead of the blessings that God promised.  Did you get that?  They focused on the giants instead of focusing on the promise from God.

I have experienced some moments when there were obstacles in the way of what God promised to me.  I knew what God said, I just couldn’t figure out how to get to the manifestation.  (That’s its own entrée, how to move from the promise to the manifestation.) 

Pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6
Entrée

Don’t Wait, Part Two: Missing Out on the Promise

The Manna Chef

Sisters, if you missed part one, I encourage you to go back and read it.  We discovered that the people of Israel heard conflicting reports about their Promised Land.  Moses sent out spies to check on the land.  One spy, Caleb, returned with this report: “The land is amazing.  It’s all that God said it would be.  Yeah, there are some giants there, but we can beat them with God on our side.  Let’s go occupy our land!” 

But there was another report, one that wasn’t so positive.  That report said, “There’s no way we can get that land.  Those giants are huge, and we can’t beat them.  We’re like grasshoppers to them.  We’ll get devoured in that land.”  … So, guess whose report the people chose to believe?  Let me give you a hint, it wasn’t Caleb’s.  As a matter of fact, the people wanted to stone Joshua and Caleb!  They allowed fear to take the place of their promise.  And God took notice!

“How long will these people treat Me with contempt? Will they never believe Me, even after all the miraculous signs I have done among them?   I will disown them and destroy them with a plague.  Then I will make you [Moses] into a nation greater and mightier than they are!”  (Numbers 14:11-12 NLT)

Pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6
Entrée

Don’t Wait, Part One: Grasshopper Thinking

The Manna Chef

Sisters, how you think is just as important as what you think.  If your thoughts are shaped from fear, apathy, anger, or even hate, the choices you make will not manifest blessings.  They will lead you away from what God has promised.  You’ll find yourself spinning your wheels but actually getting nowhere.  So, let’s look at a Biblical example of this very thing: the children of Israel as they leave Egypt and head toward Canaan, the Promised Land. 

God rescued them from Pharaoh and the Egyptians in miraculous fashion.  And as they were on the way to Canaan, Moses sent spies to scope it out.  The spies made it to Canaan and found that, among the things that God had promised, there were giants occupying the land.  Two of the spies (Joshua and Caleb) came back with a good report.  In Numbers 13:30, Caleb said, “Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it.” 

Pages: 1 2 3 4 5
Entrée

“When” Not “If”

The Manna Chef

This morning, as I was reading Isaiah 43:2 (NLT), God told me to take a closer look at the words in the Scripture.  Well, actually one word—when. 

When you go through deep waters,
    I will be with you.
When you go through rivers of difficulty,
    you will not drown.
When you walk through the fire of oppression,
    you will not be burned up;
    the flames will not consume you.

The Scripture doesn’t say “if you go through deep waters…”  It says “when.”  In other words, at some point in our lives, we are going to have to face some deep waters, some rivers of difficulty, and the fire of oppression.  If you haven’t encountered those types of situations, as my mom used to say, “Keep living!” 

Pages: 1 2
Entrée

God’s Got the Details

The Manna Chef

Have you ever had a need that seemed so great that you honestly didn’t know how it was going to be met?  I’m talking about an obligation that goes far beyond what you have—tangibly.  Well, I found myself right in the middle of one of those days—trying to wrap my head around a million details to figure everything out.  I had made so many lists, determined be responsible in managing everything while trying to be a good steward.  The task was becoming quite a challenge too, even for someone who loves to deal with the details.  I became restless and agitated, and then the Holy Spirit whispered to me, “Remember, I have already taken care of every detail for you.  There is no need for you to spend your energy on figuring anything out, and there is no need to panic.  Just trust Me.” 

I am detail-oriented, so it is quite natural for me to focus on the small things.  But I will admit, this time I was drowning in those details.  I was feeling overwhelmed instead of excited by the move of God.  But after the Holy Spirit spoke, a calm came over me instantly.  I allowed myself to be very still and meditate on His actual words.  Did you get that?  I allowed myself a moment to be still.  My will was involved.  I could choose to believe the word of the Lord, or I could try to make things happen on my own.  I chose the former.  I didn’t fire back at the Holy Spirit with a million questions.  I didn’t ignore what He said, determined to do it in my own power.  I didn’t continue to try to figure it all out.  I didn’t doubt Him.  Instead, I believed that He would move on my behalf simply because He said that He would.  And He promised that He had taken care of every detail.

I thanked God for moving just for me, and I let go of what was becoming cumbersome.  Just like that, I decided to let go.  It wasn’t even difficult.  I was glad to cast that weight aside.  I turned on some praise music and went on with my day. 

Pages: 1 2