But they presumed to go up to the heights of the hill country, although neither the ark of the covenant of the LORD nor Moses departed out of the camp.
Numbers 14:44
Lord Jesus, today my soul is reflecting upon all the times that I have had the audacity to do something, embark on a path not ordained by You, believing that I could do it “just because”. As I set out I just assumed that I would be successful. After all, it was You that gave me the giftedness that I was walking in. It was You that made the opportunity available. Aren’t I “blessed and highly favored”? And when I fell on my face in failure, as I ran back to my “room” to “lick my wounds”, I found myself asking the question, “Why didn’t You have my back, God?” I quickly go to the place of blaming You, failing to acknowledge that You neither ordained the venture nor went up with me in it. In essence, I went at it alone.
LORD, I don’t want to do anything without You. If You do not go with me I do not want to go. And it is not just because I know that I cannot have victory without You. No. There have been times when You have granted me a win in the space only for me to realize when the dust settled that it was not worth it without You. No. I refuse to go because You make the victories sweet and the accomplishments fulfilling. You, pleasing You, makes the world of difference. In doing that, knowing that I have brought a smile to Your face, is what I live for!
So today it is my prayer that You would help me to walk in the reality of Your promise to never leave nor forsake me (Joshua 1:5, Hebrews 13:5). Open my eyes to the movement of Your Spirit in and around me that I might not “presume” that the path I am going is ordained by You, but that I might know that I am walking according to Your will. As I rise up and go into the “hill countries” of my life, go before me, Your presence bringing its power and peace in my life, that I might stand confident in the knowledge that I am in the center of Your will. I make it my aim to please You (2 Corinthians 5:9) no matter where I am and what I am doing because I love You so much! So, lead me and I will gladly follow. Amen!