EXPAND TO READ: DEUTERONOMY 6 (HCSB)
PERSONAL JOURNAL:
SIN (verse 7): In this verse, You tell us to repeat Your words to our children and talk about Your words all the time to them. Although I do use Your words when speaking to them at times, I am not consistent with this and I am sorry for that, Father. Please forgive me for my lack of relaying Your truth to my children on a consistent basis, Father. Help me to be better at this, so that Your word becomes engrained into them as a powerful truth which never leaves their heart. I must get better at being confident in my knowledge of Your truth, so that when opportunities arise, I can relay those truths to my children far more consistently than I have been so far. Help me with this, Father. Help me to recognize the opportunities to speak Your truth into them.
PROMISE (verse 12): You made so many promises to Your people under Moses. I think the most powerful at the time to them was likely the freedom from slavery. They had been living in slavery for so many generations in Egypt, that I’m sure they could not see the light at the end of the tunnel when this promise of freedom was made to them. You are a faithful God, however, so this promise was an easy task for You even though it was likely a struggle for Your people at the time to truly grasp it in their hearts. I’m sure they had hope that it would come to fruition because they no longer wanted to be slaved, but they likely also had many doubts as it likely seemed an unsurmountable task to them. Thank You for Your faithfulness in Your promises, Father.
ATTITUDE (verses 5-6): Here You tell us to love You with all of our heart, soul, and strength and to keep Your words in our hearts. If I’m completely honest, I have lacked in truly embracing this attitude of love towards You throughout my life since coming to faith. The reason I say this is because my actions have not reflected a full love of You through all things. As the old saying goes, “actions speak louder than words.” Although, I have said many times that I love You, I have failed to back that up with consistent and pure action. Help me to be better at walking in an attitude of consistent love towards You, Father. Help me to be better at loving You with all that I am instead of picking and choosing when I want to show my love for You. Help me to always keep Your words in my heart to serve as a reminder of Your love for me and my love for You, Father.
COMMAND (verses 1-3, 24): Your command in this scripture is quite easy to find as You have repeated it. Your command is to follow You fully, but to also have a respectful, reverent fear of You throughout our spiritual journey. This isn’t a cowering fear, like the one I have towards spiders. Instead, this is a fear out of respect and with a goal to be pleasing to You. Help me to be better at following this command, Father, so that as I walk this life, I can serve as an example of what it means to live in fear of You by following Your commands in my life.
EXAMPLE (verses 20-23): This is such a powerful example of Your love, Your promises, Your fulfillment of promises, and Your timing. You love Your people so much that You made them a promise of great land being given to them. Unfortunately, from their perspective, they had to go through some trials first as the timing was not right, yet, for the promises to come to fruition. They had to stand firm in their faith for many years/generations as slaves in Egypt before they would see the promises to their ancestors come to fruition. Your timing is always greater than our own. Your love for us surpasses anything else this life may bring to us. If I remain faithful to You even through the tough times, then great things can be granted to me through You as a result. Your people in this example may have had worries and even some doubts at times, but they never stopped believing in You for the most-part. I too have lived in the struggle of doubt and worry at times, but ever since coming to faith I have always remained firm that I am a believer and follower of Jesus Christ. My steps and actions may not have reflected that at all times as a result of my weaknesses, but I have always held You at least in some of my heart. Help me to be better at truly embracing and walking in my faith, Father, so that You are exemplified through me always.
*DAILY NOTE: This was a much shorter chapter than the first five in Deuteronomy, but there is so much to learn from this lesson. Thank You for speaking to me about my words versus my actions. Thank You for speaking to me about Your timing. Thank You for speaking to me about remaining firm in my faith, regardless of the curveballs this life may bring to me. Thank You for always being there for me, Father, even when I have had doubts and worries in my life. I know I can always come to You for advice, strength, and wisdom. The weakness in my flesh, which I keep digging back into every so often, has been something which has held me back from truly embracing You into my heart fully. I know that I must continue to build this relationship with You, so that I can continue to walk firmly in my faith in this life no matter what this life has in store for me. Help me to remember all of these lessons, Father, so that I may pass these onto my children in a way that they can truly embrace it into their hearts as well so that they do not make the same mistakes I have.
EXPAND TO READ: GENERAL NOTE FOR MY QUIET TIMES
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