Master Your Circumstances

Daily Reading: Judges 1

Scripture Focus: After the death of Joshua, the people of Israel inquired of the Lord. (Judges 1.1)

Devotional Thought: Do you remember those picture riddles that we used to get when we were in school? The challenge was to find out "What's different between these pictures?" I used to love them!

The people of Israel were faced with something different between the book of Joshua and the book of Judges. It was the same type of difference faced between the books of Deuteronomy and Joshua: the death of a beloved leader. Just as they had counted on Moses to lead them to the Promised Land, so they had depended on Joshua to lead them through the Promised Land. But now, Joshua was gone. What were they to do?

The people of Israel inquired of the Lord!

When we go through changes, when things are different in our lives, we sometimes forget to inquire of the Lord. But, every change is an invitation from God to look unto him, for he is the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12.2). Innumerable changes come in life: The birth of a child, the pturchase of a home, a change in jobs - At these intersections, God is waiting for us to inquire of him, "Which way should I go, Lord?"

It's tempting to do life on auto-pilot, to let our circumstances lead us through life. But, God does not want us to be mastered by our circumstances. Instead, he invites us - with his wisdom and strength - to master our circumstances by following the Master!

Prayer: Lord, every day I face changes and choices, some big, some small. Help me, in the changes of life, to choose the path that you have for me. Amen.

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 51.1-6

1 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin!

3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. 4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment. 5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. 6 Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.