Apr 08
Today’s Truth
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
Lamentations 3:22-23
Friend to Friend
I just love Moses. I can relate to him on so many levels.
For about forty years, he thought he was an Egyptian…the son of the Pharaoh’s daughter. But somehow he discovered that he was NOT an Egyptian after all. He was a Hebrew, the son of a slave woman. . . and that changed everything.
Moses had a mid-life crisis and came up with a plan to save his true people from Egyptian slavery. God did not call him to this plan. He came up with it all on his own. (Red flag for all of us.)
One day Moses was walking among his people and he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew slave. Glancing first one way and then another to make sure no one was looking, Moses killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand. One down. Several million to go. Moses was working the plan.
The next day, Moses was out walking among his people and saw two Hebrews fighting. He asked the one in the wrong, “Why are you hitting your fellow Hebrew?”
The man said, “Who made you ruler and judge over us? Are you thinking of killing me as you killed the Egyptian?”
Moses realized what he had done was widely known. The Pharaoh was out to kill him, and his fellow Hebrews mocked him. So he failed and he bailed.
Moses fled to a place called Midian, married a gal named Zipporah, and joined the family business taking care of sheep. The next time we see Moses, forty years have passed; he is now 80 years old . . . and he is stuck. Oh, sister, I’ve been there. Have you?
Moses was stuck in Midian and held hostage by his failures. He had settled for less than what he was made for. Less than what God had prepared him for. Less than what he had hoped for in himself. And there he stayed.
This is where many people drive their tent stakes in the ground and settle. They make a mistake, fall flat on their face, and run away to the far side of the wilderness, hoping no one will notice. Praying everyone will just leave him or her alone, at the same time, absolutely miserable that life has morphed into a monotonous, lackluster checklist. Like Moses, many bury their hopes and dreams to protect their hearts from further disappointment.
But that’s not where God wants you to stay. We all fail. We all make mistakes. Peter did. Moses did. Jacob did. Samson did. David did. But just because you failed does not mean you ARE a failure. You are a child of God who makes mistakes.
God wasn’t finished with Moses and He’s not finished with you or me. He has a plan…a good and perfect plan.
So if you feel stuck…if you’ve failed and bailed to your far side of the wilderness…it’s time to get unstuck and move forward. God has burning bushes all around. This could be one right now. He’s calling you to let go of your failure, move forward in all that He has for you to do, and live bold.
Come on. Let’s do it together! He’s calling your name.
Let’s Pray
God, I cringe at the times I’ve let You down. It breaks my heart to think about the times that I’ve failed. But I am so thankful for Your GRACE. Thank You for calling me off the bench and back into the game even when I didn’t feel worthy. I love you so much.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.
Now It’s Your Turn
Read Jesus’ discussion with Peter, not by a burning bush, but by another burning fire.
John 21:15-17.
What had Peter done to let Jesus down?
What was Jesus doing during this conversation with Peter?
What is Jesus saying to you through today’s devotion?
More from the Girlfriends
Today’s devotion was taken from my new book, Take Hold of the Faith you Long For: Let God, Move Forward, Live Bold. A mediocre, mundane faith is not your destiny! In Take Hold of the Faith You Long For, I reveal the most common reasons we get stuck in our Christian faith. I show you how to break free of all that holds you back, move forward with all that God promises, and live the adventurous faith of bold believing. It’s time to leave behind feelings of inferiority, insecurity, and inadequacy that hold you hostage and take hold of the mountain-moving faith God intends. Let’s uncover untapped sources of confidence and courage, and see how to move from simply knowing the truth to actually living it out boldly in a life marked by true freedom and expectancy. It’s time to get UNSTUCK! Click on the book cover to discover free bonuses when you order before May 1, 2016.
I absolutely love all your writings and everything you ladies share. Each morning, I look forward to my email, and it seems each message I read, is the one I needed or a struggle I’ve had throughout my week. Thank you girls for sharing His word and making light for others.
Kourtney
Sharon,
This was so meant for me today. For the past few years I have been stuck and although I try to move, I feel like I go around in circles. I feel as if I am standing on the sidelines watching life go by and not making an impact in any way, questioning my purpose. I know this is not what God planned for me but can’t seem to find my calling. I pray and wait and wait and wait…sometimes I think I have missed it. This message gives me hope. Please pray for me that I will step into what God has planned for me and will recognize it.
Hi Marlene,
I can totally relate to your situation, I’ve been struggling with the same thing for the past few months. I am reading a book called “In this manner, pray” and the Author of this
book had the same problem. He then realize that He needed that special time with God.
That prayer moment to focus on our calling, our purpose our future!
I now go to the stadium close to my home, sit way on the top of the bleachers and talk
to Daddy God, I have a beautiful sea view with a massive amount of dancing trees around me. When you take that moment dedicated to only GOD. He will speak to your heart very clearly, I assure you and re-assure you, that He, The Lord, will show you His will in
your heart. God bless you Marlene and hope to hear from you soon.
Megan.
Wow, do you ever read the story of Moses’ time in Midian differently than I do! I see Moses time in Midian as a time of healing, of restoration, and preparation. Yes he failed and bailed, but God led him to Midian, to a place of peace, of nature (as a shepherd) and to an amazing and wise father in law who would continue to be a wise counsellor for Moses for years and years. Moses came back from Midian to Egypt when God’s timing was right, when he was ready to be a servant leader, truly submitting himself to God’s leadership in order to fulfill God’s call on his life.
We in 20th Century North America want everything so fast and aren’t willing to take the time and do the work that deep healing often takes. I don’t think he was “stuck” in Midian at all. I think every moment, every year, every decade he spent in Midian was used by God to do His healing work in Moses and to work out His will for human history.
Just my thoughts.
Sue
Dear Sue,
You are right on target with your analysis of this article! Even in our sin situations, God is sovereign and uses everything to His glory. Just the fact that He was molding and shaping Moses as Moses lived his life, did not go to waste. Thank you for your corrective insight in response to this piece. God bless you.
Gladys Remaley Premo