“The LORD is the one who goes ahead of you; He will be with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” Deuteronomy 31:8 (NAS)
From time to time, we attempt to take control of our lives. Inevitably, our control gets us in trouble. Before we take control, we need to remember that God is in control. Joshua was Israel’s emerging leader. He already knew that God was leading, yet Moses challenged him to never forget who is leading. God’s leading and God’s presence are two essentials for God’s people, both individually and corporately.
Elisabeth Eliot focuses the issue with this statement, “If my life is surrendered to God, all is well. Let me not grab it back, as though it were in peril in God’s hand but would be safer in mine.” Perhaps that is what Moses was really teaching Joshua. Surrender to God and stay surrendered, then everything else will be alright.
If God is leading — faithfully leading, — then we simply submit to following — faithful following. One songwriter witnesses to this mutual faithfulness: “He leadeth me, he leadeth me. By his own hands he leadeth me. His faithful follower, I will be for by his hand he leadeth me.” From time to time we need to be reminded of God’s faithfulness and our responsibility.
Another ageless gospel song goes like this, “Where he leads me I will follow. Where he leads me I will follow. Where he leads me I will follow. I’ll go with him, with him, with him all the way.” The repetition emphasizes our need to remember . . . he leads and I follow.
Yielding control is not the most comfortable thing for us humans. Yet, we have the confidence — the comfort — of this benefit: he never fails us; he never abandons us. So, we are safe in his control because no matter what happens, he is with us and leading us through the circumstances. God is out front defeating our enemies, so refuse to be dismayed, refuse to fear.
Be positive. Be committed. God never fails! I will not be dismayed. God is here! I will not yield to fear. God is leading! If I follow him faithfully, I will neither fall nor be deceived.
Dear Father, thank you for the comfort of your direction and presence. Empower us with faithfulness. This I pray in the name of Jesus. AMEN
Be encouraged today in the comfort of God’s presence,