Inside our home, I’ve been experiencing a miracle unfold before my eyes. The son that I’ve prayed for during the past three years has returned to our family and has opened his heart to the Lord. I’m giving all praise and thanks to the Lord, the only One who can save and work miracles! I want to honor Jesus by going back to say thank you, like the leper who returned after receiving his healing. Also, I write to remember – when fear arises, instead of going back to unbelief, recall what the Lord has done and remain loyal to believing in Him.
Choose to remember.
The Lord knows just what we need, right when we need it. As I opened my Bible reading app to Numbers 14, the Israelites were complaining about being in the wilderness. They actually begged to go back to being enslaved in Egypt. When presented with the promise of a country of their own, they responded with fear of a battle and unbelief that God would bring victory.
As I read, I saw myself in the unbelievers. Although I encountered a change in our family that only God could produce, as challenges occurred, I questioned the validity of the miracle we’d experienced. My natural response was to be afraid and turn back. Essentially, I questioned whether God was faithful to continue working out what He’d begun. bump in the road, I was willing to let go of my grip on faith, just like the Israelites. We read how the Lord regards this type of unbelief in verse 11:
“How much longer will these people reject me? How much longer will they refuse to trust in me, even though I have performed so many miracles among them?'”
With eyes of faith, Joshua & Caleb saw the land that God promised and believed He would enable them to live there. But the people neglected to trust in God’s goodness and faithfulness. They looked at their current circumstances and lost sight of the miracles He had done. Just like the people of Israel, our refusal to trust in God is a rejection of Him; we must remember what He’s done and trust Him to continue what He’s begun.
Who are you listening to?
The Israelite people had both positive and negative people around them, believers and naysayers. They chose to agree with those who did not believe that God would take care of them. Because of their unbelief, they were unable to enter the wonderful place God had intended for them to live. If only the Israelites had listened to Joshua and Caleb, their future would have been so different.
Are you in an environment where the people around you believe in the Lord & encourage you to take Him at His word, or do your influences insinuate that your faith is frivolous? The people in our inner circle, the ones who have the greatest influence on our lives, impact our future.
Remain loyal when mishaps arise.
Mistakes are a normal part of learning and growing, and come as a result of our ability to freely think and choose. Mishaps don’t mean that God has forgotten about us or changed His mind. His promises are just as true today as they were yesterday. When difficulties arise, we want to remember what God has done in the past, so we can remain loyal to believing that He will continue to work on our behalf in the present. Our belief is essential to experiencing the promises God has for us!
Walk towards your promise.
When the Israelites rejected the Lord with an attitude of distrust, they lost the opportunity to live in the Promised Land. However, the Lord remembered those who believed. In verse 24 we read,
“Caleb has a different attitude and has remained loyal to me, I will bring him into the land which he explored and his descendants will posses the land.”
Our choices direct our steps and our steps either move us toward destruction or God-inspired destiny. If we are following the Father in obedience and belief, then we will experience what He has promised! We want to remember that He is the One who is faithful to us. All He asks is that we believe.
My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand.” ~John 10:27-29
