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Inside: God has some blessings in store for us. We will never receive them until we get out of our comfort zone. If we break free, its the start of something new!
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Today I’m welcoming my friend, Calvonia, to Unmasking the Mess! Calvonia has been an encourager of my writing since the very start. I appreciate her friendship and I hope you check out her website.
24Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me(Matthew 16:24, NLT).
Do you prefer a brisk walk in the park or a vigorous hike in the mountains?
I like to walk. A quiet stroll in the evening or speed walking for exercise, I‘ll take it either way. Walking gets me out of the house looking at nature. It lifts my mood, gets my creative juices flowing and helps my jeans fit better.
Hiking, on the other hand, requires vigor, perseverance, stamina, and of course the right gear. Not quite my speed.
We walkers like neighborhood parks, hikers the wilderness. They trade our concrete road for dirt paths. We take the safe route, they walk where no man has trod. They take the risk of getting lost, wandering around, and passing the same notched tree over and over again. We lean toward controlled environments. They love suspense.
I was recently diagnosed with pre-diabetes. Although I did everything I knew to prevent it, it happened. I thought I was in control. I remained conscious of the diabetic diet and tried to stay active. So, when the doctor spoke those words, I was devastated. Me? A diabetic? It couldn’t be.
According to the National Diabetes Prevention Program, I was at high risk for diabetes and regardless of my preventative measures, it was bound to happen. I was genetically susceptible.
The Israelites were just like me, predisposed.
They wandered in the wilderness so long that it had become a beaten trail, trodden on by the doubters before them. The grass was worn and the branches were broken. Teenagers had carved their names in the trees. They knew their destination, Canaan land. But, when given the opportunity to tread where no man had gone before they refused.
After camping for a year at Mt. Sinai, Moses sent the spies to leave the wilderness, go up into the mountain, and see if the land was good or bad.
Were the inhabitants strong or weak?
Check out the ground and bring back some fruit.
They scouted the land for 40 days. Ten spies returned with this report.
“The land does flow with milk and honey, but, do you see how big this fruit is?” Numbers 13:27.
“The people are too strong for us, they make us look like grasshoppers and the city is large and walled” Numbers 13:31-33.
The other two spies, Joshua and Caleb trusted God enough to step out on faith. Here are their findings;
“The land we passed through to spy out is an exceedingly good land. 8 If the Lord delights in us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us, ‘a land which flows with milk and honey.’ 9 Only do not rebel against the Lord, nor fear the people of the land, for they are our bread; their protection has departed from them, and the Lord is with us. Do not fear them.” Number 14:7b-9.
The Israelites wanted to go to the Promised Land but they didn’t trust God’s GPS.
We can be just like them. God has some blessings in store for us. Yet, we will never receive them until we get out of our comfort zone. We can step off the walking path and go for a spiritual hike up the mountain to the land flowing with milk and honey. God will help usface the giants and climb the wall. We must trust God rather than man.
Trusting God: A Girlfriends in God Faith Adventure
Trusting God
Trusting God Day by Day: 365 Daily Devotions
By Jerry Bridges – Trusting God (First) (3/23/08)
Unshakeable Trust: Find the Joy of Trusting God at All Times, in All Things
Unafraid: Trusting God in an Unsafe World
The Start of Something New
It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man. Psalm 118:8.
Numbers 14:20-24 reveals the consequences. God declared that because of their disbelief only Joshua, Caleb and their descendants would enter the Promised Land. Those faithless Israelites had to wander in the wilderness for 40 years until their generation had all died.
The actions of one generation prevented the next from their destiny.
It’s time for a hike, ladies! Let’s put on our hiking gear and follow God where he leads. We must not let our predispositions hold us back
Calvonia Vaught Radford hails from the Coal mining area of Western Kentucky. She has shared her life with her husband, lover and friend, Moses for most of heradult life. They are blessed with three children Mario (Melody), Casondra and Christian. They try not to spoil their four grandchildren. Calvonia enjoys nature, reading and most genres of music. She is passionate about teaching God’s word to women who are new in their relationship with Christ
Blog website: Realtalk859.wordpress.com
Twitter: Calvonia V. Radford– @beequipped
