4.14.18 Praise & Prayer Prompt: Consulting God

PRAISE & PRAYER PROMPT ••• When God gave the Israelites the Promised Land, it wasn’t empty.
They were told to remove the people who occupied it.
God promised to be with them, and give them victory.
The first up: Jericho.
Joshua and the army followed the Lord’s instructions to the letter.
With one exception.
Achan disobeyed the order about all the goods that were to be set aside for the God and hid some of them for himself.
So when the Israelites prepared for the next battle at Ai, they lost when it should have been an easy win.
A very ancient example of how one person can ruin things for everyone, right?
After Achan’s treachery and theft were revealed and dealt with, Joshua and the Israelites had another opportunity to take over Ai.
Strike two went much better and it was the Israelites for the win, with the Lord God on their side, of course!
Now, we’re at Joshua 9, and in this chapter, we learn one of the most critically important skills in our walk with God.
There was a group called the Gibeonites who had heard about the Israelites victory and wanted to avoid the fate of their neighbors.
They decided to trick Joshua and the Israelites by making it appear they had traveled a great distance to be on their side and make a peace treaty.
Even so far as carrying moldy bread.
Y’all—that’s commitment to the part.
Gross!
But the key verse today is Joshua 9:14 NLT, which says, “So the Israelites examined their food, but they did not consult the Lord.”
They did not consult the Lord.
Words I think every single one of us can (reluctantly) claim.
You did not consult the Lord.
I did not consult the Lord.
And where have we landed when we failed to talk to God about things?
Y’all, this is an area I struggle with.
I’m so go-go-go at times that I just don’t think about it.
It’s not that I don’t think God’s input isn’t important.
I just go full steam ahead, without asking Him if I’m going in the right direction.
Sometimes, things are okay.
I should have discussed whatever the situation was, but God took care of it, despite my failure.
Other times… well, let’s just say I have learned that I could save a lot of time and frustration if I would slow down and talk to God before reacting.
Knowing that and doing that are two different things, but y’all, I know I’m a work in progress.
Thankfully, I serve a God who is crazy-extraordinary patient with me.
Far more than I deserve.
We all need reminders that God should be consulted.
We get bogged down and assume things are too mundane to bother God with but that’s not the way He thinks.
1 Peter 5:7 says, “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.”
Let’s take the words “worries and cares” out and drop in some others.
Give all your home buying questions to God for He cares about you.
Give all your hours spent studying for a test to God for He cares about you.
Give all your project and spreadsheet details to God because He cares about you.
Give your car problems to God because He cares about you.
Give your weight loss goals to God because He cares about you.
You get the point.
He’s right there.
Waiting.
Eager to help you with anything you need.
All He asks is that we give it to Him.
That’s all He asked from the Israelites when He gave them the Promised Land.
That’s all He asks from us.
Today, as you pray, praise God for caring.
For wanting to be a part of the details.
Thank Him for always being there to guide us in every situation.
Ask the Holy Spirit to nudge you and remind you to give to God.
And leave it with God.