With a Subtitle: Come to God in your present state and tell Him what you desire. Let Him renew you in His likeness and give you a fresh taste of His strength.

A brief Excerpt: Come to God in your present state and tell Him what you desire. Let Him renew you in His likeness and give you a fresh taste of His strength.

The Author is: Rich Holt

Scripture

Our verse for today comes from Joshua 14:11, ” As yet I am as strong this day as on the day that Moses sent me; just as my strength was then, so now is my strength for war, both for going out and for coming in. “

Background

I can still recall several distinct memories from my first couple of years of elementary school. One of them revolves around music class. In my mind, I can see our entire class in the music room, which was just off to the side of the cafeteria, and all of us are singing Christmas songs right before we go on Christmas break. ” Silver Bells ” seems to ring in my ears, although I may have added that piece of info as my memory faded. When we finally came out of the room, dozens of kids were pouring down the stairs into the lunch room to eat their final lunch before the holidays, and the chaos and excitement and anticipation was so memorable that I can still feel it today. Now, fast forward about forty years. Presently, whenever I might approach a holiday or a time of vacation from work, the build-up and the send-off aren’t quite the same as back then. And I would imagine that yours isn’t either. Instead of coasting into the days of relaxation with restrained excitement, those last days are usually filled with intensity, pressure, and an overwhelming sense of urgency. All of the work that you want to leave behind seems to gang up on you and demand attention before you walk out the door that last afternoon. The celebration or the enjoyment is further delayed as you take those first free hours just to unwind and leave behind what was piling up on your shoulders.

Application

For Caleb, the past forty years hadn’t worn him down or frustrated his purpose. As he looked back, he remembered his faithfulness and declared that he was still up to the test. The same God he relied on then was able to see him through now. Sometimes for us, we forget that. The joys and victories of days gone by get replaced by frustration and pessimism and fatigue. Our rut is a rut, but it’s our rut, so we stick with what we know. But your strength can be as it was then, if it comes from our God. He will gladly accept your brokenness for His refreshment. So make the swap and take what He offers. The strength is in the surrender.

Charge

As we seek Him today, come to God in your present state and tell Him what you desire. Let Him renew you in His likeness and give you a fresh taste of His strength.

Salvation – Eternal Life in Less Than 150 Words