Encouragement for Today - July 14, 2005
July 14
Encouragement for Today
(Principle #1)
“A Cool Conversation with God”
Melissa Taylor, Proverbs 31 Speaker Team Member
Key Verse:
Exodus 33:14, “And the Lord replied, ‘I will personally go with you Moses. I will give you rest -everything will be fine for you.’” (NLT)
Devotion:
Have you ever been in a situation where you needed to pray about something, but you just couldn’t find the words? Maybe you felt so far removed from God that you didn’t know what to say? Possibly you felt that God was so far removed from you and you were looking for the words to bring Him back to you? I have experienced all of this, very recently.
There are a few situations in my life right now that I am feeling extremely frustrated over. I’ve prayed. I’ve journaled. I’ve talked to friends. I have been bogged down by these circumstances and frankly, I was beginning to wonder if God was still with me. Then a great thing happened.
One morning, I was in a meeting at church, and someone brought up a verse from Exodus 33. I didn’t even remember the exact verse later that day, but the discussion prompted me to turn my attention to this chapter during my quiet time the next morning. This particular chapter is what I would call a cool conversation with God. Moses speaks candidly. He shares his fears and true feelings with the Lord. He expresses his need for God to be with him …and the Lord responds with compassion and love.
I urge you to read this chapter on your own in your own Bible. Today, I am going to recall the scenario in Exodus 33 from my own New Living Translation.
Moses had just led the people out of
The Lord: (Verse3b) “I will not travel along with you, for you are a stubborn and unruly people. If I did, I would be tempted to destroy you along the way.” (The people went into mourning over these words. I imagine they were scared, feeling abandoned by God.)
Moses: (Verses 12a-13) “You have been telling me, ‘Take these people to the Promised Land’…Please, if this is really so, show me your intentions so I will understand You more fully and do exactly what You want me to do. Besides, don’t forget that this nation is Your very own people.” (Moses must have felt scared and concerned for the people. He even gives God a reminder, like He needed one, of Whose people they are.)
The Lord: (Verse 14) “I will personally go with you, Moses. I will give you rest – everything will be fine for you.”
The Lord responded in a way that showed and proved that He did indeed care and love Moses and His people. He may have to, at times, teach His people (us) a lesson by allowing them to travel alone, but He is still the same God who loves, provides for, and leads. Not only did God tell Moses that He would be with him, but He said, “I will personally go with you, Moses.” I think God is saying this to us, too.
Moses was not afraid to speak his heart and true feelings to God. God didn’t get mad. He listened and responded.
Moses: (Verse 15) “If you don’t go with us personally, don’t let us move another step from this place.”
The Lord: (Verse 17) “I will indeed do what you have asked, for you have found favor with me, and you are my friend.”
Oh, don’t you just love that! The Lord and Moses have a heartfelt conversation in which the Lord assures Moses everything will be fine. Friendship with God was a privilege for Moses and it is a privilege for us, too.
We don’t have to have the perfect words when speaking to God. We don’t have to have instant answers to our questions or resolutions to our problems. What we can have though is a cool conversation with God, where we can lay it all out truthfully and honestly, resting in the assurance that we are loved and that God is personally involved in our lives.
The next time you feel abandoned by God or stuck in a hopeless situation, speak to Him “face to face” (Exodus 33:11), ask Him to “show you His intentions so you can understand more fully” (verse 13), be assured that God will “personally be with you”(verse 14), and that “you are His friend” (verse 17). Just like Moses, you, too, can have your own cool conversation with God.
My Prayer for Today:
Dear Lord, Thank you for giving me the privilege to be called Your friend. I rejoice in the fact that You are personally involved in my life. Help me to talk honestly with You daily and to listen to Your Voice when You respond. Amen.
Application Steps:
Today, have your own “cool conversation with God.” He already knows it all, but tell Him yourself how you are feeling, your fears, your hopes, and your needs. He stands ready to listen and be there personally for you.
Reflection Points:
When you pray, do you worry that your words are not eloquent enough for God?
How can you be more authentic in your prayer life?
Have you ever proclaimed, like Moses, “If you (God) don’t go with us personally, don’t let us move a step from this place.” Do you need to?
Power Verses:
Exodus 33:11a, “Inside the Tent of Meeting, the Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend.” (NLT)
Exodus 33:13, “Please, if this is really so, show me Your intentions so I will understand You more fully and do exactly what You want me to do. Besides, don’t forget that this nation is Your very own people.” (NLT)
Exodus 33:15, “If You don’t go with us personally, don’t let us move a step from this place.” (NLT)
Exodus 33:17, “And the Lord replied to Moses, “I will do what you have asked, for You have found favor with me, and You are my friend.” (NLT)
Additional Resources:
Becoming a Woman Who Listens to God, by Sharon Jaynes
http://proverbs31.gospelcom.net/newresources_becomingAWoman.htm
Get Over It and On With It, by Michelle
http://proverbs31.gospelcom.net/newresources_getOverIt.htm
Message of the Month Club
http://proverbs31.gospelcom.net/resourceMessage.htm
