Quote for the Day

“…remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth…”

Today's Prayer

This week pray that those traveling remember the power and love of God as they are focused on the day to day of life. Pray that those at home rely only on God for their support and encouragement.

Deuteronomy 8

Deuteronomy 8 (NIV)1 Be careful to follow every command I am giving you today, so that you may live and increase and may enter and possess the land that the LORD promised on oath to your forefathers. 2 Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. 3 He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD. 4 Your clothes did not wear out and your feet did not swell during these forty years. 5 Know then in your heart that as a man disciplines his son, so the LORD your God disciplines you.6 Observe the commands of the LORD your God, walking in his ways and revering him. 7 For the LORD your God is bringing you into a good land—a land with streams and pools of water, with springs flowing in the valleys and hills; 8 a land with wheat and barley, vines and fig trees, pomegranates, olive oil and honey; 9 a land where bread will not be scarce and you will lack nothing; a land where the rocks are iron and you can dig copper out of the hills.10 When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the LORD your God for the good land he has given you. 11 Be careful that you do not forget the LORD your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and his decrees that I am giving you this day. 12 Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, 13 and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, 14 then your heart will become proud and you will forget the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. 15 He led you through the vast and dreadful desert, that thirsty and waterless land, with its venomous snakes and scorpions. He brought you water out of hard rock. 16 He gave you manna to eat in the desert, something your fathers had never known, to humble and to test you so that in the end it might go well with you. 17 You may say to yourself, “My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.” 18 But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your forefathers, as it is today.19 If you ever forget the LORD your God and follow other gods and worship and bow down to them, I testify against you today that you will surely be destroyed. 20 Like the nations the LORD destroyed before you, so you will be destroyed for not obeying the LORD your God.

Message

Many times in Scripture and in this world we hear about the need to focus on the blessings of God in the hard times. We are told that in those dark and dreary times of pain and loss we should remember what God has done for us. It is the way we get through those difficult times. While these are true statements, God wants to remind us that it is just as easy to forget Him in times of prosperity. God is about to give possession of the Promised Land to this nation He loves. They are about to receive the promise of not only the last 40 years in the desert, but the last century of captivity; a land abundant with all they need, a land that will give them their hopes and dreams.Once victory is accomplished and the spoils are being enjoyed, it is easy to forget who actually supplied the victory. God Almighty did, still does to this day. While we may be thankful for what God has provided, as we continue to be blessed and our desires grow for more, we tend to believe WE have the power to obtain it and WE have the knowledge to produce such wealth. It soon becomes all about us and less about God. Just as the Israelites needed a reminder, so do we: IT IS ABOUT GOD! He is our sustainer and sole provider. What has God supplied you with this week? Do not forget to praise and thank Him for it.