And to those visiting, I say welcome! I post every Wednesday and my sole purpose is to nourish your soul along the way.

Each month I give away a $10.00 gift card to someone who posts on my blog. So leave a comment, share a story, and bless lots of people!

Well, it's time to announce the winner for February. Drum roll please...

Congratulations to Kimberlee (you posted on February 26th), you won a $10.00 gift card to Starbucks!!! Here's the catch. You have to email me to claim your prize. I wish I had time to chase you down but I don't. :) Here's my email: info@susielarson.com

Now on to my topic...

Last week I posted about the importance of being purposeful in the way we walk out this faith journey. Especially in these times. Please read it if you get the chance. This week's post sort of piggy-backs on last week's post. 

Recently Deuteronomy 8 has been swirling around in my heart and mind. Let's read a passage from that chapter: 

Many people are going through a testing time right now. In different ways, many of us are 'going without' things we are used to having or things we have taken for granted. For me, it's food. I'm very limited with the kinds of food I'm able to digest. So, 'manna' for me is God's grace to eat the same few foods day in and day out.

Maybe you're used to having more money than you do now; or maybe you're used to having more time; less stress; better health; stronger relationships; a greater level of respectability; a title; a strong sense that people understand you; a job; a marriage; a best friend; a church; a strong sense of God's direction. The list is endless. 

We are in a testing time as a nation. And Believers are definitely feeling the sifting in their souls. 

What does this have to do with the passage in Deuteronomy 8? Here's the parallel: Right now (much like the Israelites), I believe the Lord is allowing His people to go without certain things to test what is in our hearts. If we're honest, we will admit that certain things surface in us when we don't get our way. 

God knows what's in our hearts. He's showing us what's in our hearts. Our maturity is revealed when we lose things we are used to having. Will we still obey the Lord? Will we continue to humble ourselves before Him? Our hearts are tested in this process, revealing what's inside of us. It's a humbling process but God's grace is sufficient for us.

He wants His people to stand strong during these turbulent times. And if our security is a false one, we will stumble and fall. Now is not the time to be grabbing for quick fixes to fill in the gaps of what's missing in our lives. Now is the time to shift every hope onto the Rock of our Salvation. 

What's the manna for you and me? It's the daily mercy and grace God offers us. Whatever we we are missing in our lives right now, God's grace is more than enough to see us through. In fact, His grace is better for us than getting our way. His presence surpasses the surface satisfaction we enjoy when we get what we want; His Word actually delivers us from our earthbound tendencies and transforms us into people who are free and not bound by the things of this world.

And why is this important? Because we must learn in the core of our beings, that we don't 'get life' from getting our way or from having what we want. We as Believers live by every Word that proceeds from the mouth of God. 

We 'go without' so that we may learn to hunger more for Him. 

In whatever area we are going without - there's a promise available to us.

The Deuteronomy passage tells us that we live by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. When our attitude flares or anxiety ruffles us, there's a WORD within God's 'every Word' that's specific to our situation. 

The solution then, is not to get our way, but to trust in the ll knowing ways of the Lord and to mine the Scriptures that we might find the inheritance verse that speaks to our situation. He tests us and refines us that we might, more and more, find our deepest needs met in the object of our deepest desire. Jesus Himself. 

He won't let us go. He's just teaching us to rely more on Him and less on the things of this world. He loves us so very much. 

Until next week.

PS ~ If you haven't signed up for my quarterly E-zine, you might want to. Four times a year I email out a wonderful E-zine packed with good stuff (free books, a devotional thought, great quotes, great book recommendations, etc.). Sign up today: