Little By Little RELEASING A "HERE AND NOW" ATTITUDE

Little By Little RELEASING A "HERE AND NOW" ATTITUDE

"But I will not drive them out in a single year … little by little I will drive them out before you, until you have increased enough to take possession of the land." Exodus 23:29-30, NIV. These verses may not make many people's list of favorite Bible promises, but when I read them recently, the phrase "little by little" seemed to leap off the page. God promised Israel a land flowing with abundance. He assured them that He would provide for them and fulfill every promise He had spoken. Yet tucked within that promise was a detail they may not have expected: they would not receive it all at once. God would give it to them little by little. Imagine hearing that after forty years in the wilderness. "Little by little? Lord, we've already waited so long!" Yet God knew that receiving the promise gradually was actually an act of mercy. The land would be given as they grew strong enough to possess it. God's timing was not punishment—it was preparation. Living in a culture of instant results can make waiting difficult. We want answers now, breakthroughs now, healing now, and fulfilled promises now. We often assume that if God is moving, everything should happen immediately. But what if we could see five years into the future? Would it encourage us, or would it overwhelm us? If I had known some of the trials I would face years ago, I might never have taken certain steps of faith. I may have avoided moving, traveling, pursuing graduate school, or even marrying the man I prayed for because I would have been afraid of the pain that accompanied those blessings. In trying to avoid hardship, I would have missed some of God's greatest gifts. The truth is that God often unfolds His plans one step at a time. He reveals what we need when we need it. He strengthens us for today's challenges before entrusting us with tomorrow's responsibilities. If something in your life seems delayed, don't mistake God's pace for God's absence. The same God who made the promise is faithfully working behind the scenes. He knows what you need, what you can carry, and when you are ready for the next step. So when impatience begins to rise and your heart longs for the "here and now," remember that God is still moving, still preparing, and still fulfilling His word. And He may be doing it little by little.

The Valley After Victory Wrong ways to deal with the lows: Right ways to deal with the lows:

"But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers." 1 Kings 19:4 Elijah prayed this desperate prayer after one of the greatest victories of his life. He had called fire down from heaven to consume a water-soaked sacrifice. He had witnessed God publicly prove His power before an entire nation. He had defeated hundreds of false prophets and prophesied the end of a devastating drought. Yet only a short time later, the same prophet who stood boldly on Mount Carmel sat alone beneath a juniper tree asking God to take his life. How could someone experience such a spiritual high and then fall into such a deep low? The answer is simple: spiritual victories do not exempt us from human struggles. Many of us know what it feels like to have a powerful Sunday service. We worship with passion, pray with faith, and leave church encouraged. We feel strong and victorious. Then Monday morning arrives. The bills are still due. Family challenges remain. Ministry pressures return. Temptations resurface. The mountain-top experience gives way to the reality of everyday life. Elijah's story reminds us that what we do in our low moments matters. 1. Isolation – Elijah went into the wilderness alone. 2. No Movement – He sits down by a tree. His movement is stalled. He becomes comfortable in his depression. 3. Attitude – "Let me die." Discouragement was his companion. Sometimes the ups and downs of your day can wreak havoc on your life. As Christians, we shouldn't base our walk with God on the public victories. 1. Socialize – Go out for coffee with a friend, invite people over, or go to a group Bible study. 2. Move Around – Go to the store, attend church, turn worship music on, and dance before the Lord. 3. Speak Faith – Encourage yourself in the Lord. Declare promises from the Word of God. Dismiss untruths from your mind. The beautiful part of Elijah's story is that God did not abandon him beneath the juniper tree. God met him there. He provided rest, nourishment, and direction for the journey ahead. God has a plan for you during the low times. And, just because you are not where you want to be, doesn't mean you are outside of the will of God. Continue to preserver and seek God's will.

When Favor Feels Like Failure

"But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive." Genesis 50:20 The story of Joseph is one of the most well-known accounts in Scripture. If you are unfamiliar with his life, I encourage you to spend some time this week reading Genesis 37–50. It is one of the most compelling stories in the Bible because it reveals the complexities of the human condition while showcasing the faithfulness of God. Joseph's life was marked by both extraordinary blessing and profound suffering. He was the son of Jacob and his beloved wife Rachel. From an early age, favor seemed to rest upon him. Yet when God began revealing His purpose through dreams, that favor became the source of jealousy, resentment, betrayal, and ultimately rejection by his own brothers. What happens when the favor of God wears the clothes of disappointment, betrayal, and abandonment? Joseph may have wondered: "If I am favored, why have I been rejected by my family? Why was I sold into slavery? Why was I falsely accused? Why was I thrown into prison? Why have I been forgotten?" Perhaps you have asked similar questions. Maybe you are living through a season that feels nothing like the promises God gave you. Maybe the path you are walking seems to contradict everything you thought God was doing in your life. You may wonder if God has forgotten you. But Joseph's story reminds us that God's silence is not His absence, and His delays are not His denials. Every pit, every prison, every betrayal, and every disappointment was preparing Joseph for the position God had already ordained for him. What looked like setbacks were actually steps in God's sovereign plan. Years later, Joseph could look back over the painful pieces of his life and declare, "You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good." The very things that seemed determined to destroy him became the instruments God used to save many people. Dear reader, God has not forgotten you. What feels like a detour may actually be divine preparation. God's promise will never expire. Be encouraged today that God is still working, even in the places where you cannot yet see His hand. I hope one day, like Joseph, you may look back and discover that God was weaving purpose through every painful chapter of your story. There is hope today, and in Jesus name, there will be favor, too.

The House Of My Friends You are deeply loved by God and worth fighting for. You are a warrior.

"And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends." Zechariah 13:6 If we're honest, every one of us carries wounds. Some are visible, but most are hidden deep within our hearts. Perhaps you have experienced betrayal, broken promises, rejection, or even abuse. The pain may have left scars that still ache when you remember what happened. Maybe when you look in the mirror, you don't see the woman God created you to be. Instead, you see someone damaged by past mistakes, hurtful words, or painful relationships. If that's you, I want you to know something today: you are more than the sum of your failures, you are more than the wounds others inflicted upon you, and you are more than the labels that have been spoken over your life. When I read Zechariah's prophecy, I am reminded that even Jesus bore wounds. The Savior of the world was betrayed by, not His enemies, but his friends. He was rejected by those He came to save, and abandoned in His darkest hour. He understands pain because He experienced it firsthand. What comforts me is that His wounds did not diminish His purpose; they became evidence of His victory. The same can be true for us. The scars you carry are reminders that you survived and they can testify that God sustained you through seasons that could have destroyed you. While God never intended for you to be defined by your pain, He can redeem every hurt and use it as part of your testimony. You are still standing, you are still believing, and you are still pursuing God despite what you've endured. That strength did not come from you alone, but it came from the God who has walked with you through every valley. The pain you have endured is not the end of your story. God has purpose for your life, and He can transform your deepest wounds into places of healing, compassion, and ministry. Whatever you are facing today, remember this: you are not alone. The God who bears scars understands yours, and the God who understands your wounds is also able to heal them.

Is That Honest? WISDOM FROM PROVERBS THE BEST POLICY AREAS OF HONESTY PERSONAL REFLECTION

"The integrity of the upright guides them, but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them." (Proverbs 11:3, ESV) While doing some research online recently, I came across an article that offered tips on how to tell convincing lies. One of the tips was to add a little truth to the story to make it sound credible. (That tip reminded me of the serpent talking to Eve in the garden.) Another suggestion said to keep the lie simple. Don't make it complicated. One article went on to say, "Everyone needs to tell a little fib every now and then." At first, this all sounded amusing, but then I thought how sad that dishonesty was considered acceptable behavior. We may say, "Honesty is the best policy," but we don't always live by that policy. If we become careless, little compromises, little white lies, little inconsistencies begin to slip in. We overlook that what we said or did was not completely honest. While shopping with an acquaintance, one of her items did not get scanned at checkout. Instead of pointing this out to the salesclerk so it could be corrected, she was excited to get something free. It was a small action, but it made me wonder what other things she found acceptable. Someone once remarked that "There are no degrees of honesty." We like to think there are "little things" like an unscanned item or perhaps too much change being returned. Then there are "big things" like robbing a bank or stealing a car. That assumption is incorrect. Luke 16:10 tells us: "One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much." (ESV) When we think about honesty, there are three areas that we should consider. First, we must be honest with God. Psalm 51:6 tells us that He desires "truth in the inward parts." Do we see our sin as God sees it, or do we excuse it a weakness, a slip-up, or mistake? Truth is needed because our heart is "deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked" (Jeremiah 17:9, KJV). Next, we must be honest with others. We can be dishonest by gossiping, telling half-truths, or subtly putting someone down to make ourselves look better. Perhaps we make promises and then never carry through. Or we can lie by just being silent when we should clarify a statement or refute an untruth. Ephesians 4:25 tells us, "Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another" (ESV). Finally, we must be honest with ourselves. Proverbs 16:2 says, "All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the spirit" (ESV). We do not always see ourselves in the same way as God sees us. We excuse our actions and convince ourselves that all is well. It's easy to justify our behaviors when we should be asking God to shine His spotlight on them and to reveal the truth. Like David, we should cry out, "Search me, O God" (Psalm 139:23). The apostle Paul wrote, "For we aim at what is honorable not only in the Lord's sight but also in the sight of man" (II Corinthians 8:21, ESV). We should strive for this goal as well. What are some everyday situations that challenge our honesty? What does honesty, or lack of honesty, reveal about our character? Does honesty affect our relationships with others? How? What are the blessings of being honest? What are the consequences of being dishonest? Devotion by Mary Loudermilk