Good morning. It’s Tuesday, February 3rd, aka National Missing Persons Day.

🥳 Congratulations on starting today with God, and thank you for letting us be a part of it.

— Deuteronomy 8:2

Deuteronomy 8:2 (NIV) says,

“Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would obey him.”

In this verse, Moses is speaking directly to the Israelites. God humbled and tested them to reveal what was really in their hearts and whether they would obey Him. Not only is Moses talking to the Israelites here, maybe he’s also talking to us too.

To understand this better, here’s what the verses before and after say:

Deuteronomy 8:1 (NIV)

“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 the Lord promised on oath to your ancestors.”

Deuteronomy 8:3 (NIV)

“He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors 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.”

Even though Moses was talking to the Israelites, this verse can speak to us too.

We can also remember how God leads us through the “wilderness.

We can also understand that it’s to humble and test us in order for God to know what’s in our heart, whether or not we would obey him.

God still leads us through “wilderness” times, when life is hard or uncertain, to show what is really in our hearts.

These moments teach us to trust Him and follow His ways.

Like the Israelites, we can see that God is guiding us to grow, not to punish us.

We also know what happened to the Israelites after this verse. They trusted God, continued their journey, and eventually entered the Promised Land as He had promised, showing that God’s testing and guidance prepared them for the blessings ahead.

Looking at all this, we see that this verse is a reminder that God’s tests are not punishment. He humbles and tests us to reveal what is in our hearts, just as He did with the Israelites in the wilderness.

When you’re not sure how to pray, A.C.T.S. gives you a simple path to follow: Adore, Confess, Thank, and Ask.

Adoration: God, you are faithful and guiding.

Confession: Forgive me for doubting or relying on myself.

Thanksgiving: Thank you for your care and provision.

Supplication: Help me trust you and follow your ways.

In Jesus name, Amen

“Every Hour” by Sunday Service Choir & Kanye West

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Thanks for letting us be a part of how you start your day with God.

See you tomorrow,

Zach | Start With God