40 Days of Encouragement
Dr Jim Brown's TruNorth Devotional
40 Days of Encouragement
Day 19 | OUR GOD-GIVEN IMAGINATION
40 Days of Encouragement
Day 19 | OUR GOD-GIVEN IMAGINATION
OUR GOD-GIVEN IMAGINATION
Deuteronomy 31:6
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Can you remember being afraid of the dark when you were a kid? When we’re little our imaginations can run away with us, especially if the lights are out! We can imagine all kinds of things lurking in the dark, around the corner, and even in our own bedrooms!
Our imagination – a God-given gift – allows us to “dream up” all kinds of creative things. With it, we can imagine a remodeling of our home, a new haircut, the design of a new bridge or a new career. Our imaginations are amazing and can be used very positively.
Conversely, they can become very pessimistic and lead us into FEAR.
Now let me ask you. In the spiritual realm, WHO wants you to use your imagination for positive, productive faith-filled thoughts, and WHO wants you to use your imagination for negative, fear-raising thoughts? (You know the answer!)
The context of today’s verse from Deuteronomy is that Moses is telling the Israelites that he won’t be going with them and leading them into the Promised Land. Imagine the shock after 40 years of following Moses. They were afraid and even terrified.
But then Moses reminds them that the LORD your God goes with you, and HE will NEVER leave you or forsake you.
What are YOU facing today? Probably nothing as earth-shaking as what Moses had just told his followers… but maybe just as fear-raising for YOU. Perhaps you’re facing a health issue or a family issue or some other scare. Let me suggest you don’t allow your imagination to conjure up ALL the negative “what if’s.” Instead, re-read this verse a time or two or ten … and remind yourself that this verse is for YOU.
Prayer: LORD, thank You for going with me and not leaving me through ALL that I go through in life. I will be strong and courageous! Amen.
Deuteronomy 31:6
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Can you remember being afraid of the dark when you were a kid? When we’re little our imaginations can run away with us, especially if the lights are out! We can imagine all kinds of things lurking in the dark, around the corner, and even in our own bedrooms!
Our imagination – a God-given gift – allows us to “dream up” all kinds of creative things. With it, we can imagine a remodeling of our home, a new haircut, the design of a new bridge or a new career. Our imaginations are amazing and can be used very positively.
Conversely, they can become very pessimistic and lead us into FEAR.
Now let me ask you. In the spiritual realm, WHO wants you to use your imagination for positive, productive faith-filled thoughts, and WHO wants you to use your imagination for negative, fear-raising thoughts? (You know the answer!)
The context of today’s verse from Deuteronomy is that Moses is telling the Israelites that he won’t be going with them and leading them into the Promised Land. Imagine the shock after 40 years of following Moses. They were afraid and even terrified.
But then Moses reminds them that the LORD your God goes with you, and HE will NEVER leave you or forsake you.
What are YOU facing today? Probably nothing as earth-shaking as what Moses had just told his followers… but maybe just as fear-raising for YOU. Perhaps you’re facing a health issue or a family issue or some other scare. Let me suggest you don’t allow your imagination to conjure up ALL the negative “what if’s.” Instead, re-read this verse a time or two or ten … and remind yourself that this verse is for YOU.
Prayer: LORD, thank You for going with me and not leaving me through ALL that I go through in life. I will be strong and courageous! Amen.