Thursday Reading: Genesis 32 1-8
Key Verse: Genesis 32 7
7 Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed, and he divided the people with him, and the flocks and herds, and the camels, into two bands.
Devotion:
How many times have you done something rash because you were stressed out! How many times have you got to the point where you cannot possibly take any more and you go and do something stupid – or maybe it was the first time you were up against it and you did something stupid anyway! When we get get stressed up about anything, our logic tends to fly out of the window and we are no longer fully in control of ourselves.
Key Verse: Genesis 32 7
7 Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed, and he divided the people with him, and the flocks and herds, and the camels, into two bands.
Devotion:
How many times have you done something rash because you were stressed out! How many times have you got to the point where you cannot possibly take any more and you go and do something stupid – or maybe it was the first time you were up against it and you did something stupid anyway! When we get get stressed up about anything, our logic tends to fly out of the window and we are no longer fully in control of ourselves.
When we get worried about things, we don't tend to think like we would normally. Most times we begin to think the worst of every situation and can only see the bad ways out; giving in and accepting what we think is the lessor of the bad ways! But if we were to be able to think straight, we probably would see the best way out of our situation and to be able to move forward in that manner. But because of our stressful situation, we have lost sight in that which is good.
When Jacob was coming back to face his brother Esau, he was really worried that Esau would be upset with him. So much so, in fact, that when he heard 400 men were coming to greet him, he assumed it would be an army coming against him. He got so worried with that fact that he sent drove after drove of presents to try and appease Esau. But his first act was to split the people into two groups just so that one group may survive. What he had lost sight of was the good.
He had lost sight of the fact that God had told him to return and that should have been all that he had to worry about. When God does get us to do something, it should be good enough for us. We should trust Him totally in what He has asked us to do. If God is behind it, what could possibly go wrong – everything when we get hold of it! We are the ones messing things up because of our stress and worry when we should be leaving it up to God!
Points to Ponder:
What stresses you out most in life?
What stresses you out most in life?
Have you tried giving that to God?