Foursquare Gospel Church in Nigeria Grace for Living Devotional Saturday October 28, 2023 TOPIC: WHAT'S GOD GOT TO DO WITH IT?

BIBLE READING:

2 KINGS 3:1-10

1 Now Jehoram the son of Ahab began to reign over Israel in Samaria the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and reigned twelve years. 2 And he wrought evil in the sight of the Lord; but not like his father, and like his mother: for he put away the image of Baal that his father had made. 3 Nevertheless he cleaved unto the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which made Israel to sin; he departed not therefrom. 4 And Mesha king of Moab was a sheepmaster, and rendered unto the king of Israel an hundred thousand lambs, and an hundred thousand rams, with the wool. 5 But it came to pass, when Ahab was dead, that the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel. 6 And king Jehoram went out of Samaria the same time, and numbered all Israel. 7 And he went and sent to Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, saying, The king of Moab hath rebelled against me: wilt thou go with me against Moab to battle? And he said, I will go up: I am as thou art, my people as thy people, and my horses as thy horses. 8 And he said, Which way shall we go up? And he answered, The way through the wilderness of Edom. 9 So the king of Israel went, and the king of Judah, and the king of Edom: and they fetched a compass of seven days' journey: and there was no water for the host, and for the cattle that followed them. 10 And the king of Israel said, Alas! that the Lord hath called these three kings together, to deliver them into the hand of Moab!  

KEY VERSE:

“What! Exclaimed the king of Israel. "Has the Lord called us three kings together only to hand us over to Moab?” 2 Kings 3:10  

MEDITATION:

Why would Joram grouch about God being responsible for the crisis he, and his allies got themselves into?  After all, at the onset, they didn't consult God about the expedition. They were cocksure they had a formidable confederate army. They were confident in the strategy they'd come up with. They had more than enough resources to last them for the campaign.   

After one week of going in cycles, with no water for the men and the animals, in a dry season and in a dry land, it dawned on them that they were in dire straits. Interestingly, Joram's first attempt at being God conscious was to blame God for "putting them in trouble."  

Isn’t it amazing how often we do the same thing? We take decisions, make investments, get into relationships, and strike business deals, without thinking it necessary to consult with God.  

We think we've got it altogether. We are well-informed, adequately resourced, well-connected, self-sufficient and advantaged. And then, suddenly, the cookie crumbles. That's when our consciousness of God gets reawakened. We cry out, “Lord, why me, where is your face, why did you let me get myself into this?” Oh, shush! What has God got to do with it? God is so gracious, and most often, He comes to our rescue!   

How often have we chosen to live ungodly, and later turn around to blame God? Do we deliberately factor God into our consciousness and daily lives?  

PRAYER:

Dear Lord, deliver me from trusting my abilities, so I don’t lose consciousness of you in all my endeavors.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:

JEREMIAH 11-13, 1 TIMOTHY 3