Tuesday, March 16 - Miriam

Today's reading from the One Year Chronological reading plan is Deuteronomy 13-16:17.

I'll be following the SOAP format today, as this passage is an overview of things already covered previously. This is the verse that stuck out loud and clear for me as I read.

Scripture
It is the LORD your God you must follow, and him you must revere. Keep his commands and obey him; serve him and hold fast to him. Deuteronomy 13:4

Observation
We must keep our focus on God. I don't know if I've ever seen it put so succinctly before. This verse is very clear and simple to understand.

Application
There are so many things that can become "false gods" to us. We are easily distracted, changeable, faltering humans and it's sometimes so gradual for most of us that we hardly notice we're going astray. We must take care to keep the Lord and his Word as our compass - to check our direction against it regularly so that we're not going in circles. I believe that if we can spend time with him and with other believers and seek to follow his will in everything, we will find that we're less readily led off course by other distractions. Hold fast to him.

Prayer
Heavenly Father, bless our time as we study your Word. Give us wisdom and insight as we read. Help us to determine the truth and measure everything else against it so that we can learn how to follow only you and to revere you. Teach us your commands, so that we may keep them and obey. Help us to see where, when and how we can use the abilities and strengths you've given us to serve you. Teach us to hold fast to you, to trust you never to let us down and to care about us when we feel no one else does. Help us to remember that it is not ours to understand why but to trust that you are God. In Jesus' name I pray; Amen.

Tomorrow`s passage: Deuteronomy 16:18-21:9