Trusting God's Path: Embracing Spiritual Growth and Change

Devotional

Day 1: Trusting God's Detours

God's path for us is not always the shortest or the easiest. In Exodus 13 and 14, God led the Israelites out of Egypt through the wilderness instead of the shorter route to avoid potential discouragement from encountering war. This teaches us that God's ways are higher than ours, and we must trust His plans even when they seem inconvenient or difficult. Trusting God means believing that His detours are for our ultimate good. When we face unexpected turns in our lives, we should remember that God sees the bigger picture and is guiding us for our benefit. [01:27]

Isaiah 55:8-9 (ESV): "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."

Reflection: Think of a recent situation where things did not go as planned. How can you trust that God's detour is for your ultimate good?

Day 2: Breaking from the Past

Moses taking Joseph's bones with him symbolized a complete break from the past and a commitment to God's future promises. This act showed Pharaoh that the Israelites were not returning. Similarly, our spiritual decisions should signify to the enemy that we are not going back to our old ways. When we make a definitive break from our past, we demonstrate our commitment to God's promises and our new life in Him. This act of faith is a powerful testimony to others and a declaration of our trust in God's future for us. [03:28]

2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV): "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come."

Reflection: Is there a part of your past that you need to let go of to fully embrace God's future promises? What steps can you take today to make a definitive break from it?

Day 3: Trusting God in All Circumstances

God led the Israelites to the Red Sea to demonstrate His power and to teach them to trust Him in both good and bad times. Philippians 1:6 reminds us that God, who began a good work in us, will complete it. This "good work" is worthwhile and part of His divine approval. Trusting God in all circumstances means believing that He is in control and that He will complete the work He has started in us, no matter how impossible the situation may seem. [05:29]

Isaiah 41:10 (ESV): "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

Reflection: Think of a challenging situation you are currently facing. How can you remind yourself to trust that God is in control and will complete the good work He has started in you?

Day 4: The Principle of Resistance

Resistance is necessary for growth and prevents passivity. Just as Adam and Eve had to work the garden, we must face challenges to grow spiritually. God uses resistance to teach us how to deal with difficulties and to strengthen our faith. Embracing resistance as a part of our spiritual journey helps us to develop resilience and a deeper trust in God. It is through these challenges that we learn to rely on His strength and wisdom. [12:35]

James 1:2-4 (ESV): "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you are currently facing resistance? How can you view this challenge as an opportunity for spiritual growth?

Day 5: Emotional and Faith Postures

Moses instructed the Israelites not to be afraid and to stand still, which means to let go and trust God. This is echoed in 2 Kings 6:16, where Elisha reassures his servant that those with them are more than those against them. Maintaining a posture of faith and trust, even in dire circumstances, allows us to experience God's deliverance and peace. Letting go of fear and standing firm in faith is crucial for experiencing God's power and provision in our lives. [22:27]

Psalm 46:10 (ESV): "Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!"

Reflection: In what area of your life do you need to let go of fear and stand still in faith? How can you practice this posture of trust today?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Today, we delved into the importance of maintaining a proper spiritual posture, especially during challenging times. We explored Exodus 13 and 14, where God led the Israelites out of Egypt, not through the shortest route but through the wilderness, to avoid potential discouragement from encountering war. This teaches us that God's ways are not always our ways, but His plans are always for our good. We must trust Him even when we don't understand His methods.

We also discussed the significance of Moses taking Joseph's bones with him, symbolizing a definitive break from the past and a commitment to moving forward. This act demonstrated to Pharaoh that the Israelites were not coming back, just as our spiritual decisions should show the enemy that we are not returning to our old ways.

In Exodus 14, we saw how God led the Israelites to the Red Sea, a seemingly impossible situation. Yet, this was part of God's plan to demonstrate His power and to teach the Israelites to trust Him in both good and bad times. Philippians 1:6 reminds us that God, who began a good work in us, will complete it. This "good work" is worthwhile and part of His divine approval, much like His creation in Genesis.

We also touched on the principle of resistance, as seen in Genesis 1:28 and 2:15, where God commands us to be fruitful and to tend the garden. Resistance is necessary for growth and prevents passivity. Just as Adam and Eve had to work the garden, we must face challenges to grow spiritually.

Finally, we emphasized the importance of emotional and faith postures. Moses instructed the Israelites not to be afraid and to stand still, which means to let go and trust God. This is echoed in 2 Kings 6:16, where Elisha reassures his servant that those with them are more than those against them. Maintaining a posture of faith and trust, even in dire circumstances, allows us to experience God's deliverance and peace.

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Key Takeaways

1. God's Path is Not Always the Shortest: God led the Israelites through the wilderness instead of the shorter route to avoid potential discouragement. This teaches us that God's ways are higher than ours, and we must trust His plans even when they seem inconvenient or difficult. Trusting God means believing that His detours are for our ultimate good. [01:27]
2. Breaking from the Past: Moses taking Joseph's bones symbolized a complete break from the past and a commitment to God's future promises. This act showed Pharaoh that the Israelites were not returning. Similarly, our spiritual decisions should signify to the enemy that we are not going back to our old ways. [03:28]
3. Trusting God in All Circumstances: God led the Israelites to the Red Sea to demonstrate His power and to teach them to trust Him in both good and bad times. Philippians 1:6 reminds us that God, who began a good work in us, will complete it. This "good work" is worthwhile and part of His divine approval. [05:29]
4. The Principle of Resistance: Resistance is necessary for growth and prevents passivity. Just as Adam and Eve had to work the garden, we must face challenges to grow spiritually. God uses resistance to teach us how to deal with difficulties and to strengthen our faith. [12:35]
5. Emotional and Faith Postures: Moses instructed the Israelites not to be afraid and to stand still, which means to let go and trust God. This is echoed in 2 Kings 6:16, where Elisha reassures his servant that those with them are more than those against them. Maintaining a posture of faith and trust, even in dire circumstances, allows us to experience God's deliverance and peace. [22:27]
### [22:27]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:27] - Importance of Spiritual Posture
[00:57] - God's Unconventional Paths
[01:27] - Trusting God's Plan
[01:57] - Moses and Joseph's Bones
[02:27] - Pharaoh's Realization
[03:28] - Breaking from the Past
[04:28] - God Leads to the Red Sea
[05:29] - Trusting God in All Circumstances
[06:30] - The Worthwhile Work of God
[07:31] - God's Approval in Our Growth
[08:31] - Continuous Creation and Growth
[09:01] - God's Revelation and Our Plans
[10:05] - Israel's Complaints and God's Plan
[11:35] - The Principle of Resistance
[12:35] - Tending the Garden
[14:47] - Victory Through Challenges
[19:52] - Emotional Posture: Do Not Be Afraid
[22:27] - Faith Posture: Stand Still
[31:24] - Letting Go and Letting God
[34:26] - Trusting in God's Provision
[37:53] - Being Loose on the Inside
[40:41] - Visualizing God's Salvation
[41:26] - Peace as Confirmation of Victory
[43:54] - Closing Prayer

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What route did God choose for the Israelites when they left Egypt, and why did He choose this route? ([00:57])
What was the significance of Moses taking Joseph's bones with him during the Exodus? ([01:57])
How did God demonstrate His power to the Israelites at the Red Sea, and what was Moses' instruction to the people? ([04:58])
According to Philippians 1:6, what assurance do we have about the work God has begun in us? ([05:29])

Interpretation Questions

Why might God choose a more challenging path for us instead of the easiest one? How does this reflect His understanding of our needs? ([01:27])
What does the act of taking Joseph's bones symbolize in terms of breaking from the past and moving forward in faith? ([03:28])
How does the principle of resistance, as seen in Genesis 1:28 and 2:15, apply to our spiritual growth and development? ([12:35])
What does it mean to maintain a posture of faith and trust in God, especially in difficult circumstances? How does this posture impact our experience of God's deliverance and peace? ([22:27])

Application Questions

Reflect on a time when God led you on a path that seemed more difficult than necessary. How did you respond, and what did you learn from that experience? ([01:27])
Are there any "bones of Joseph" in your life—past commitments or decisions that signify a break from your old ways? How do these decisions impact your current spiritual journey? ([03:28])
When facing a seemingly impossible situation, like the Israelites at the Red Sea, how can you remind yourself to trust in God's plan and power? ([04:58])
How do you handle resistance and challenges in your spiritual life? Can you identify a recent challenge that helped you grow stronger in your faith? ([12:35])
What steps can you take to maintain a posture of faith and trust in God, especially when you feel overwhelmed by fear or doubt? ([22:27])
Think of a current situation where you need to "stand still" and trust God. What does "letting go and letting God" look like in this context? ([31:49])
How can you cultivate a sense of peace and security in God's promises, even when external circumstances are challenging? What practical steps can you take to focus on God's faithfulness? ([41:26])

Sermon Clips

1. "God just does that. He can do that. He's God. So he can do whatever he wants to do. So we don't understand what he's doing. We don't have to understand it. We just have to trust him. Have to do it. And so anyway, so he's doing that. So God led the people around by the way of the wilderness and the Red Sea and the children of Israel went up in orderly ranks and out of the land of Egypt." [01:27] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "You need to sometimes you got to do something and the things that God is lending you to is like taking the bones of Joseph because you're not going back to where you used to be. You're not going back to the place where you used to be. And so I just love that. I just threw it up there. I'm not going to teach you on the whole thing of it. And so I don't know. Sometimes we just need to do that and realize that God did that." [03:28] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "We have to trust the Lord in the good times. We have to trust the Lord in the bad times. We just have to trust God when we like where we're at. We have to trust God when we don't like where we're at. And sometimes we just got to trust God. Okay. Because he who has begun a good work. Now I love this good work here word because that word good work there is means worthwhile. He who has begun a worthwhile work if you will, in you." [06:00] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "God sees our growth and grace as something good. He sees us growing while we're at that place because we grow in that place. Now, it's not always just a bad place. Sometimes it's a good place. But he's working a good work in us, a worthwhile work in us, and it is good. We love that part in Genesis, everything God created, it is good, it is good, it is good, he doesn't stop. God is forever creating. And he's always creating us." [08:01] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "Sometimes when we start having problems, we think the initial is the official. We believe the worst first, but whenever there's problems, and we believe that God is leading us, we believe that God is giving us revelation, then we just have to trust God. And this is what's happened with them here. They're, they're, they're going through this, they're going through this process. But God, good thing about problems, that God has a plan for the problem. The plan for the problem is resistance." [11:05] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6. "Whenever you begin to have proper spiritual posture thank you you learn that during difficult times. You don't learn it, I'm sorry and trust me, I've searched the scriptures from kiver to kiver it's cover to cover it's been funny. Trying to make you forget about my proper, proper. We learn proper posture during difficult times. These people by the time the children of Israel by the time they make it to and of course we realize it's an entire different generation, but by the time they made it they understood their the posture that they're supposed to be in through everything that God allowed them to go through." [17:09] (62 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7. "The first posture I want to tell you is is an emotional posture. It's very important what kind of emotional posture you're going to have. What kind of emotional approach what kind of emotional attitude you're going to have. And the first one is do not be afraid. What's the opposite of fear? It's all about participation. You can say that. What's the opposite of fear? Faith. Faith. And so you're the first here comes these guys after them with everything they have here everything you said yes God to you're at this place God has led you children here husband there wife there finances here all this kind of stuff you're doing and then the enemy just comes just comes rushing in and when the enemy comes in what's your posture going to be?" [20:27] (63 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8. "The one thing that I want to say the one thing Jesus taught us though that he had a good posture on the good day he had the exact same good posture on the bad day right? because he had his faith he had his trust he just and that's that's what we have to do and let me say this whenever we learn how to do that and we learn how to do that the spirit of God obviously is helping us he helps us along the way it's his grace it's his grace that is with us and he equips us to do it he even he even his grace is a gift." [26:16] (52 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

9. "The gift of faith is not only you receive it by by hearing the word reading the word singing the word whatever you do to get the word in it but the gift of faith is that which supersedes I'm going to say it regular faith which means what he gives you faith to believe things for stuff that you ordinarily wouldn't believe God for and if you have faith then that faith is attached to trust so now you're going to trust God for stuff or in situations you wouldn't ordinarily trust God for here's the third one come to me he's going to give you what you need to get through something that you ordinarily wouldn't have got through right." [27:32] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

10. "No matter how bad the situation is on the outside do not look don't let the enemy get you bound up on the inside that's the battle can't control the other stuff if you can do something about it if you can't don't worry about it knowing my God shall deliver me somebody needs to hear this tonight because it's just you just do and so I do we all do whether everything's great I mean I'm just saying so anyway so we know what happened these men oh here's what I want to say verse 20 when you do that which they were in verse 21 they were bound on the outside but on the inside they went to meet us." [38:32] (51 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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