Daily Bible Study Devotional
Message Title: Overcoming The Bungles
Date: Wednesday January 04, 2012
Today's Chapters: Genesis 13-17
Preview of Today's Message: God really does not want to see us suffer, He will do anything for anyone as long as they believe in Him. He knows we are going to bungle things up sometimes, but He is always there to help us overcome our bugles. All Scripture quoted from the King James Version, verses in red are quoted by Jesus.

Hello My Friend,

“Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass...For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth; and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off. The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.” - Psalm 37:7,22-24. Let's face it, we all have bungled some things up in our lives, intending to do the right thing. You know, we should not count them as failures, but as lessons learned. So, we messed up, we suffered a bit, but we cannot hold on to things of the past, we need to move forward, rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him. He knows our heart, He also knows our flesh, He hates our flesh, but He loves us, He knows we are going to mess up, but He is there to catch us when we fall, every time we fall.

You think that the father of many nations did not make a few bungles in his lifetime. Of course he did, he had flesh too, God records bungles so we can see that even when we mess up He never gives up on us. Now, when we choose to do things our way He will hider us from receiving the full blessings He has in store for us, but He waits patiently until we do what we are supposed be doing. Which is what He did with Abram several times, the first being his bringing his nephew Lot with him, God commanded that he bring no one with him, but he chose to bring Lot and until they were apart God withheld some things from Abram.

“And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold. And he went on his journeys from the south even to Bethel, unto the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Hai; Unto the place of the altar, which he had made there at the first: and there Abram called on the name of the LORD. And Lot also, which went with Abram, had flocks, and herds, and tents. And the land was not able to bear them, that they might dwell together: for their substance was great, so that they could not dwell together...And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever.” - Genesis 13:2-6,14,15.

God waited until Abram was separated from Lot until He revealed all the blessings that He had for him. God knew that Lot would be a problem for Abram had he known all of what God had in store for him as Lot was quick to choose the land he would dwell on by sight. God is a faith by the unseen God, not a faith by sight God. How many times have we been deceived by our eyes? The greatest things in the world are the things we cannot see. “For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.” - Romans 1:20,21.

At the age of seventy-five God promised to Abram that He would make him a father of so many that it would be like trying to count the stars in the sky. Now, years had come to pass and Abram still had no son, Sarai was well above the age to have a child so, Sarai thought perhaps God did not mean that the child would come from me. She came up with a plan to give Abram a child.

“Now Sarai Abram's wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar. And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the LORD hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai. And Sarai Abram's wife took Hagar her maid the Egyptian, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife. And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived: and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes. And Sarai said unto Abram, My wrong be upon thee: I have given my maid into thy bosom; and when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her eyes: the LORD judge between me and thee. But Abram said unto Sarai, Behold, thy maid is in thy hand; do to her as it pleaseth thee. And when Sarai dealt hardly with her, she fled from her face.” -Genesis 16:1-6.

Abram knew that God meant what He said, but instead of letting God make the decision as to who would bare his seed, he chose to listen to the influence of Sarai. You know, they say that a man is the head of the house, but even when the world began women have been influencing men to commit sin? Ladies, we have major power, but that does not mean that we are to use that power to influence men to commit sin. It is very important that women realize that they are to guide their men in the right direction. Now, do not get me wrong, a man can have just as much influence on a woman, I am proof of that, but it was no excuse for me to do what I knew deep down was the wrong thing to do. We must trust God's decisions, He knows what is best for us, He never goes back on His promises, but unless we do things His way we slow Him down and cause unnecessary suffering upon ourselves. Unless we have faith in His promises we cannot receive them. “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” - Hebrews 11:1,6.

Do you think God gave up on Abram because he went against His will? Of course not. When God has a purpose for us He will use us, even if we mess up sometimes. After they bungled things up Abram went to God and asked for forgiveness, just as God promised He reminded him that his wife would bare the child and that He would be the father of many nations.

“And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect. And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly. And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying, As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations. Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee...And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God...And God said unto Abraham, As for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall her name be. And I will bless her, and give thee a son also of her: yea, I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of people shall be of her.” - Genesis 17:1-5,8,15,16.

Abraham means, “father of many”, Sarah means “little princess”. One of the great tests of our faith is waiting patiently for God. It may take two days, weeks, years, or as in Abraham's situation, 25 years for God to fulfill the promises He makes to us. Usually the reason God makes us wait so long for what He promises is that we get in the way of His plan. Every time we walk out of His will to help Him along with our own reasoning He takes a step back and waits for us to realize that we were wrong. The key to overcoming our bungles is Jesus, I know we are full of guilt and shame when we mess up, but we are forgiven, children of the living God through His Son. “Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;” - Ephesians 1:5-7.

Today's Psalm: “They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the LORD was my stay.” - Psalm 18:18.
Today's Proverb: “Good understanding giveth favour: but the way of transgressors is hard.” -13:15
Today's Prayer: God, I feel such deep gratitude when I consider how patient You are when I bungle things up for You. You don’t toss me aside and move on to a more deserving person, but You continue to come alongside me and Your Word continues to renew my hope day by day. May I be forgiving even as You continually forgive me. May Your divine grace bring the virtues of forgiveness, forbearance and love together in perfect unity so that Your peace dwells in my heart daily. Lead me and guide me in Your truths, help me to have complete faith in Your decisions and understanding of what they are. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Enjoy the rest of your day/night.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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