September 3, 2013 … Following God’s Cloud

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2013 - Day 246

Devotional Song: Go to this link  ...  Please take in this poignant and pertinent song sung by Alison Krauss, leading in worship and singing the old hymn Be Thou My Vision, encouraging us to make the Lord’s way our vision rather than seeking our way in life.

Highlight meditation passage – Numbers 9: 21 [with verses 20-22] [NLT]: …  
20 Sometimes the cloud would stay over the Tabernacle for only a few days, so the people would stay for only a few days, as the LORD commanded. Then at the LORD’s command they would break camp and move on. 21 Sometimes the cloud stayed only overnight and lifted the next morning. But day or night, when the cloud lifted, the people broke camp and moved on. 22 Whether the cloud stayed above the Tabernacle for two days, a month, or a year, the people of Israel stayed in camp and did not move on. But as soon as it lifted, they broke camp and moved on. 
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 Highlight reading study of Numbers, Chapters 9: Go to this link …

Reference Passage #1: Proverbs 3: 5-6 [God moves; we follow = wisdom!] … [NLT] …  
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. 6 Seek his will in all you do, and he will direct your paths.

Reference Passage #1: Proverbs 19: 21 [Our plans = God’s plans = Our Destiny!] … [NLT] …  
21 You can make many plans, but the LORD’s purpose will prevail. 

My Journal for Today: Today Os Hillman’s devotional in Numbers, Chapter 9, took me back to the time when the Israelites where wandering in the wilderness, with God taking them to the Promised Land; and The Lord showed them His way by leading them in a cloud. God moved in the cloud; and Moses faithfully followed, … with the people following Moses.

The image and the message are clear for all of God’s people; aren’t they? How many times, does God’s word paint the picture that He wants to lead His children where we, when we follow Him, will always be going in the right direction … HIS DIRECTION?

You may remember one of my most repeated word pictures in my devotional journal entries, as I ask the question, … ”Would you rather plow through a minefield, blindly on your own; or would it be wiser to follow someone with a mine detector, … one who will lead us through the minefield without risk?”

Of course, the answer is a no-brainer, isn’t it?

Well, ask yourself today, … “Am I following THE ONE Who knows where all the mines are (i.e., God’s Spirit)?” Or put another way, … “Am I following God’s cloud toward my promised land; or am I trying to wander through the minefield of life aimlessly on my own?” 

When we have honest answers to those questions, we’ll know what we need to do to get a course correction and to stay on track in following Christ through today’s minefield. Go back and meditate on today’s devotional song, sung by Allison Kraus, linked above, for your direction-finding; and then let’s pray for God to lead us, carefully as we follow Him today.

My Prayer for Today … Lord, I pray that prayer which I so often pray; … please shine Your light so brightly on my path today that I can’t help but see the way in following Your will. … Amen