Eating My Fill Selfishly

This year I am attempting to read through the Bible in a year again. I have to admit that some mornings when my eyes are tired and my brain isn’t fully functioning yet, that I have a hard time comprehending everything, but I can honestly say it is one of the most rewarding things as well. Not that I do it solely for that purpose – but truly, God teaches me so much about HIS story of redemption!

I just finished up Deuteronomy. There are certain verses that I immediately stop and can’t move past until I put some more thought into them. For some reason, the verse below hit me hard:

In Deuteronomy 31: 20 it says of the Israelites who are about to enter the promised land: “When I have brought them into the land flowing with milk and honey, the land I promised on oath to their forefathers, and when they eat their fill and thrive, they will turn to other gods and worship them, rejecting me and breaking my covenant.”

I know, a real positive verse to have in your head all day, right? Well, that is exactly what happened and I know God left it in my head for a reason too. When I think about the Israelites and what was ahead of them, wow. I stand in awe of the gifts God was ready to give them – the PROMISE LAND! Hello! Can you imagine? Then you read vs. 20 and realize that it all wasn’t as it was to be.

Read the verse again.

I look at my own life. When I eat my fill and thrive, who do I turn to? Do I right away thank God who blessed us so richly with an abundance of food? Or do I look at the paychecks that helped pay for the food and look upon myself? When I drive to town to run errands and drive really wherever I want, do I turn to God and thank Him for my mode of transportation? When I look in my husband’s eyes and realize how blessed I am to have a husband like him, yet fail to thank God daily for the blessing of a faithful, loving, and trusting husband, I selfishly live my life on my own.

How often am I too, like the Israelites? Things are all fine and dandy and I find that it is during those times, that I fail to nourish my relationship with my Savior to the best of my abilities. I start to ignore the daily blessings and just live life like I deserve them. In our deepest of struggles, those moments when we didn’t know which way to turn, it was in those times that we have felt closest to God (even though at times He felt so far away). I can honestly say sometimes I miss those intimate moments with God. Do I miss the situations? No. But do I miss my passion for solely seeking Him? Yes. Why do I fail to seek God with that same passion, when things seem to be “flowing with milk and honey”? Because I know my own selfishness and DIY attitude get in the way.

Reading through the Bible in a year has challenged me to realize that I can’t do it alone. Everyday, I need God. Wholeheartedly and absolutely. No turning to the right or to the left. God graciously accepts me back, when I think I can do it alone. And He continues to love me, care for me, and embrace me as His child. What a gift and what a blessing.

This is just one teeny-tiny lesson God has taught me thus far this year…I challenge you too, to dig into His Word – you’d be shocked at what verses He uses to challenge and change your life!