Today's Scripture Reading (March 14, 2025): Deuteronomy 26
I have been giving a lot of thought to how we phrase things. I have a friend who is struggling with life. He has convinced himself that he can't achieve what he wants in life. And I get it. I remember when I felt the same way. And I remember the moment when I decided that I was going to do something. At the time, I made a few decisions for my own life.
The first thing I decided was regardless of whether I thought I was going to succeed, I was going to persist. Honestly, this blog grew out of a decision that I would persist in doing something. If I was going to fail, it couldn't be because I didn't try. It is something that I have to remind myself of every day. Don't give up or hide in a video game or under the covers. Do it! Work at it! Decide that even if you fail, you will not stop trying.
Another thing I decided was that I needed to name the challenges I was facing. We can only overcome the obstacles we are willing to name and confront. If we ignore the challenges, the reality is that they will always be with us. But if we confront the challenges, we at least have a chance to devise a solution to get us past the challenge permanently. For me, part of the challenge was my education. I desperately wanted to get my Master's Degree in Theology. I remember a conversation with an American University I wanted to attend to get my Master's Degree. The rep from the University (Northwest Nazarene University – NNU) in Idaho was blunt: I would never be able to get my Master's Degree. I wasn't smart enough. It was a challenge, and I named it until I earned my Master's degree a few years later. I found the solution only because I recognized the challenge, and yes, a big part of me would love to find that adviser at NNU and wave my degree in front of him. This blog post is likely the closest I will ever get to doing that.
We also need to break the task up into manageable steps. We never make any journey worth chasing in a single leap; I am not Superman, leaping buildings in a single jump. But I can make steps toward the goal regularly. I may not reach my goal quickly, but I will get there.
I really believe that last point, I will get there, and so will you. Believe it, picture it, and know you can do it, even when people on the outside doubt it. People doubting me has been a major driver in my life. I admit it.
I love what Moses tells Israel here. Deuteronomy is made up of the last addresses of Moses to the People of Israel. Entrance into the Promised Land is now just around the corner. Moses knows he will not be making the journey, although part of me thinks that Moses will watch from his perch on a mountain as he sees the people enter the Promised Land. There are still many challenges in front of this nation of the formerly enslaved. Giants are in the land, and even the river they must cross is at flood stage. Israel doesn't know all of the challenges that lay ahead. Yet, Moses makes this statement. "When you have entered the land the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance." There is no question here. You will enter the land. There have been a lot of small steps and even some missteps. Yet, there is certainty in Moses's mind: this will happen. And when you cross into the land God is giving you, this is what I want you to remember.
Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Deuteronomy 27
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