Feb. 10 – Deuteronomy 8:1-20 – “to know what was in your heart”

Why? Why are we here? Why did that happen? Why? We often want to know the purpose behind the events in our life or even the purpose to life in general. (In case you’re still seeking the answer to the last one: we are here on earth simply to “Glorify God” – 1 Peter 4:11; 1 Corin. 10:31). God decided that Israel should wander the wilderness for 40 years because of their lack of trust in Him to give them land He already promised them. Sounds pretty extreme. Well, he wasn’t merely punishing them. He wanted to really know and prove if what they said with their lips was really what was in their hearts. He knew their hearts and He wanted them to see it too. Do they really love God or do they love what God can do for them? He wanted them to truly embrace how good God was going to bless them (“…so in the end He might cause you to prosper” v. 16). God wanted the best for them. Perhaps they wouldn’t know how good it was unless they knew how bad it could be.  God wants to know what’s in your heart. He wants you to know what’s in your heart. Not everything that happens to us is because God is testing us. Most things happen because we are sinful people living among sinful people. We sin making bad decisions and earn those consequences. Other people sin making bad decisions and we get hit. That stinks. Sin brought death and so the world decays and our health, wealth, and relationships groan towards its chaotic destination. Yet it’s not all for nothing. God will certainly take the occasion to point out some lessons for us to learn and present us with the better alternatives. So ask yourself “no matter what’s going on in your life, what’s going on in your heart?”

Prayer Starter: Heavenly Father, there are some things going on in my life and in this world that don’t make sense. Help me to focus less on the situations that I can’t change and more time on my heart. Show me the lessons you are wanting me to learn during these moments. Reveal what’s in my heart. Thank you for letting me talk with you through Jesus Christ’s work on the cross. Amen.

You’re reading a devotion from the Easter Devotional Plan 2016. For the rest of the 40 day plan, visit here.