Remember All God Has Done for You

Then they journeyed from Mount Hor by the Way of the Red Sea, to go around the Land of Edom; and the soul of the people became very discouraged on the way. -Numbers 21:4

As the children of Israel made their way toward the Promised Land, they became discouraged because they were looking at the way—the natural hardships of their journey.

But just think what they could have focused on instead. God has brought them out of Egypt with signs, wonders and miracles. When they could go no farther because of the Red Sea, God had worked a miracle, parting the waters so they could cross on dry ground. When the Egyptian army had tried to pursue them, the two walls of water had closed up again and destroyed the Israelites’ enemies.

When the Israelites had come to the waters of Marah, where the water was bitter, God had miraculously purified the waters so the people could have water to drink. God led them with a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. He gave them fresh manna from heaven every night; all they had to do was pick it up. He even gave them water out of a rock. And for the entire forty years that the Israelites wandered through the desert their shoes and clothes didn’t wear out.

But, despite all of these things, the Israelites became discouraged because they looked at the way. We’ve done the same things at times. “Oh, Lord, things are so hard. The way is so tough. I feel so bad.”

We need to look back in our lives and recognize how God has helped us—how He’s brought us out of trials and delivered us from bondage. Realizing how much God has already done—and how much more He wants to do—for us, is an instant cure for discouragement!

CONFESSION:

Through the blood of Jesus, my Father has delivered me, protected me, provided for me and healed me. Therefore, no matter what I face, I focus my spiritual eyes on my faithful God.

From: A Devotional for Divine Health Prescription for a Miracle, Mark Brazee, 1999