January 11 - dfree® Devotions for Financial Freedom

Verse
"Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God." Exodus 3:1 (NIV)

Thought
One way to look at our lives is by making sure our list of failures and missed opportunities is kept up to date. This approach motivates us to repeat phrases such as, "If I only knew" or "If I knew then what I know now..." It is not altogether unadvisable to remain aware of mistakes that we have made in the past. But we cannot be hostages of our pasts even if we have a long list of misses and ill-advised undertakings.

The other way to look at life is to assume that everything we have done, including the mistakes we have made, has prepared us for who we are and what we will do next in life. Whatever mistakes
we made obviously did not kill us. Our past experiences have given us such tremendous knowledge that we have become experts in something valuable. Moses learned that.

He was born under politically hostile circumstances. As a result, while just a baby, he ended up being floated down a river in a basket. But God was preparing him even then for his dynamic destiny that would change all of history. Moses was able to lead the liberation movement of God's people against the Egyptian King precisely because Moses was rescued and raised by the King's daughter. He knew the King and was prepared to deal with the King. Experiences that we believe were our low points can actually be preparation for future achievements; if we allow ourselves to appreciate their value.

Now Moses is 80 years old taking care of sheep in the wilderness. He must have hated living in the wilderness after having been raised in a palace. It had to look and feel like he had become a complete failure. But God was able to use Moses when it was time to lead people through the wilderness surely because Moses had learned how to lead sheep in the wilderness.

Perhaps God is preparing you for a great opportunity. So do what you are doing so well that it will prepare you for your next assignment; even if you must do it in the wilderness.

Prayer
"God, I am not thrilled about every aspect of my life. But help me to appreciate this season as preparation for my next season. Amen."