FAITH CAPSULE: Determination is good but not enough to take the place of God’s divine intervention.

Genesis 19:14-26, Matthew 26:31-75

Each day is a journey. In each day there is a God designed plan and map for guidance and direction. Ignoring and disobeying God will set you back each day until it becomes evident that you are out of God’s way for your life. To be out of God’s way deliverance and guidance is to be set in a way for destruction. Simple obedience to God’s direction for daily journey will get you to where God is taking you. Have you determined to engage God’s own way in way that seems right to you?  Determination to engage direction in one’s own way is enough to lead one to self-destruction in daily journey.  A specified direction was laid down for Lot’s family in a day’s journey of life. Encased in the direction was deliverance and guidance. The book of Genesis 19:17 recorded, “So it came to pass, when they had brought them outside, that he said, ‘escape for your life! Do not look behind you nor stay anywhere in the plain escape to the mountains, lest you be destroyed.’”  However, Lot’s wife was determined to engage direction in her own way. Genesis 19:26 recorded, “But his wife looked back behind him and she became a pillar of salt.”
In her journey that day, she looked back and her journey was terminated. Determination to purposely and knowingly ignore specified direction is an evidence of the spirit of disobedience operating in man’s life. Are you finding it difficult to obey God’s direction for your life? Your determination will fail you. 1Samuel 2:9 says that, “by strength shall no man prevail.” Ask God to give you grace and strength as you go forth in the journey to God’s package of promise for your day.
Determination is good but it is not good enough to take the place of God’s divine intervention. Determination that is rooted in ignorance will fail man. It is this kind of determination that will deny man from seeking help where there is help in place. It is this kind of determination that caused Peter to deny Jesus. In Matthew 26:34 Jesus said to Peter, “Assuredly, I say to you that this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” Peter was so determined not to deny Jesus when he responded to Jesus stating, “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!” (Matthew 26:35) Peter could have cried out to Jesus for divine intervention not to deny Jesus but he took to his own determination and later denied Jesus three times just as prophesied by Jesus.
Keep on looking forward with God behind you and you will get there.

Prayer for today: Ask Him for the grace to follow and keep focused on where God is taking you.