SWHW Two Year Bible Reading Plan: March, Year 2Sample

Top Takeaway from Jess Hatton:

Times of prosperity will make it easy to forget the Lord’s provision so be careful and do not forget the lessons learned in the wilderness.

I am a huge fan of literature, more specifically classic literature. I love the expression, the words, the imagery, and the complexity that is often lacking in today's reading. Words have a tendency to pull me in. For that reason, I find hymns full of truths and beauty that are often overlooked. Even simply reading a hymn without the music behind it can be very powerful. 

But, what I often find even more interesting are the lives of the authors. Often their biographies are stunning. Many of these men and women have been through incredibly life crippling events in order to be brought to the point of writing these famous words. Their trials molded them to bring about surrender and praise.  

It is no secret that trials bring us to the end of our ropes. We often seek the Lord when we are desperate and don’t have the answers. After all, He is the author of life and the only One Who knows the future. 

But, more often than not, prosperity can be a more trying time spiritually because our hearts are distracted by the comforts of life, and we forget what the Lord has so greatly provided. What we often fail to remember is that the times of prosperity can equally or more greatly mold our spiritual direction and dependency on the Lord. Why is it so easy to forget the One Who provides the blessing in the first place? 

Hosea makes it clear that Israel’s prosperity had caused them to place their dependence on false gods, and national allies. They had forgotten about the Lord. Moses warned the people much earlier about this very thing and about the dangerous repercussions they would face if they fell into this trap.

“Take care less you forget the Lord your God by not keeping his commandments and his rules and his statutes, which I command you today, lest, when you have eaten and are full and have built good houses and live in them, and when your hearts and flocks multiply and your silver and gold is multiplied and all that you have is multiplied, then your heart be lifted up, and you forget the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt our of the house of slavery,” Deuteronomy 8:11-14 

Prosperity leads you to believe that you have all you need.  This is a dangerous snare that if you’re not careful will distract your heart away from the One Who provides the blessing in the first place. Therefore, comfort requires a great amount of caution; take care and do not forget. There are lessons to be learned in the wilderness that make us who we are, and if we are not careful, times of prosperity will make us prideful and self-reliant. 

Lord, I pray that You would protect us from the success, wealth, and comfort that distract us from You. I pray that You would give us what we need. Let us recognize that all blessings come from You and You provide for us according to Your wisdom and love. I ask that if any of us are in the wilderness right now that You would provide your strength, support, and guidance. Teach lessons that will stay with us and guide us in both the valleys and the mountains. For those of us who are currently on the mountain experiencing Your goodness, I pray that we would not forget what You have already done in our lives. Let us not be distracted by the world’s definition of success, but remain devoted to You.  Amen.