Determined: From My Way to God's Way 

Living Free Every Day®
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Today's Scripture
"If it is true that you look favorably on me, let me know your ways so I may understand you more fully and continue to enjoy your favor." Exodus 33:13 NLT
 
Thoughts for Today
Moses is an example of someone with a lot of determination. In Exodus, Moses saw an Egyptian mistreating a Hebrew slave. Determined to end the cruelty, Moses killed the Egyptian and tried to hide the incident by burying him. Determined? Yes. Angry and determined to fix things his own way.

Rymer shares this story: "When my son was twelve years old and I was yelling at him for something he said that I didn't like, he said, 'I believe you have an anger problem." Indeed, I did."

So it was with Moses. When he took matters into his own hands, apart from God, he was controlled by anger. The result? He lost credibility with his own people and became ineffective to help them. Pharaoh issued an order for Moses to be arrested and killed, and he had to flee the country.

Have you ever handled something out of misguided anger that caused more of a problem than a solution?

Consider this …
Years after Moses fled for his life, he had an encounter with God. God chose him to lead the Israelites out of Egyptian oppression. With God's hand on him, Moses would later show a godly determination.

How was Moses' determination this time different from the incident when he killed the Egyptian?

This was God's planning. This was God's time. Moses looked to God's wisdom and strength, not his own. Today's scripture reflects Moses' new attitude. This was a very different Moses than the younger, less mature Moses who had taken situations into his own hands. Now Moses, still full of determination to see the best for the Israelites, did not want to do anything without God.

Think about the things you are determined to do. What can you learn from Moses?

Prayer
Father, I know sometimes I am determined to fix things, but try to do so my own way, in my own strength. Please forgive me. Help me turn to you for your plan and depend on you for your strength. In Jesus' name . . .

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©Living Free 2020. Living Free is a registered trademark. Living Free Every Day® devotionals may be reproduced for personal use. When reproduced to share with others, please acknowledge the source as Living Free, Chattanooga, TN, www.LivingFree.org. Must have written permission to use in any format to be sold. Permission may be requested by sending an e-mail to info@LivingFree.org