Corona Devo 411

Have we "caught on" yet? I'm realizing that one of the secrets to fulfillment in the Christian life is blooming-where-we-are-camped at the time being, and moving on at God's command.

It's human-nature to resist change-of-surrounding and to feel intimidated by who we are "camped" next to, but it is God's nature (and the reality of life) to continually be moving us into new surroundings, and to see God's opportunities and calling on our lives to embrace those who we are "camped" next to during this current stage.

I am trying to catch on. Even though every new phase or "camp" that I find myself in initially feels awkward and intimidating. And then by the time I am comfortable and adept in it, it's time to "set up camp" somewhere else.

But have we caught on yet? This is the story of life.

And it's not just the story of our lives. Blooming-where-we-are-camped and moving on at God's command has been the story of every human's life including the Israelites 2,000 years ago as they traversed the wilderness for 40 years.

If we were to look back over the past year, years, and decades of our lives: we would see that it's been a progression of "setting up camp" in new situations, cities, relationships and ministries that God has called us to, allowed us to get comfortable in, and then sent us on our way to the next "camp".

If we were to look back, we've "camped" a lot of places, haven't we?

I felt the Lord's encouragement and teaching as I read about the Israelites doing the exact same thing. Have we caught on yet?

5 The Israelites left Rameses and camped at Sukkoth.

6 They left Sukkoth and camped at Etham, on the edge of the desert.

7 They left Etham, turned back to Pi Hahiroth, to the east of Baal Zephon, and camped near Migdol.

8 They left Pi Hahiroth and passed through the sea into the desert, and when they had traveled for three days in the Desert of Etham, they camped at Marah.

9 They left Marah and went to Elim, where there were twelve springs and seventy palm trees, and they camped there.

10 They left Elim and camped by the Red Sea.

11 They left the Red Sea and camped in the Desert of Sin.

12 They left the Desert of Sin and camped at Dophkah.

13 They left Dophkah and camped at Alush.

14 They left Alush and camped at Rephidim, where there was no water for the people to drink.

15 They left Rephidim and camped in the Desert of Sinai.

16 They left the Desert of Sinai and camped at Kibroth Hattaavah.

17 They left Kibroth Hattaavah and camped at Hazeroth.

18 They left Hazeroth and camped at Rithmah.

19 They left Rithmah and camped at Rimmon Perez.

20 They left Rimmon Perez and camped at Libnah.

21 They left Libnah and camped at Rissah.

22 They left Rissah and camped at Kehelathah.

23 They left Kehelathah and camped at Mount Shepher.

24 They left Mount Shepher and camped at Haradah.

25 They left Haradah and camped at Makheloth.

26 They left Makheloth and camped at Tahath.

27 They left Tahath and camped at Terah.

28 They left Terah and camped at Mithkah.

29 They left Mithkah and camped at Hashmonah.

30 They left Hashmonah and camped at Moseroth.

31 They left Moseroth and camped at Bene Jaakan.

32 They left Bene Jaakan and camped at Hor Haggidgad.

33 They left Hor Haggidgad and camped at Jotbathah.

34 They left Jotbathah and camped at Abronah.

35 They left Abronah and camped at Ezion Geber.

36 They left Ezion Geber and camped at Kadesh, in the Desert of Zin.

37 They left Kadesh and camped at Mount Hor, on the border of Edom.

41 They left Mount Hor and camped at Zalmonah.

42 They left Zalmonah and camped at Punon.

43 They left Punon and camped at Oboth.

44 They left Oboth and camped at Iye Abarim, on the border of Moab.

45 They left Iye Abarim and camped at Dibon Gad.

46 They left Dibon Gad and camped at Almon Diblathaim.

47 They left Almon Diblathaim and camped in the mountains of Abarim, near Nebo.

48 They left the mountains of Abarim and camped on the plains of Moab by the Jordan across from Jericho. ~Numbers 33:5-37, 41-48

Now that's a lot of "camping", but it's no different from all that we've come through in our lives.

We are always "setting up camp" in new situations. It may be the sports team (parents and coaching methods included) that our kid is on this season, it may a new job (complete with new boss and new team members), it may be a new stage-of-life, like an empty-nest, widowhood or becoming parents: but we are continually "setting up camp" at a new location in life's journey.

How are we handling it?

God has written an entire Book for our reference in figuring out how-to-thrive where (and with whom) we are currently camped, and it's called the Bible.

The teachings are comforting but also critical if we want to experience purpose, meaning, and even joy at the various camps that we are continually "setting up". God's Word is our "Camper's Guide" and our Sanity Manual.

I have felt lately like God has been whispering to my heart to "step back", and relax about the here-and-now, and enjoy it. Serve Him right now in the current spot that we are camped, and to stop worrying about what is next on the horizon.

The Israelites were God's "chosen people" and He moved them to alot of different camps. Why would it be any different with us? And city after city, God's people looked different than those around them because they behaved differently: choosing to worship The Lord and serve Him as best they could.

That is the exact calling that God has placed on us and the "camp" that we are in today.  

Have we "caught on" yet? One of the secrets to fulfillment in the Christian life is blooming-where-we-are-camped at the time being, and moving on at God's command.

Blessings,

sarah

https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com