My Wilderness Heart & His Promises

The children of Israel missed the purpose of the wilderness.  It was meant to perfect them and not destroy them.  When they were delivered from slavery, God led them to the wilderness.  They weren’t meant to stay there forever, it was in preparation for the promised land.  In Deuteronomy 8:2-3, God explains through Moses the purpose of the wilderness.  It was to humble them, to test what was in their heart and to see if they would obey God.  They weren’t prepared to possess the promise, they had to go through a spiritual detox if you will.  The first generation REFUSED to let the wilderness perfect them. They CONSTANTLY complained, lacked faith, refused to obey God, created idols and in many ways flat out rejected God!  Time revealed that the real wilderness was in their heart! 

If we get the promise when we still have a wilderness heart, the promise will prove to be a curse instead of a blessing.  The state of our heart towards God will determine our ability to possess and rightly steward His promises.  What has been your response when going through a wilderness season?  Do you see it for what it is and praise God for perfecting you and preparing you?  Or are you like the children of Israel and constantly complain and refuse to allow God to perform surgery on your wilderness heart?  A promise is on the other side of the wilderness, I encourage you to submit to the process!

James 1:2-4 NLT Dear brothers and sisters,^[a] when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. ³ For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. ⁴ So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.