Deuteronomy 1:46; 2:1,3 NIV ~ “And so you stayed in Kadesh many days—all the time you spent there. Then we turned back and set out toward the wilderness along the route to the Red Sea, as the LORD had directed me. For a long time we made our way around the hill country of Seir. [3] “You have made your way around this hill country long enough; now turn north.”
Have you ever been on a road trip or driving somewhere and after riding for a while you realize that you were on the wrong road? And then you thought to yourself, it’s nothing to worry about, “I’ll just take a shortcut, it will save me a lot of time.” It will either save you a few minutes or cost you dearly! Shortcuts can actually be quite expensive! And so can easy ways out! Before you purpose anyone of these thoughts in your head, stop and pray!
The problem is that the shortcut that you used 10 years ago is no longer a shortcut and now because of this decision, it has delayed your move, it will take you even longer to get where you were going, your shortcut ended up being a longer journey than what you expected because you got impatient and couldn’t wait any longer. I mean look at the children of Israel, an eleven-day trip turned into a 40-year journey. (For forty years one year for each of the forty days you explored the land, you will suffer for your sins and know what it is like to have me against you.) Did you hear that, they spent 40 years on a journey that should have only taken 11 days.
If only you had stayed on the main highway. You would have missed those potholes and pitfalls; you could have actually gotten there on time! That shortcut could have cost you your life, a life-threatening experience for you to understand the importance of traveling and staying on the right road. I know it cost you some money and that can be quite painful when it’s not done properly! Shortcuts can cause you a heap of trouble; and leave you with scars for the rest of your life from that one act of disobedience!
If there is one thing that I have learned, it is that you must always travel right and never get off the path God has set in place for you! And just to be clear, shortcuts come in all sizes and descriptions. They are designed to get you somewhere the easy way, to get something that you do not deserve, or they will try to get you to avoid something which you ought to face. Life is a lot like a journey which involves a starting point and an ultimate destination one that can be reached only one way! You should be traveling Heaven bound!
You know as I’m writing this devotional, I’m wondering about the children of Israel in the desert, they had to go through it, God needed to show you something that you could only learn by facing the wilderness. “Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody.” Romans 12:17. Just be honest and avoid taking shortcuts to the places that you are trying to go. Let’s think about this, would you be comfortable flying in an airplane that is 99% working and the inspector simply signed off on it saying it’s okay, without making repairs which were vital to the safety of an aircraft to be at a 100%? Would that make you uneasy? Think about how God feels every time you take a shortcut and try to circumvent the process, you can’t take shortcuts to your destination, you have to go all the way through it.
William Shakespeare wrote, “To thine own self be true, and it shall follow as does day the night, thou canst not then be false to any man.” When you don’t have a conscience, you will make any choice and take whatever shortcuts that you see regardless, you are just in a hurry to get somewhere! You see when you get in a hurry and try to go before and without God, it will cause you to fall prey to sin, grumbling, bad attitude, rebellion, ingratitude, and worrying (which is a lack of trust in God) and it will lead you down a road that you don’t want to travel. This has caused your shortcut to become public knowledge and has put you and your business on front street! Stop right now and repent and ask God to lead you back to the right path immediately!
When you take shortcuts, it can strip you of your hope and leave you with regret. It is a path that will rob you of years of your life that you can never get back. I don’t want you to wander for another 40 days, months or years and waste any more precious time. I’m sure that was not Moses intention to be on a 40-year journey. When you can learn how to live without taking shortcuts, you are living like you know that you have to stand before God someday and you don’t want any regrets, no secrets, and no shame! In living this way, it may take you a little longer to get where you want to go, but it is the surest way and you can be certain of this, God is with you! For, Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.”
As you think about your journey and when and where you started, can you see the end? Most of the people that started out with Moses on the journey were dead and gone by the time the 40 years had ended, they never made it. But to God be the Glory, some did, Joshua made it to the Promise Land! It’s time to take heed to what God is saying, stop looking for a shortcut and an easy way out! Take heed to the Word of God and choose this day, who you will listen to, follow and serve! As for me and my family we will serve the LORD.” Joshua 24:15 (NLT)!
Let’s Pray:
Thank You Father! Thank You for leading and loving me. Father, as I navigate through this day, help me to follow all of Your instructions and to not want to take any shortcuts or easy ways out. Father, guide me to always choose the path of integrity and hard work. When tempted to take shortcuts, strengthen my resolve to follow the right way, even when it’s harder. Grant me the wisdom to see the value in doing things the right way, and the understanding of how true success comes from the journey and me the courage to resist the allure of quick fixes. Father, help me to embrace the process and trust that your way, even if it is longer, is still the best way. Father help me to trust in You and to know that You are with me and leading me the right way. Help me to find fulfillment in the journey, not just the destination. Father walk with me alone the route and may right now in this present moment, may Your Presence be my peace in the process. In Jesus Christ Name. Amen!
Blessings…
Love, Minister Jean
