If only the Israelites had remembered this lesson! Numbers 33 provides a review of the entire exodus journey, from Egypt to Jordan. And, boy, was it ever a journey! Tons of manna. Far too much grumbling. And it lasted 40 years.

Why didn’t the Israelites get to the Promised Land more quickly? Not because it lay so far away; they could have made the trip in two weeks. The real reason boils down to preparation. The people simply weren’t ready for God’s blessing until 40 years after they began their trip.

How about you? How is your self-discipline? Plato said, “The first and best victory is to conquer self.” If you want to be a leader with self-discipline, follow these action points:

1. Develop and follow your priorities. All leaders are pressed for time, but the successful ones have a plan. If you can determine what’s really a priority and release yourself from everything else, it will be much easier to follow through on what’s important. That’s the essence of self-discipline.
2. Make a disciplined lifestyle of your goal. To be successful, self-discipline can’t be a one-time event. It has to become a lifestyle. One of the best ways to nurture such a lifestyle is to develop systems and routines, especially in areas crucial to your long-term growth and success. Once you have them, put them to use every day for the rest of your life.
3. Challenge your excuses. Challenge and eliminate any tendency you may have to make excuses. If you can name several reason why you can’t be self-disciplined, realize that they are really just barriers to your success – all of which need to be challenged if you want to go to the next level.
4. Remove rewards until you finish the job. If you lack self-discipline, you may be in the habit of enjoying dessert before eating your vegetables. Mike Delaney offered good counsel: He said that businesses need to differentiate betwen their shirkers and their workers, because if they reward both the same, they’ll soon find they have a lot more of the former than the latter!
5. Stay focused on results. Anytime you concentrate on the difficulty of the work instead of its results, you’re likely to become discouraged. The next time you’re facing a must-do task and you’re thinking of doing what’s convenient instead of paying the price, change your focus. Count the benefits of doing what’s right, and then dive in.

What challenges force you to take action? Finding ways you are self-disciplined make a difference. Read Numbers 33:1-49 for the full picture of this story. Another thought of John Maxwell.

Here are the stages in the journey of the Israelites when they came out of Egypt by divisions under the leadership of Moses and Aaron. ² At the Lord’s command Moses recorded the stages in their journey. This is their journey by stages:

³ The Israelites set out from Rameses on the fifteenth day of the first month, the day after the Passover. They marched out defiantly in full view of all the Egyptians, ⁴ who were burying all their firstborn, whom the Lord had struck down among them; for the Lord had brought judgment on their gods.

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^[a] 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.^[b]

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. ³⁸ At the Lord’s command Aaron the priest went up Mount Hor, where he died on the first day of the fifth month of the fortieth year after the Israelites came out of Egypt. ³⁹ Aaron was a hundred and twenty-three years old when he died on Mount Hor.

⁴⁰ The Canaanite king of Arad, who lived in the Negev of Canaan, heard that the Israelites were coming.

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. ⁴⁹ There on the plains of Moab they camped along the Jordan from Beth Jeshimoth to Abel Shittim.

“I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is good for you and leads you along the paths you should follow. Oh, that you had listened to my commands! Then you would have had peace flowing like a gentle river and righteousness rolling over you like waves in the sea” (Isaiah 48:17-18).

“Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand” (Isaiah 41:10).

“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the Lord. ‘They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope’” (Jeremiah 29:11).

These verses from the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah paint a portrait of God and the nature of His relationship with us: He teaches us. He guides us. He is with us. He upholds us. He has plans for us. He loves us.

Because of who He is, which He has clearly revealed to us, we can trust Him. He is available for our cries for help (see Isaiah 30:19), and we can trust His guidance. “Your own ears will hear him. Right behind you a voice will say, ‘This is the way you should go,’ whether to the right or to the left” (Isaiah 30:21). Our loving Guide never fails us.

Take time to pray to thank God for who He is. Ask God to guide you in the choices you must make.

Discuss together or reflect on these questions:

Which of the verses listed above is your favorite?

What speaks to you in that description?

What are some methods God uses to guide you?

Read John 14:15-18. Who is your constant Advocate, Companion, and Guide? How have you experienced His guidance?

If you love me, obey my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you.

No, I will not abandon you as orphans – I will come to you.

On what decision in your life do you need God’s guidance?

Luke 18:1-8 suggests that we should appeal to God with persistence and patience.

One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up. There was a judge in a certain city,” he said, “who neither feared God nor cared about people. A widow of that city came to him repeatedly, saying, ‘Give me justice in this dispute with my enemy.’ The judge ignored her for a while, but finally he said to himself, ‘I don’t fear God or card about people, but this woman is driving me crazy. I’m going to see that she gets justice, because she is wearing me out with her constant requests!’”

Then the Lord said, “Learn a lesson from this unjust judge. Even he rendered a just decision in the end. So don’t you think God will surely give justice to his chosen people who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will grant justice to them quickly! But when the Son of Man returns, how many will he find on the earth who have faith?”

Consider these passages for further study on guidance:

Psalm 33:8 Let the whole world fear the Lord, and let everyone stand in awe of him.

Proverbs 20:24 The Lord directs our steps, so why try to understand everything along the way?

James 1:5-8

If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.

I am grateful for Gary Chapman’s guidance on putting together these thoughts. It helps see ways that the Lord put in place to trust him so that we want him to guide us. Share ways that you allow the Lord to guide you.

Another aspect of social intimacy involves the couple doing things together. Attending a movie or athletic event, shopping, walking the dog together, or having a picnic in the park together are all ways of building social intimacy. Much of life involves doing. When we do things together, we not only develop a sense of teamwork, but we also enhance our relationship.

In Isaiah 26:9, the prophet described strongly desiring to spend time with God: “All night long I search for you; in the morning I earnestly seek for God.” That same sense of urgency to enjoy another’s company- which often is prompted by our good memories of previous encounters – is beneficial in marriage. The things we do together often form our most vivid memories. Will we ever forget climbing a mountain together? Or giving the dog a haircut? Social intimacy is an important part of a growing marriage.

Take some time to pray and…

Thank God for the memories you have developed as a couple.

Thank Him for the fun, laughter, and times you can enjoy just being together.

Ask Him to help you intentionally cultivate social intimacy as you grow in your relationship.

Take time to reflect on these questions.

When are some of your favorite shared memories as a couple?

What are some activities you really enjoy doing together (ranging from the mundane to special occasions)?

How can you set aside and protect more time to build social intimacy?

Consider these passages for further study on friendship:

Amos 3:3

“Do two walk together unless they have agreed to do so?”

Acts 2:42-47 All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer.

A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. They worshipped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared meals with great joy and generosity. All the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.

Philippines 2:1-2 Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate?

Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose.

Thoughts of Gary Chapman.

When they are gone, you know to focus on the joy and love they gave you.

This verse drives home the importance of marrying the right person. The key to avoiding the kind of relationship described in the verse is found a few verses earlier. Proverbs 25:11 extols the virtues of timely advice.

Timely advice is lovely, like golden apples in a silver basket.

All relationships involve change. Making change happen, though, is a delicate process. When you get ready to request a change from your loved one, it is extremely important that you choose your time and place and be sensitive to your spouse’s emotional state. The time should be after a meal, never before a meal. When we are hungry, we are irritable – and when we are irritable, it is difficult to take suggestions.

The place to make your request should always be in private, never in public. When you mention something in front of other people that you wish your loved one would change, it is a put-down, even if you couch it with humor. “My wife is not exactly a gourmet cook. Her specialty is hard-cooked, soft-boiled eggs.” Everyone in the group may laugh, but your wife gets the barb. Put-downs only stimulate resentment and revenge. If you want your spouse to accept your request, make it in private.

Take time to pray by yourself or others. Praise God for giving you your spouse as a partner for life. Ask Him to give you your spouse the wisdom, sensitivity, and good timing to talk about changes in a nonthreatening way.

Take time to reflect on these questions:

Have you ever tried to change someone who didn’t want to change? If so, what happened?

How often are the words “I was only joking” used in your relationship? How do you feel about that phrase?

Describe the ideal circumstances for you and your spouse to talk seriously about change.

Consider these passages for further study on change:

Romans 12:2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

2 Corinthians 5:17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

James 1:17 Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father, who created or casts a shifting shadow.

Communicating is huge when you are working on change. Know what others want and what is comfortable to know what will be the hard part in making a change. When starting a change, it takes bravery to start it. Start with recognizing and sharing what you are grateful for before going through change and then manifest a statement of what you will be grateful for once you made the change.

Great thoughts of Gary Chapman to challenge you when you need to make change.

My advice is wholesome. There is nothing devious or crooked in it. My words are plain to anyone with understanding, clear to those with knowledge. Choose my instruction rather than silver, and knowledge rather than pure gold. For wisdom is far more valuable than rubies. Nothing you desire can compare with it.

I, wisdom, live together with good judgment. I know where to discover knowledge and discernment.

All who fear the Lord will hate evil. Therefore, I hate pride and arrogance, corruption and perverse speech.

In verse 13, the Lord instructs us to hate “perverse speech,” which would seem to encompass a variety of verbal offenses. Yet any list of perverted forms of speech must include gossip near the very top. If you have ever been the subject of a virulent strain of gossip, you understand all too well the truth of another proverb: “The tongue can bring death or life” (Proverbs 18-21).

Gossip has the power to destroy lives, even if it is based on truth. The Bible is very specific in its instructions for dealing with others. First Corinthians 13 – with its command to be kind, patient, forgiving, courteous, humble, and generous – sets the gold standard. Gossip runs contrary to every one of those attitudes.

Gossip can also destroy our Christian witness. How can we traffic in perverse speech and still claim to have the love of Christ in us? More to the point, how can we claim to love others while we destroy them with our tongues?

If we ask Him to, God will help us recognize our hurtful speech habits, including gossip. He will help us learn to love others as He loves them and demonstrate that love in the way we speak.

Take time to pray and:

Confess any gossip you’ve been guilty of speaking.

Commit to making your home a gossip-free zone.

Take time to discuss together or reflect on these questions:

When have you or your family been personally affected by gossip? How did you deal with it?

Are the two of you more likely to encourage each other to gossip or to use loving words? Give some examples.

What specific steps can you take to make your home a gossip-free zone?

Consider these passages for further study on Gossip:

Proverbs 11:9 With their words, the godless destroy their friends, but knowledge will rescue the righteous.

Proverbs 16:27 Scoundrels create trouble; their words are a destructive blaze.

Proverbs 18:8 Rumors are dainty morsels that sink deep into one’s heart.

Keep what you observe and directly approach the person with your issue. If you need help or advice on how to approach someone, don’t use it as gossip; instead, figure out ways to be in control of the issue.

Great guidance of Gary Chapman.

Some parents have forgotten how to be confident in a fallen world. Parenting has changed just as our world has changed. As our children grow, we must adapt and tweak our parenting style. Finding the right balance is next to impossible. And any balance found is likely to be upset as our children move into yet another stage of development.

Most of us are well aware of the mistakes we’ve made as parents. Yet, we don’t have to be defined by those mistakes. We can use them as educational tools to help us make the necessary changes for the future. As our children mature, so should we.

Because we’re human, we’ll never be perfect parents. But we serve a perfect God with a deep interest in our children. His Word can inspire, comfort, and empower us to parent.

Take time to pray and thank God for blessing you with your children. Talk to Him about your parenting challenges and disappointments. Ask Him to bless your efforts to raise children who will bring Him honor and glory.

When you make time to discuss or reflect on these questions together:

How did you picture yourself as a parent before you had kids?

What has surprised you most about parenting?

What do you want your parenting legacy to be?

Consider these passages for further study on parenting.

Psalm 138:8 The Lord will vindicate me;
    your love, Lord, endures forever—
    do not abandon the works of your hands.

Isaiah 44:3-5 For I will pour water on the thirsty land,
    and streams on the dry ground;
I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring,
    and my blessing on your descendants.
⁴ They will spring up like grass in a meadow,
    like poplar trees by flowing streams.
⁵ Some will say, ‘I belong to the Lord’;
    others will call themselves by the name of Jacob;
still others will write on their hand, ‘The Lord’s,’
    and will take the name Israel.

Jeremiah 31:17 So there is hope for your descendants,”
declares the Lord.
    “Your children will return to their own land.

Psalm 112:1-10 Praise the Lord.^[b]

Blessed are those who fear the Lord,
    who find great delight in his commands.

² Their children will be mighty in the land;
    the generation of the upright will be blessed.
³ Wealth and riches are in their houses,
    and their righteousness endures forever.
⁴ Even in darkness light dawns for the upright,
    for those who are gracious and compassionate and righteous.
⁵ Good will come to those who are generous and lend freely,
    who conduct their affairs with justice.

⁶ Surely the righteous will never be shaken;
    they will be remembered forever.
⁷ They will have no fear of bad news;
    their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord.
⁸ Their hearts are secure, they will have no fear;
    in the end they will look in triumph on their foes.
⁹ They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor,
    their righteousness endures forever;
    their horn^[c] will be lifted high in honor.

¹⁰ The wicked will see and be vexed,
    they will gnash their teeth and waste away;
    the longings of the wicked will come to nothing.

Great thoughts of Gary Chapman. Finding the strengths helps focus on seeing more ways to thrive. It can also show where we lean on others with our weaknesses. It takes a village to bring up a child.

Once the experience of falling in love has run its natural course, couples return to the world of reality and begin to assert themselves.

Some couples believe that the end of the in-love experience means they must either resign themselves to a life of misery with their spouse or jump ship and try again. But there is a better alternative: we can recognize the in-love experience for what it was – a temporary emotional high – and pursue “real love” with our spouses.

That kind of love involves an act of the will and requires discipline. Our most basic emotional need is not to fall in love but to be genuinely loved by another, to know a love that grows out of reason and choice, not instinct. We need to be loved by someone who chooses to love us, who sees in us something worth loving.

Take some time to pray individually or as a couple. Talk to God about the state of your marriage. Share your thoughts and concerns about the end of your in-love experience with Him. Ask Him to help you choose to love your spouse.

If you have more time, discuss together or reflect on these questions:

What percentage of couples would avoid marriage if they knew how difficult it can be? Explain.

Where are you and your spouse on the “in love” timeline? How do you feel about that?

Give an example of how you choose to love your spouse.

Consider these passages for further study on Love:

Proverbs 10:12 Hatred stirs up conflict,
    but love covers over all wrongs.

Proverbs 17:17 A friend loves at all times,
    and a brother is born for a time of adversity.

I Corinthians 13:4-8 ⁴ Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵ It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

⁸ Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.

Psalm 103:1-5 Praise the Lord, my soul;
    all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
2 Praise the Lord, my soul,
    and forget not all his benefits—
3 who forgives all your sins
    and heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the pit
    and crowns you with love and compassion,
5 Who satisfies your desires with good things
    so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

This helps you analyze the good, the bad, and the ugly part of love in your relationship. Know what holds you together and will stand fast for the better. Evaluate what you always need to do to make it better.

What John described matches some fo the classic characteristics of depression. Unfortunately, depression is quite common and does not go away simply with the passing of time. John’s wife needed medical and psychological help – without it, things would get even worse.

Many Christians don’t understand depression and think it is only a spiritual problem. While it may have a spiritual dimension, it is often rooted in physical and emotional imbalance. If this is an issue for you or your loved one, remember Psalm 34:18. The Bible promises that the Lord has compassion for you and deals tenderly with you in your time of depression.

Take time to pray, asking God…

To help you be aware of difficult and dark emotions;

To help you recognize and properly respond to warning signs of depression.

If you have more time, discuss together or reflect on these questions:

What is (or has been) your attitude toward those who struggle with depression?

Have you ever wondered if you or your spouse may suffer from depression?

If you or your spouse struggle with depression, what help are you willing to explore?

Consider these passages for further study on depression:

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Matthew 11:28 Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

1 Peter 3:7 Husbands, in the same way, be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.

More questions on showing kindness:

1. Share a time when someone expressed kindness to you. How did that kindness change you or your relationship with that person?
2. Read Psalm 36:5-12. In what ways would you say God is kind to His people?
3. Jesus spoke of the value of giving “a cup of cold water” to someone in need (Matthew 10:42). Why did Jesus call attention to such a small gesture?
4. In what ways did Jesus show love in doing something kind for others? Name some ways Jesus has shown kindness to you.
5. Why do acts of kindness draw others to God?
6. Share an example of when your unkind actions could have potentially turned someone away from God.

Psalm 36:7 How precious is your unfailing love, O God! All humanity finds shelter in the shadow of your wings.

Challenge

God’s kindness should motivate us to be kind to others. Still, sometimes, we are least kind to those who live under the same roof as us. Find two opportunities to show extra kindness to your spouse in the next forty-eight hours. If you need ideas, just ask them!

Gary Chapman’s thoughts are great. By keeping awareness, love, and kindness in the forefront, our prayers will be listened to.

The book of Job gives illustrations of poor listening. As Job suffered with illness, grief, and loss, he maintained his good standing before God. But his “friends” brushed him off and insisted that he must have committed some great sin for God to allow him to suffer so much. Finally, after enduring many speeches, Job became fed up. We can hear his frustration in Job 31:35; “If only someone would listen to me!”

God listeners will never share their ideas until they are sure that they understand what the other person is.. In marriage, this is extremely important. Ask questions, repeat what you think your spouse is saying, and ask, “Am I understanding you?” If your spouse says yes, then and only then are you ready to move on. You might say, “I really appreciate your being open with me. Now that I understand where you’re coming from, may I share what I was thinking?” At this point, your spouse will hear your perspective, because you have first taken the time to really hear what he or she was saying.

Take time to pray.

Emphasize to the Lord that you want to be a good and thoughtful listener. Ask Him to help you retain from expressing your opinions too soon or too strongly. Ask Him to give you ears to listen well.

Discuss and reflect on these questions:

How would you rate yourself as a listener? Why?

How would your spouse rate you as a listener? Why?

Describe the effect that an interruption has on a conversation – from the listener’s perspective as well as the speaker’s.

Consider these passages for further study on listening:

Proverbs 15:2 The tongue of the wise makes knowledge appealing, but the mouth of a fool belches out foolishness.

Ecclesiastes 5:2 Don’t make rush promises, and don’t be hasty in bringing matters before God, After all, God is in heaven, and you are here on earth. So let your words be few.

James 1:19 Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.

Job 31:35 “If only someone would listen to me! Look, I will sign my name to my defense. Let the Almighty answer me. Let my accuser write out the charges against me.

When you don’t feel heard, trust in the Lord. When you don’t know what to do, trust in the Lord. He may not directly tell you what to do, yet he hears that you are trying to make the right decision. Great thoughts of Gary Chapman and helped me realize we don

We too may sense God calling us to a task or mission yet still not feel up to the challenge. Like Moses, we may protest, “Choose somebody else, Lord!” But as someone has said, “God does not always call the equipped, but He always equips the called.”

When we pray consistently and trust Him completely, God will fit us for the task to which He has called us. Some of us may struggle with an unhealthy perfectionism that holds us back. We think we need to wait until we have more skills, more time, more money or wisdom or health – but that attitude, as author Warren Wiersbe has said, “is not humility; it is the worst kind of pride.” If we rely on God, He will use us – just as we are – to accomplish His purposes.

Take time to pray and ask:

To think of one thing you feel called to do that you have hesitated to begin.

Consider whether God is telling you to wait or if you are holding back because you are afraid of failing.

Ask God to give you clarity and peace in the matter.

Reflect on these questions:

When God calls you to do something, which of your skills and talents do you think He will put to work?

What kind of ministry might God be calling you to as a couple?

How will you recognize God’s call?

Consider these passages for further study on Being Called by God:

Proverbs 16:9 In their hearts humans plan their course,
    but the Lord establishes their steps.

Isaiah 43:1-13

But now, this is what the Lord says—
    he who created you, Jacob,
    he who formed you, Israel:
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
    I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
² When you pass through the waters,
    I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
    they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
    you will not be burned;
    the flames will not set you ablaze.
³ For I am the Lord your God,
    the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;
I give Egypt for your ransom,
    Cush^[a] and Seba in your stead.
⁴ Since you are precious and honored in my sight,
    and because I love you,
I will give people in exchange for you,
    nations in exchange for your life.
⁵ Do not be afraid, for I am with you;
    I will bring your children from the east
    and gather you from the west.
⁶ I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’
    and to the south, ‘Do not hold them back.’
Bring my sons from afar
    and my daughters from the ends of the earth—
⁷ everyone who is called by my name,
    whom I created for my glory,
    whom I formed and made.”

⁸ Lead out those who have eyes but are blind,
    who have ears but are deaf.
⁹ All the nations gather together
    and the peoples assemble.
Which of their gods foretold this
    and proclaimed to us the former things?
Let them bring in their witnesses to prove they were right,
    so that others may hear and say, “It is true.”
¹⁰ “You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord,
    “and my servant whom I have chosen,
so that you may know and believe me
    and understand that I am he.
Before me no god was formed,
    nor will there be one after me.
¹¹ I, even I, am the Lord,
    and apart from me there is no savior.
¹² I have revealed and saved and proclaimed—
    I, and not some foreign god among you.
You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “that I am God.
¹³     Yes, and from ancient days I am he.
No one can deliver out of my hand.
    When I act, who can reverse it?”

Romans 11:29 for God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable.

Nehemiah 2:1-20

In the month of Nisan in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was brought for him, I took the wine and gave it to the king. I had not been sad in his presence before, ² so the king asked me, “Why does your face look so sad when you are not ill? This can be nothing but sadness of heart.”

I was very much afraid, ³ but I said to the king, “May the king live forever! Why should my face not look sad when the city where my ancestors are buried lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?”

⁴ The king said to me, “What is it you want?”

Then I prayed to the God of heaven, ⁵ and I answered the king, “If it pleases the king and if your servant has found favor in his sight, let him send me to the city in Judah where my ancestors are buried so that I can rebuild it.”

⁶ Then the king, with the queen sitting beside him, asked me, “How long will your journey take, and when will you get back?” It pleased the king to send me; so I set a time.

⁷ I also said to him, “If it pleases the king, may I have letters to the governors of Trans-Euphrates, so that they will provide me safe-conduct until I arrive in Judah? ⁸ And may I have a letter to Asaph, keeper of the royal park, so he will give me timber to make beams for the gates of the citadel by the temple and for the city wall and for the residence I will occupy?” And because the gracious hand of my God was on me, the king granted my requests. ⁹ So I went to the governors of Trans-Euphrates and gave them the king’s letters. The king had also sent army officers and cavalry with me.

¹⁰ When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard about this, they were very much disturbed that someone had come to promote the welfare of the Israelites.

Nehemiah Inspects Jerusalem’s Walls

¹¹ I went to Jerusalem, and after staying there three days ¹² I set out during the night with a few others. I had not told anyone what my God had put in my heart to do for Jerusalem. There were no mounts with me except the one I was riding on.

¹³ By night I went out through the Valley Gate toward the Jackal^[a] Well and the Dung Gate, examining the walls of Jerusalem, which had been broken down, and its gates, which had been destroyed by fire. ¹⁴ Then I moved on toward the Fountain Gate and the King’s Pool, but there was not enough room for my mount to get through; ¹⁵ so I went up the valley by night, examining the wall. Finally, I turned back and reentered through the Valley Gate. ¹⁶ The officials did not know where I had gone or what I was doing, because as yet I had said nothing to the Jews or the priests or nobles or officials or any others who would be doing the work.

¹⁷ Then I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace.” ¹⁸ I also told them about the gracious hand of my God on me and what the king had said to me.

They replied, “Let us start rebuilding.” So they began this good work.

¹⁹ But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official and Geshem the Arab heard about it, they mocked and ridiculed us. “What is this you are doing?” they asked. “Are you rebelling against the king?”

²⁰ I answered them by saying, “The God of heaven will give us success. We his servants will start rebuilding, but as for you, you have no share in Jerusalem or any claim or historic right to it.”

Reach out to the Lord, no matter what the situation may be! A great thought by Gary Chapman to show how to step out on faith.