The Lord, who goes before us!

After joining Hindustan Teleprinters, my second trip outside Chennai was to attend a two-week program meant for women managers at IIM Ahmedabad! Navajeevan express was the only direct train, but since it did not run every day, I had to go to Mumbai and then to Ahmedabad. I spoke zero Hindi, and the prospect of changing trains at Mumbai scared me. I told God just how I felt! I told Him that I knew He was with me all the time and knew that He would protect me from all harm and danger but that I was so scared that I would like to have a human companion! That prayer sounds stupid to me now, but you will not believe what happened next. Two days later, I got a call from one Mrs. Indra Parthasarathy, who was a manager in Indian Bank who was also attending the same program. It seems she had contacted the program office at IIMA and got my name, and she wanted to travel with me! God is so mindful of us!

It was a critical time in the history of Israel when Moses handed over charge to Joshua. Only two kings, Sihon and Og, were defeated East of Jordan during the time of Moses. Joshua had to carry out the actual conquest and the division of land! Joshua must have had butterflies in his stomach, knowing the daunting task before him! But God Himself gave a promise to Joshua through Moses. "And the LORD, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed." (Deut 31:8). The Lord promised Joshua that day that He will not only go before him but also go with him! We all know how that story ended.

That is the promise the Lord is giving us in this New Year!

We have come through much and some of us are still struggling to come to terms with the events that have shaped our life! But we can confidently say one thing. If it had not been for the Lord, we would have been annihilated! The same unchanging God is giving us four promises today! He will not only go before us but also go with us. He will not leave us or forsake us!

My friend, let us take God at His Word, for we have a promise-keeping God who is able to grant us the blessings we need! Have a blessed New Year 2020!

Categories: Weekly DevotionalsAuthor: Hephzibah StephenDate: 31st December 2019 Share: newsletterDisplay date: 1st January 2020

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