The Lord never gave up on me.

It's amazing how all the things that we experience would have a purpose and a good one at that. I have been down and out since Monday night because of an incident that took place which got me really consumed by my anger. The Lord has disciplined me because of the way I reacted when I was under fire. I have sinned and the Lord has rebuked me.

As I was reading through the book of Deuteronomy today, I was reminded of how stubborn I am like the Israelites were. Deuteronomy chapter 8 in particular reminded me to keep the Lord's teaching in my heart at all times. here is the passage that the Lord has used to speak to me.

¹ Be careful to follow every command I am giving you today, so that you may live and increase and may enter and possess the land the LORD promised on oath to your ancestors. ² Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. ³He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD. ⁴ Your clothes did not wear out and your feet did not swell during these forty years. ⁵Know then in your heart that as a man disciplines his son, so the LORD your God disciplines you.

 ⁶ Observe the commands of the LORD your God, walking in obedience to him and revering him. ⁷ For the LORD your God is bringing you into a good land—a land with brooks, streams, and deep springs gushing out into the valleys and hills; ⁸ a land with wheat and barley, vines and fig trees, pomegranates, olive oil and honey; ⁹ a land where bread will not be scarce and you will lack nothing; a land where the rocks are iron and you can dig copper out of the hills. -  Deuteronomy 8:1-9

After reading this passage of scripture, I realized that I haven't been really walking in obedience to the Lord. All the hardships that I am facing right now is a result of my stubborn will. I have been a Christian for many years but I haven't entered the promise land yet because of my disobedience. I have constantly relied on my own understanding instead of trusting the Lord with all my heart. 

The past few days may have been dark and gloomy for me but today, the Lord has reminded me that he still loves me and hasn't given up on me. I may have given up on other people and at other times It may seem that I have given up on the Lord but once again, he has shown me that he is still in the background of my life, watching over me and disciplines me when necessary. For those of you who are reading this, It is my prayer that God would continue to speak to you as he has with me. Pray for me that I will constantly focus my eyes on the Lord even as I go through hard times. he hasn't given up on me and I'm possitive that he hasn't given up on you.