Spend time in prayer and silence with God asking him to meet you and speak to you.
Bible Reading
When the Lord your God brings you into the land he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to give you-a land with large, flourishing cities you did not build, houses filled with all kinds of good things you did not provide, wells you did not dig, and vineyards and olive groves you did not plant-then when you eat and are satisfied, be careful that you do not forget the Lord, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.
Fear the Lord your God, serve him only and take your oaths in his name. Do not follow other gods, the gods of the peoples around you; for the Lord your God, who is among you, is a jealous God and his anger will burn against you, and he will destroy you from the face of the land. Do not put the Lord your God to the test as you did at Massah. Be sure to keep the commands of the Lord your God and the stipulations and decrees he has given you. Do what is right and good in the Lord’s sight, so that it may go well with you and you may go in and take over the good land the Lord promised on oath to your ancestors, thrusting out all your enemies before you, as the Lord said.
– Deuteronomy 6:10-19
Devotion
Moses went to great lengths to warn the people not to forget God when they entered the Promised Land and became prosperous. Moses was well aware that when people become well-off they often feel self-sufficient and desire even more. When we elevate things above God our priorities can quickly go astray. God is a very jealous God and wants to be the number one priority in our lives. He understands what is really good for us, as well the things that can sidetrack our lives and allow Satan to get a foothold. He created us and has written the owner’s manual on each one of our lives, but there are times when we think we know better. As it says in verse 13, “Fear the Lord your God, serve him only.” This is the only way to live a truly peaceful life: Stay focused on God and his Word.
The Big Question
It is hard, particularly in this culture, to be continually focused on God. What are some practical ways that we can keep God in first place? How can we be careful not to let even some good things like family, sports and careers get a higher priority? Do you have anyone in your life that has the permission to keep you accountable in these areas?
Conclude in prayer and silence reflecting on what you’ve learned.