Session 33

Take time to reflect

From Numbers: A 5-Week Devotional

For many of us, summertime means a road trip is in our future. The destination has been chosen, and the pit stops have been planned. Vacation will be over before we know it, and if we don’t take pictures, we will soon forget most of what we’ve experienced.

Our walk with Jesus can feel a lot like a road trip. We become so busy with each day’s to-do list we quickly forget all that God has already done for us.

In Numbers 33, Moses remembers the Israelites' travels to Canaan step by step, detailing what they saw, where they camped, and what they experienced. The amount of detail may seem insignificant, but it served important purposes.

First, it fulfilled a command from the Lord (Numbers 33:2). God told Moses to record their journey because He knew the benefit in writing it down. Writing events down allows us to remember how far the Lord has brought us and brings clarity to situations. Emotions tend to muddy our minds. By journaling and reflecting, the emotions are removed and the truth emerges.

The Lord also knew that recording these events would create a legacy the Israelites' children and grandchildren could look back on. Moses’ record-keeping allowed future generations to see God’s faithfulness in the past and maintain hope for the future. Understanding the history of their nation and their people was a way of passing down the faith to their children and their children’s children.

Just like God had a lot to teach Moses and Israel in the desert, He has so much He wants to teach us during each stage of life. How we track those lessons can look different for each of us. The important thing is that we take the time to reflect and remember. Because remembering where God has taken us is one of the best ways to trust Him with our future.

Reflect:

• When was the last time you paused to reflect on all the Lord has done for you?
• Have you ever taken the time to write out the story of how you came to know Jesus? Find tips to get started here.
• What is one step you can take this week to start keeping a record of what God is teaching you?