July 17th, 2026
Scripture – “The Israelites sampled their provisions but did not inquire of the Lord.”
Joshua 9:14 NIV
Observation – God instructed the Israelites to destroy every nation living in the promised land. The Gibeonites lived near them and heard about God’s power in destroying Nineveh and Ai so they were afraid and came up with a plan to deceive the Israelites. They packed old bread, put on worn out clothes and took old wine skins with them and said they had come from a long distance. The Israelites sampled their provisions and made a treaty with them but did not inquire of God.
Application – How many decisions do you make everyday without praying to God and asking for his direction? Can you think of a time when you didn’t pray and made a poor costly decision? There is a book called Sacred Pace by Terry Looper that provides a four step process to ensure that our decisions please God.
- Consult you friend Jesus
- Gather the Facts
- Watch for Circumstances
- Get Neutral
You will need to look at this book more closely to understand each step – it is worth the time.
Prayer – Lord Jesus, protect us from ourselves and the need to view ourselves as quick and decisive. Help us take a Sacred Pace in arriving at decisions so that you are glorified and we are living in peace because we are aligned with you. Amen.
What are you doing? Do it better 