Happy New Year! 

Thank you for joining us on this journey through the Bible this year. The reading plan I have chosen for myself, and invite you to participate in, is the BibleProject: One Story That Leads to Jesus. You can find this in the YouVersion Bible app. This reading plan provides daily readings that will take us on a journey through the full text of the Bible. There is a wealth of explainer videos supplied by the BibleProject team.

The Bible translation I am using as my primary source this year is the New International Version (NIV). From time to time, I will compare and contrast other translations along with The Message paraphrase.

Who do you know who would benefit from joining us on this journey? You can forward these emails via the tools in the box at the top of the page. You can invite them to sign up via the form at davidgbowman.com.

As you know, there is no charge for these daily devotionals, and there never will be. There will never be any financial solicitations in this space.

Pray with me now that God would give us ears to hear and willing and obedient hearts to follow his words of truth and life.

With gratitude,
David Bowman

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Genesis 22:14  So Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.” (NIV)

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On the second day of seventh-grade Texas History, our teacher, who was a former Marine Seargent Drill Instructor and current football coach, gave us a pop quiz over chapter one in our textbook. He had assigned that chapter for us to read on the first day of class. 

So many things happened on the first day in our return from summer vacation that I somehow missed the opportunity to read my history textbook. Of the ten questions on the quiz, I knew precisely zero answers. I was not alone in this quandary. Even the smart girls in our class failed. 

This led to a loud and long lecture about proper preparation. The coach then asked us if we would like for him to throw away those quizzes. Those who dared move a muscle nodded their heads up and down in agreement. This was not a satisfactory response. Even so, he graciously tossed those tests in the tin garbage pail next to his desk.

Later that week, he was reassigned. You have no idea what a relief that was. He was replaced by a young man who had just graduated with a teaching degree from East Texas State University. He was thin, humorless, and obviously nervous. We knew this to be true because of what happened when he walked from behind the desk to be closer to us.

He spoke calmly. Then he leaned back against the desk. This revealed that he had forgotten to zip up his pants. When the young woman sitting in front of him noticed this, she politely, and quietly, pointed it out to him. He stood, walked back around the desk, and while facing the chalkboard, made the necessary adjustment. 

It became clear that week that both students and teachers can fail tests. 

The BibleProject video about God’s tests is wonderfully helpful. Our adversary the devil tests us to hurt us. His tests lead to temporary pleasure followed by enduring guilt and shame. God’s tests are opportunities for us to learn something about God’s grace, mercy, and kindness. 

Every successful completion of his tests makes us better. Our success leads to greater opportunities for the kinds of success that builds a better world for everyone. 

God provided for Abraham as he always had. He provided what Abraham needed when he needed it. He proved himself trustworthy and worth every wait. God’s delays were not denials. God’s timing is perfect. Our attempts to help out God cause problems rather than solving them. 

Consider this: God’s promises lead to unhurried lives and unqualified success. God’s will done God’s way in God’s timing leads to God-honoring outcomes every single time. God can do anything but fail.

What promise of God are you tempted to help him with? You might look up the Bob Newhart comedy sketch on YouTube called Stop It. It’s always too soon to stop waiting on God. It’s always too soon to panic into doing his will your own way. It’s always too soon to push the pace of God’s perfect timing.

God involves us in his purposes for our blessing and the benefit of many. He is working out details you and I can never conceive. That’s good news. That’s truth worth standing on. That’s worth whatever wait is in store.

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I will prepare for the tests associated with waiting on God by learning from those who passed similar tests, and those who failed them.

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Our Father, please give me waiting grace. Thank you that all of your promises are worth the wait. Amen.