Where do you see yourself 5 years from now? This question is an ongoing joke between my husband and myself. I am a goal setter and a planner by nature. He is less so. I believe that not setting a goal is like driving 85 miles an hour down the freeway without a steering wheel and hoping you will still get to your destination.
I took a vacation last week because I was working on a goal to get to all 50 states before I turn 50. I am 47 and have 6 states left. We spent last week touring West Virginia, North Carolina and Tennessee. I have Maine, Vermont and New Hampshire left. A lot of my goals right now seem to center around turning 50. In addition to visiting all 50 states the list includes reading the Bible cover-to-cover 5 times and getting to my goal weight.
I have been through the Bible twice with Village School of the Bible. Right now I am doing a daily devotional that will lead me through the Bible in a year. To read through it a total of 5 times I will need to read though the Bible this year, next year and the year I turn 50. It is not an arbitrary goal or an arbitrary number. The intent is for this to become a habit and a daily part of my life over the next three years that continues for the rest of my life.
I want to become more familiar with scripture and be able to connect more of the dots. While reading through Exodus the following verse caught my eye, “You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles wings and brought you to myself.” (Exodus 19:4). On eagles wings caught my attention because I have a Dad who is interested in eagles. Many of his wall hangings and plaques have Isaiah 40:31 on them, “but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” The study notes in my Bible then took me to Psalm 103:5 (so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s). Putting these verses together draws a more complete word picture in my mind.
Reading through the details of the tabernacle in Exodus I found it difficult to truly read every word and not skim or skip the boring parts. Slowing down allowed me to catch three verses that built on the same theme – God will give us the skills and abilities to do what he has called us to do. Exodus 28:3 says, “Tell all the skilled men to whom I have given wisdom in such matters that they are to make garments for Aaron . . .” Exodus 31:2-3 goes on to say, “See, I have chosen Bezalel . . . and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts . . .” It finishes with the second half of Exodus 31:6. “Also I have given skill to all the craftsman to make everything I have commanded you.” (Emphasis mine.)
These verses are as important to us today as they were in the building of the tabernacle over 3000 years ago. Struggling as a young mom or an experienced parent? You are the parent God chose for that child and he will give you what you need to parent that child. Called by God to a challenging job? He will equip you with the skills you need to do it.
Lord, thank you for the opportunity to read your word, to soak in your teachings and to connect the dots. Please help us to find and answer your call on our lives trusting that you have given us the skill, ability and knowledge needed. Amen.