Following God Into the Desert

by Macy Johnson

“Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands.” (Deuteronomy 8:2 NIV)

Like a devoted father, God deliberately shows up where we are. He leads us on adventures through the desert, sweeping away all distractions. He is all we really have, all we really need.

In January 2005, a Sarbanes-Oxley audit team leader asked me to get on a plane in Birmingham and fly to California. “You want me to do what?” I asked, suspiciously.

After two days deliberating with other auditors in an elegant Walnut Creek corporate office, my host declared, “We need your services in Madison, Georgia.”

“Where is that?” I wondered.

God plucked me out of Egypt, gently positioned me in His rocket-launcher, and shot me into the unknown. Humbling, testing, training, disciplining, breaking down, building up, the list still goes on and on. Every day presents an amazing new opportunity to surrender my heart to Him.

Think back on all the adventures that your Heavenly Father led you through this past year. Praise and thank Him. Everything is molded in His hands for your good and His glory.

He disciplines you like He did the Israelites, so you will know what is in your heart. When we intentionally release the distractions we will be ready to embark on the best adventures with Him.

Be brave and ask:

-      What do you want me to do?

-      Where do you want me to go?

-      Who do you want me to minister to?

Trust Him with “Why” and “How”.

I will obediently follow God into the desert today and be ready for the best adventures of my life! I hope you will, too!