We have a choice to make: either listen to the message given in the Bible and follow God’s ways or refuse to walk along the Lord’s path.

Hosea 12:6 says to act of the principles of love and justice and always live in confident dependence on your God.

Do I do that daily? Do I not only read the Word but do I really ingest it in a manner that I always act on its principles?

The Bible is pretty clear that obediance to God leads to His blessings and favor…taking the high road has lesser consequences…doing good is fulfilling…living right brings peace…

Yet…I don’t always live that way.

Hosea 13:4-8 goes on to remind the people of Judah (God’s chosen people) what He had done for them generations before during the Great Exodus. He states “you have no God but Me, for their is no other savior. I took care of you in the wilderness, in that dry and thirsty land. BUT when you had eaten and were satisfied, then you became proud and forgot Me.”

I have had so many dry and thirsty moments in the wilderness…in those times I can see with absolute clarity how the Lord provided when I leaned on Him in total dependence..

Then, when life leveled off again, I went on my merry way. I can’t say I forgot God…but I can say with honesty that my zeal sometimes wavered…my passion for absolute dependence wained…

Was it because I no longer was de-pendent but rather more independent?

I could lean more on myself, what I knew, what I could control and no longer had to rely on what I did not understand and could not see as heartily?

For me, kind of like the Israelites, God will not let me forget what He has done for me. In fact, it seems He sometimes allows certain circumstances to cross my path again and again to cause me to pause and consider who it is I am leaning on: His strength or my own.

It is interesting that in the crisis or the pain of trial that I find my source of peace all over again as I turn to the only One who can calm a storm.

It is my choice whether I stay dependent on God during the good times as well as through the hard times…

Hosea 14:9 Let those who are wise understand these things. Let those who are discerning listen carefully. The paths of the Lord are true and right, and righteous people live by walking in them.

Lord, help me to live wisely and to walk in the right and true path of dependence on You. Amen.