March 23

Numbers 36:1-13, Deuteronomy 1:1-46, Luke 5:29-6:11, Psalms 66:1-20, Proverbs 11:24-26

Pray: In 1982, the Today show in New York City scheduled an interview with Reverend Billy Graham. When he arrived at the studio, one of the program's producers informed Graham's assistant that a private room had been set aside for the reverend for prayer before the broadcast. The assistant thanked the producer for the thoughtful gesture, but told him that Mr. Graham would not need the room. The producer was a bit shocked that a world-famous Christian leader would not wish to pray before being interviewed on live national television. Graham's assistant responded, "Mr. Graham started praying when he got up this morning, he prayed while eating breakfast, he prayed on the way over in the car, and he'll probably be praying all the way through the interview."

May our prayers be ongoing and never cease. Pray for a never-ending prayer life… one where every moment of life is lived in a spirit of prayer and praise. 

Read: In Deuteronomy we read of Moses giving God’s instructions to leave Sinai and travel to “the wilderness east of the Jordan River” (1:1). So, Moses appointed leaders for the tribes because the numbers of Israelites had grown so much that moving and managing such a large group of people had become too difficult. We also read of the spies that were sent ahead of the Israelite nation to check out the Promised Land and bring a report of their findings. This report albeit positive also brought on rebellion from amongst those that have quickly forgotten that the Lord is with them.

Edify: As nations, businesses, and even churches grow, they become more and more complex. Conflicting needs and problems arise. It is no longer possible for one person to handle the burden alone; therefore it is necessary to share the leadership load. This is what Moses did.

Practice: Just like Moses shared the leadership load with others, it may be necessary, from time to time, for you to share the leadership burden with others. This not only helps you as a leader be more effective but it also allows others to share in the load and exercise their own God-given gifts and abilities.