Deuteronomy 30:15-20

“I call heaven and earth to witness against you today that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Choose life so that you and your descendants may live, loving the Lord your God, obeying him, and holding fast to him;” vss 19-20

The people of Israel were on the verge of entering the land of promise. The faith that had become their identity had been forged in the harsh realities of the desert and not in the fleshpots of Egypt. Their desert God, whom they had come to know in such an intense and personal way, was powerful and awesome and could not be contained in an idol of wood or stone. This was the God of cloud and fire, impenetrable and mysterious and the source of all light, the creator of the universe and the giver of life. As they paused on the banks of the Jordan Moses implored his congregation to remain faithful and loving, and hold fast to the One who had chosen them. Through the centuries the people of God have continued to find refreshment in the solitude of desert places. There as we center on prayer and the work of self-knowledge we are led by the Spirit to choices that lead to a more abundant life. Such retreats, away from the trivialities and anxieties of our culture, bring welcome reconnections with our Creator God and new hope as our journeys continue.

Thought for the Day: When have I experienced the Spirit in a desert place?