Daily Devotionals for Women - Today's Encouraging Word from Scripture

WATCH FOR THE LITTLE THINGS

Then the servant ran to meet her and said, “Please give me a little water to drink from your jar.” She said, “Drink, my lord.” And she quickly let down her jar upon her hand and gave him a drink. When she had finished giving him a drink, she said, “I will draw water for your camels also, until they have finished drinking.” So she quickly emptied her jar into the trough and ran again to the well to draw water, and she drew for all his camels. Genesis 24:17-20

I will tell you that my past is riddled with the fallout of being a bad judge of character. Though I am by nature an intuitive person – especially about people in pain, I have been naïve about evil. If someone proclaimed themselves trustworthy, and a Christian, I gave them the benefit of the doubt. I trusted them beyond a point that was prudent. This came from lack of instruction in my home. There was none. My parents were also naïve, though I came to understand that they had reservations about people they failed to act upon.

God has been growing me up over the course of my adult life to understand that it’s the little things that give a person away. And, it’s the little things I can easily discount and excuse that will get me into trouble.

Eleazer was watching young women carefully, looking for the one with good character and heart. It was a little gesture from Rebekah that allowed him to discern that she was qualified to be Isaac’s wife. Though Eleazar only asked her for a drink for himself, she went above his request to offer water to his entire group of camels. This meant considerable physical labor for her.

How many have made bad choices in marriage by ignoring the little signs? If a man (or woman) is guilty of angry outbursts in their twenties, you can be sure that, left unchecked, it will only escalate. To say, “Oh, he just had a bad day!” is to be naïve. Everyone has bad days but many show restraint and patience in response.

In these end times, it is imperative that each one in God’s family asks for wisdom and discernment. There are many out to deceive and draw the flock away from Jesus. They look good, even sound good, but it’s the little things that will give them away. If you’re looking for a pastor, or business partner, or marriage partner, or prayer partner, be careful. Excusing bad behavior, even in the mundane, will prove disastrous.

I’m surrounded by holy activity that looks good, with words that sound good. I pray that you will teach me to love as You love, but with Your discernment. Amen

Journal Question: When was the last time you were burned because you trusted without wisdom? Let it be your teacher. Step back from the hurt and describe the first signs you saw of bad character. What were the little things that you missed? Are you repeating bad judgment today or heeding the lessons from your past?

For more from Christine Wyrtzen and Jaime Wyrtzen Lauze, please visit www.daughtersofpromise.org