ASK GOD FIRST

Joshua 9:14 So the Israelites examined their food but they did not consult the Lord.

Joshua and his army were told by God to not make any treaty with the people of the land they were going in to conquer but to destroy them all. However, the Gibeonites were a very shrewd bunch and they conned Joshua and his leaders into thinking they were from a long way away by wearing worn out shoes and having mouldy bread and old wine skins as though they'd been on a long journey and not a threat, so Joshua agreed by covenant not to destroy them.

Joshua and his leaders looked at the evidence that was presented to them ( the old wine skins and mouldy bread that the Gibeonites had brought)  and they believed what they saw and what they were told and were deceived! They made the mistake of not consulting the Lord first.  They thought it was obvious what they were to do and didn't need to bother!  

May we learn from this story of how important it is, no matter what things look like or what the evidence is or the facts look like, that we need to check with God first anyway and see and hear what His instructions are.

He knows all things, He knows the secrets of our hearts and He knows the end from the beginning and wants to protect us from the enemy's traps but He wont interfere and He waits for us to ask Him for His instruction, His plan, which will always be for our good.

So whatever you are planning or whatever surprise catches you unawares, just stop for a minute and listen inside to what the Holy Spirit is saying. Let His peace or lack of it guide you whether to go ahead with your plan or not. Don't let the enemy con you! If what we're wanting to do agrees with God's Word  that's great. If it says otherwise then we know we're being conned or we're just being carnal Christians following after what our flesh wants not what God wants!

Ask God first!