In 1961, President John F. Kennedy announced a goal to land a man on the moon within 10 years. He sent a special message to Congress outlining the strengths he said our nation possesses that would enable us to reach the moon, then he asked for the funds to prepare and launch within a decade. We all know Congress agreed and Neil Armstrong landed on the moon in 1969. Yet years before, the nation of ancient Israel forfeited a chance to reach the Promised Land because they went about it the wrong way. They refused to believe God would empower them to take the land. Later they tried going in on their own without God’s presence to help them. But God warned them not to try it on their own. We read this in Numbers 14, God said through Moses, “Do not go up into the land now. You will only be crushed by your enemies because the Lord is not with you. When you face the Amalekites and Canaanites in battle, you will be slaughtered. The Lord will abandon you because you have abandoned the Lord.” Today, Almighty God delights to guide us in achieving His purpose for us, but we must invite Him and seek His presence if we want His wisdom and ability to achieve.
Dr. Melvin E. Banks, Sr. is the founder and chairman of UMI (Urban Ministries, Inc.). Under his direction, UMI has grown to be a leading publisher of Christian education resources for churches in the African American community. Read More
