We have difficulty figuring out what to have for dinner in our home. I ask the same question each day, “What do you want for dinner?” and time and time again, I get the same answer, “I don’t know.”

On occasion, someone will have a clear answer. But for the most part, my family rarely cares.

So I pull something out of my trusty handbag of dinners and whip up a delicious meal that the crew seems to enjoy. But to be honest, it gets old. I tire of the same thing each week.

I have had to eliminate some food items from my diet like beef and dairy, so that fact throws us for a loop. And I don’t like casseroles very well because of all the mess that comes with making them (you know mix some ingredients in one bowl, sometimes two, cook another set of ingredients in another pan, put it all together in yet one more dish, and the number of utensils grows with each step of the process…more work than it should be).

I search Pinterest and cookbooks for new recipes and sometimes I try them. Some have been successful, but others have just flopped. Some are not worth the work it takes to get it on the table, while others have been easy and delicious. I’ve also learned through the years that my husband is a picky eater, so that’s just one more element to throw in.

I had a friend several years ago that I worked with. Each day I would ask her what she was having for dinner. This lady was amazing. She always knew! So whatever it was their family was having for dinner, that’s what we would have as well. I often think of calling her out of the blue and asking “what’s for dinner?”

Needless to say, I’m in a rut. We have certain meals we enjoy and so I don’t rock the boat, I stick with them. Yes, we have a boring life.

I sometimes envy the Israelites wandering in the desert. They complained, God provided. Manna and quail. Every day. For forty years. Okay, maybe I am only envious of the fact that Hebrew mothers didn’t have to figure out what to have for dinner every night. It was the same thing every night. They were in a rut too and not just in the food category.

Over and over we see the Hebrew nation follow a pattern. They would trust God and then when things turned ugly, they would complain. Their trust would wane. Each time however, God always provided exactly what was needed and proved to them (many, many times) that He was in control and was worthy of their trust. And then the cycle would start all over again.

This cycle started pretty early in their new found freedom from Egypt. This large group of people left Egypt with all of their possessions and families and herds of animals. Together they trekked across desert until they were confronted by the Red Sea.

By the time they reached the sea, Pharaoh had determined his mistake and his entire army was in pursuit.

God told Moses to have the nation move in a way that would make Pharaoh believe they were confused, lost and wandering in the desert. God allowed Pharaoh to believe that he would be victorious over this group of peasants and their crazy leader.

The Hebrew people were frightened when they saw the Egyptian army coming across the desert. They cried out to Moses and wanted to return to their previous life of slavery. They wanted to go back to their old rut.

Moses believed and trusted God. Moses knew that God had a plan, but he didn’t know what that plan was. These are the encouraging words spoken by Moses to the Hebrew nation. “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” (Exodus 14:13-14 – NIV)

However, God had another plan. God spoke these words to Moses. “Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on.” (Exodus 14:15 – NIV)

God told Moses exactly what to do to part the waters of the Red Sea. With that parting, the Israelites walked across on dry land. God provided a way.

God did a lot more than just provide a way to cross the Red Sea. He also stood between the Israelites and the Egyptian army (Exodus 14:19). But God asked them to do their part as well.

I don’t know what rut you are in. Maybe your time with God has gone stale. Maybe your daily routine is keeping you from spending time with God. Maybe your prayer life is non-existent.

Let me give you some advice. Some God advice. Move on. It’s time to move along and figure out a new path in your relationship with God. God will draw you to Himself, God will provide all that you need, God will even protect you, but you must do something. You must move on.

Like the Israelites, there will be ups and downs along the way, but with God before and behind you, there is nothing to fear. So let’s determine to get out of the rut. Let’s live abundant lives through Jesus Christ. Let’s move on to a life worthy of the calling.

Move on.

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

Donna