Believes Or Believed?

There were 44,760 capable warriors in the armies of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh. They were all skilled in combat and armed with shields, swords, and bows. They waged war against the Hagrites, the Jeturites, the Naphishites, and the Nodabites. They cried out to God during the battle, and he answered their prayer because they trusted in him. So the Hagrites and all their allies were defeated. [1 Chronicles 5.18-20]

Don't we all wish for this story for our own lives? And, perhaps many of us have experienced great victories in our lives. But, there is more to the story...

But these tribes were unfaithful to the God of their ancestors. They worshiped the gods of the nations that God had destroyed. So the God of Israel caused King Pul of Assyria (also known as Tiglath-pileser) to invade the land and take away the people of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh as captives. The Assyrians exiled them to Halah, Habor, Hara, and the Gozan River, where they remain to this day. [1 Chronicles 5.25-26]

Victories of the past do not guarantee favor with God in the future.

The problem is that we want God's unending favor in exchange for our one-time obedience. Somehow that just doesn't seem right and His Word seems to indicate that God feels the same way.

Father, may I be found obedient every day never resting on past victories or favor to carry me tomorrow. May I have this mindset regarding faith in Jesus trusting Him willfully and purposefully every day not satisfied that yesterday's faith. I know there is security for each and every believer, but also understand that "believer" should not be considered a noun, but a verb! May I understand that a believer is one who "presently believes" as opposed to one who "once believed."