In our travels over the years, Gale and I have found that there are a few things that we should carry along to make conditions away from home more convenient. These items (liquid soap, storage bags, knife, can opener, etc) are not perishable, so we keep them in a small container in the trunk of the car at all times. Most of the items that are included are there because at some point previously we found that we needed them and did not have them. This little travel kit might not sound too impressive, but there has been more than one occasion when we were glad that we brought its contents along.

While it is still early in the new year, it would be wise for all of us to look at our lives and take spiritual inventory to see if we have with us what we need to successfully face the challenges, adversities and surprises of life.

One of the things that we need to carry with us at all times is a good supply of hope. The Book of Exodus tells us that God's people endured extreme adversity while enslaved in Egypt. No doubt their hope for a better tomorrow ran low at times, but God conveyed hope to them through Moses, whom He sent to lead them out of the land of hardship and toward the land of promise. 2008 is just days old, yet there are many difficultthings upon us already. But with hope placed in God and His Word, we can have the courage to continue successfully on the journey of life.

We cannot afford to go one step in our journey through life without spiritual protection for our souls. Exodus 12 tells us that just before the Israelites left Egypt God struck down every first-born among the Egyptians. But the Israelites were directed by God to put the blood of a lamb around the door frames of their houses, so they would be spared from this act of judgment. God said in verse 13, "The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are; and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt" (NIV). It came to pass just as God promised. The blood of Jesus Christ was given on the cross to cleanse our souls from sin and spare us from eternal spiritual death. We can have this spiritual protection at all times by giving our lives to Christ and abiding unceasingly in faith in Him.

The contents of our little travel container in the car have proven to be very helpful to us in a lot of places. Of far greater importance, though, is carrying along essential spiritual provisions as we journey through life. God has provided us with everything we need to live a successful and meaningful life, but we use so little of what He has made available to us. Let us make it one of our primary goals for 2008 to fillour lives with the things that we most need spiritually, so our journey through life will be successful and pleasing to God.