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WEEKLY ENCOURAGEMENT
Updated: Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Last week we talked about following our Guide. But what do we do when he says go forward and there appears to be no way to get through?! Sometimes in the ministry things get very difficult! Satan appears to have the upper hand in all directions: money is tight, there is sickness in the family, Christians are set against one another, the work appears to be going no where. At this point we hear our Lord, our Guide, our Shepherd say, "go forward", and we wonder how and where. It appears so impossible to us!
In the book of Joshua, the third chapter, we see the children of Israel come to the River Jordan at flood season. Verse 15 tells us, that the river overflowed all its banks. Yet, God told them to go forward and to cross over. Verse 13 has become so special to me. God tells them that as soon as the feet of the priests shall rest in the water, God will separate the waters and the children of Israel can cross over on DRY GROUND. (verse 17) Wow! What a miracle! What faith!
Did you notice the order here? God says, believe what I say, step out by faith and then I will open the way. I wonder if I would have stepped in the water. Would you?
So often our human reasoning and experience get in our way and we just can't imagine that certain things can change or take place. What we really need is just simple, child-like faith, to take God at His word.
The priests chose to believe God, to step our by faith in Him and God worked! The Jordan parted and the people crossed on dry ground. In Exodus 14, the children of Israel are again in an impossible situation. The have the Red Sea in front of them and Pharaoh's army behind them. Yet, in verse 15, God says to Moses, "..speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward;" Their responsibility was to trust in Almighty God and to obey Him. The "how" was God's problem!!It is no different for us today. We all fight feeling discouraged, over whelmed and defeated. But the answer lies simple in taking God's word and claiming if for each of us personally. He is faithful! It is not about our abilities, nor our understanding, or about what others say or think. It is only about humble obedience and trust in our Sovereign God!!
I know I repeat these thoughts in many of my devotions. The reason is simply because we forget, and so many people are not only getting discouraged, but are giving up! Paul said, "We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;" 2 Corinthians 4:8-9
How can this be? "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds."
In simple words, look to the Lord and trust Him to keep His word!!
If you are feeling discourage today, stop and consider what you spend your time thinking about. Are you really trusting God to "part the waters" or "open the door"? There is a saying that has a lot of truth in it: Turn loose and let God!"
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- Sandy Hastings June 10, 2008 |
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