"Moses My servant is dead. Now therefore, arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them ~ the children of Israel. Joshua 1:2
More times than I care to admit I sit back and say "Lord, I need your guidance in this" (whatever "this" may be at the time) and then.... I wait ~ nothing comes. So I wait some more ~ still nothing comes. No moving of the spirit, no booming Charlton Heston voice saying "SIT STILL KATHY AND SEE THE DIRECTION OF THE LORD! Nothing!
Yes, I want the Charlton Heston voice booming loud in my ears so I will know for certain I'm doing what He wants me to do. That would be nice ~ wouldn't it? Absolutely! Nice and Easy! However sitting still isn't what the Lord would have us do when we need guidance. It isn't what He wanted for the children of Israel and it isn't what He wants us to do. God has so much more in store for us than just sitting back and taking the easy route. He wants us to have the adventure!
In today's passage the leadership baton has just been passed from Moses to Joshua. God doesn't allow Joshua time to sit around and say "Lord, I need guidance". No, God plainly tells Joshua ~ Moses is dead, now it's time to Arise and go...! If there is one thing I've learned about God it is that He doesn't beat around the bush.
The Lord wanted Joshua and the children of Israel moving ~ stepping out ~ trusting Him that no matter where they were headed God would make certain they were moving in the right direction. That is exactly what God wants us to be doing ~ moving, staying focused on Him and trusting Him to guide us. He has promised to guide us but He can't do it if we refuse to take a step of faith.
Notice in the passage the Lord says "arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them". The children of Israel did not have the land yet ~ they had to get up and go get it. God said He was "giving it to them" but they had to obey His command to "arise and go".
It is the same with us. We can either stay where we are and wander around the same "Lord, I need guidance" desert and never get anywhere ~ or ~ if we want what God is giving to us we can strap on our traveling boots, take up our shield of faith and "arise and go" (get moving) trusting God to guide us.
Yes, we do need to wait on the Lord. God's word tells us plainly to "wait patiently" for the Lord. However, we so often connect "waiting" with "doing nothing" and that is not true. Waiting does NOT mean ~ doing nothing.
Is there something in your life that you need guidance and direction on? First, ask the Lord for His direction and then "arise and go". God has promised to guide you but as long as you stay where you are ~ doing nothing you will never receive what God is so willing to give to you. He wants you moving forward and trusting Him for every footstep you take. Are you afraid of making a mistake? That's ok! Of course we will make mistakes, we're human. God doesn't expect us to be perfect. We serve a BIG God who can even take our mistakes and turn them into days of divine instruction for our good and His glory. He has a wonderful adventure just waiting for us, so let’s get moving.
More times than I care to admit I sit back and say "Lord, I need your guidance in this" (whatever "this" may be at the time) and then.... I wait ~ nothing comes. So I wait some more ~ still nothing comes. No moving of the spirit, no booming Charlton Heston voice saying "SIT STILL KATHY AND SEE THE DIRECTION OF THE LORD! Nothing!
Yes, I want the Charlton Heston voice booming loud in my ears so I will know for certain I'm doing what He wants me to do. That would be nice ~ wouldn't it? Absolutely! Nice and Easy! However sitting still isn't what the Lord would have us do when we need guidance. It isn't what He wanted for the children of Israel and it isn't what He wants us to do. God has so much more in store for us than just sitting back and taking the easy route. He wants us to have the adventure!
In today's passage the leadership baton has just been passed from Moses to Joshua. God doesn't allow Joshua time to sit around and say "Lord, I need guidance". No, God plainly tells Joshua ~ Moses is dead, now it's time to Arise and go...! If there is one thing I've learned about God it is that He doesn't beat around the bush.
The Lord wanted Joshua and the children of Israel moving ~ stepping out ~ trusting Him that no matter where they were headed God would make certain they were moving in the right direction. That is exactly what God wants us to be doing ~ moving, staying focused on Him and trusting Him to guide us. He has promised to guide us but He can't do it if we refuse to take a step of faith.
Notice in the passage the Lord says "arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them". The children of Israel did not have the land yet ~ they had to get up and go get it. God said He was "giving it to them" but they had to obey His command to "arise and go".
It is the same with us. We can either stay where we are and wander around the same "Lord, I need guidance" desert and never get anywhere ~ or ~ if we want what God is giving to us we can strap on our traveling boots, take up our shield of faith and "arise and go" (get moving) trusting God to guide us.
Yes, we do need to wait on the Lord. God's word tells us plainly to "wait patiently" for the Lord. However, we so often connect "waiting" with "doing nothing" and that is not true. Waiting does NOT mean ~ doing nothing.
Is there something in your life that you need guidance and direction on? First, ask the Lord for His direction and then "arise and go". God has promised to guide you but as long as you stay where you are ~ doing nothing you will never receive what God is so willing to give to you. He wants you moving forward and trusting Him for every footstep you take. Are you afraid of making a mistake? That's ok! Of course we will make mistakes, we're human. God doesn't expect us to be perfect. We serve a BIG God who can even take our mistakes and turn them into days of divine instruction for our good and His glory. He has a wonderful adventure just waiting for us, so let’s get moving.
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