Well, I've finally chosen to get into the blog world. I wanted to begin by first explaining the name of the blog. I've just finished the Bible study "Believing God" by Beth Moore. To say that it was life altering is an understatement. A lot of the study was based out of Joshua. I feel like the Lord has definitely told me to lead this same study. I have so many questions. When? Where? How? Oh, that He would fill me with His awesome Presence! Lord, I'm waiting on You!
Well, last Sunday we had a guest speaker at our church, Lee Ingram. He has been fighting cancer for 2 years. Sunday night's message was as if the Lord Himself had walked up to me, sat down, and began to talk. Pastor Ingram spoke out of Joshua 3. In this passage, it was right before the children of Israel crossed over the Jordan River into their promised land. He said the Lord gave Joshua 5 commands for the people to follow...
1.
Come to the brink of the water ~ this is the point where you decide if you are going to follow His commands...that is what He has asked you to believe Him for. Often we must take that first step into our Jordan to show God that we really do believe Him and that we are serious. (vs. 8) The scary part of this is that the water was at flood stage, overflowing it's banks. So, does this mean we are to step into those waters too? What if the waters are raging? Stormy? Calm? Does it take more faith to step into calm waters or raging, stormy ones? I'm not sure of the answer there. But one thing is for sure...we must step in.
2.
Stand still in the midst of the Jordan ~ this is often the hardest place to be because you have accepted and believed Him for the call to do what He has asked. Now, you have to decide are you going to wait on Him or take things into your own hands??!! This is the waiting part...the "must be patient" part. (vs. 8)
3.
Hear the Words of the Lord your God ~ You must be still and in the Word for the Lord to speak through His Word. (vs. 9)
4.
Know that the living God is among you ~
KJV says, "Hereby..." or because of this "ye will know that the Lord your God is among you". It goes on to say in that same verse that "He will without fail" drive out all of those people from the promised land where the children of Israel were headed. Remember that the children had wandered in the wilderness for 40 years at this point. (vs. 10)
5.
Behold (or see) ~ behold or see what? The "the ark of the covenant of the LORD of all the earth
passeth over before you into Jordan. " (vs. 11) The ark of the covenant represents the heavenly power of God coming into our presence.
Ok...all of that to say that I am now standing still in several areas that I believe the Lord has called me to. So this is the reason for the name of the blog. I am still working to get into my promised land. I'm so thankful that Jesus doesn't give up on me...that even when I retreat from the brink of the water, whether it be a stormy water or calm water, He's always there to meet me and gently bring me back.
O Father, praise You that You are my Deliverer, my Comfort, my Solace. Thank You Lord for choosing to speak to me, for pressing me to do this blog, for the leading me to do the "Believing God" Bible study. You are Holy and Merciful. I pray that this blog would be a reflection of You and what You are doing in my life. May it not only encourage others to believe in You, Lord, but may it encourage others to believe You for something huge. Bless the writer and the reader Lord. In Your Holy Name, Amen!
