That Giant Step

Read: Exodus 14:21-22
 

"As soon as the priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water's edge, the water from upstream stopped flowing. It piled up in a heap a great distance away." - Joshua 3:15-16

The people of Israel stood on the precipice of obtaining God’s promise for them as they entered Canaan Land. Unfortunately, the Jordan River was at its flood stage during harvest time, and the people wondered how they would ever get across. God simulated the miracle He used when He parted the Red Sea to help prove His anointing on Joshua, as their new leader. When their feet touched the water's edge, the river from upstream stopped flowing. It piled up in a heap a great distance away and they crossed the river with no problem. Can you imagine witnessing such a miracle? Amazing!

Sometimes, we hesitate to trust God with our lives as well. We see insurmountable odds stacked up against us, as well as the raging tide of world events threatening to overwhelm us. We experienced disappointment in the past, which hinders us from believing for the future. We desire a fulfilled life, but are crippled by the fear of having to give up something we hold dear. Or we wonder what God will lead us to do, if we surrender our will completely to His. We have visions of a hut in Africa or of us sitting in a hollowed out log canoe on the Amazon River. 

Actually, when we face circumstances, which we do not understand, or for which we are not prepared, we have an opportunity to experience the deliverance and provision of God. All He requires of us is to take that first step of obedience, that first step of faith into the swollen river of life. Seeds of faith spring forth in the fertile, virgin soil of our spiritual awakening, and they bear a garden full of fruit. Each time God delivers us, our assurance in His faithfulness grows, and we have more confidence to live a more fully committed life.

Prayer:
Lord God, I know you are waiting to roll back the floodwaters and lead me into Your will for my life. Fill me with Your peace and help me to commit to You every area of my spiritual walk. 

Thought for the Day:
Take a secure hold of God’s hand and step out in faith.

Beyond Our Abilities

Read: Ephesians 3:14-19

“Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect?” - James 2:22 (NKJV)

My talents are in the area of crafts. I love to do anything that involves string and a needle or paper and glue. Therefore, when I turned my life over to Christ, I feared that I had no talents to offer, which He could use for His Kingdom. I had little more than genuine trust in Him. Then, I learned that with salvation comes the gift of faith to accomplish all that God calls us to do in our lifetime (Matthew 17:20).

We never walk alone, because God fills us with all of His fullness. Works become an indication of our salvation, rather than a prerequisite for it. We can obey the Spirit’s promptings in our life regardless of our talents or knowledge. No task, which God asks us to perform, remains beyond His anointing on us to carry it through.

On the other hand, sometimes we see a need and our compulsion prompts us to fill it. That is not always wise. Jesus helped everyone He felt God leading Him to assist, but He did not help everyone. Likewise, if we give aid to someone outside of God’s will for that person or for us, then we are actually enabling and rescuing, rather than assisting them in a healthy way. Our goal in life is to follow the Spirit’s leading in everything we say and do.

Prayer:
Precious Lord, lead us by Your Spirit moment-by-moment throughout the day, so that we may accomplish the greater works that You commissioned us to perform.

Thought for the Day:

God's Spirit in us is infinitely greater than the boundaries of all of our abilities.