Thoughts from Jericho

Have you ever been faced with a daunting task? One that seemed just a little too big. One that made you feel uncomfortable, unqualified, and completely out of your realm. Magnify that feeling, and I'm sure that's how the children of Israel felt as they looked on the big walls of Jericho and thought, "How are we supposed to conquer that?!?"

Since life has slowed down a bit after school got out for summer break, I have enjoyed a little extra time in the Word other than my quick devotion and verse here and there during our busy school days. And let me just be honest in saying, God knows I need that extra time in His Word to keep me grounded and focused on His promises which I all to easily loose sight of.

Raising kids, homeschooling high schoolers, maintaining house and property, running from one sport to the next, juggling responsibilities, and the list goes on  can all seem a bit taxing. And some of you are facing challenges and responsibilities a lot more daunting than the normal day to day trials.

As I have been reading in Joshua, I came across one of my favorite verses, Joshua 1:9; and I desperately needed a reminder of this verse. It says, "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." What an awesome promise this is, and this was the promise God gave right before He was going to do tremendous things that would require total faith...like walk around the walls of Jericho. Really! Just walk and shout...Don't attack...Don't fight...Just walk, trust, and obey. God was going to fight the battle for them.

Here the children of Israel stood looking at the huge walled city. How? How were they going to tackle this? But God! He had a plan. It was a plan that would require total faith and obedience. A plan the would show His faithfulness, His power, and His might.

The children of Israel prepared to fight. They had God's promise that He was with them. But, as the Jesus Storybook Bible puts it, God's plan "wasn't about fighting; it was about trusting and doing what God said." So for days the children of Israel walked around the walls of Jericho. They waited on God's Word and for God to move- such faith to walk and wait- not taking things into their own hands that surely would have led to defeat. They waited and then obeyed when God said to shout. They trusted and obeyed which led to great victory. A victory orchestrated by God to accomplish His plan. Oh, to have that faith!

Oh Father, help me! Help me have the faith to trust, obey, and walk while waiting on You to work to accomplish Your plan through tasks that seem too big.