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“Therefore, when I was planning this, did I do it lightly?”
2 Corinthians 1:17
In Joshua chapter One, God gives to Israel a promise, some instructions, and a faith challenge.
I have no doubt that, at this stage, Joshua and the people were getting very excited and were anticipating the joyous fulfilment of becoming possessors of the land. They could see those armies fleeing before them and the bounties of the land becoming their own.
But was it yet enough? Knowing what God wants to do, believing that it will take place; is it enough? Would this now mean that victory was assured?
The answer is, of course, that it does not.
Preparation had to be made.
In Joshua 1:10,11a:
“Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying, pass through the camp and command the people, saying, prepare!”
In chapter 3:5 they are told to “sanctify themselves and make themselves ready.”
The message is: “Prepare!”
The promise, instructions and faith are not enough; preparation has to be made.
Before any army proceeds with conquest, strategies have to be forged. When the battle commences it is too late. Before any athlete competes, strategies have to be forged. When the race has commenced it is too late.
What will the coming year be for you?
Will it be dreams that remain dreams? Will it be a glorious future that one continues to talk about but never realise? Or will it be the year of fulfilment, the reality of the dreams, the possessing of the land?
I want to suggest to you that if it is to be the latter, then you must begin now! The preparation for tomorrow’s triumph begins even as you read this narrative. Procrastination is a deadly and effective foe.
It's a principle! The attitude one goes to sleep with determines how they arise the next day; the attitude one closes a week with determines how they begin the next.
I believe that this principle applies to you and I right now. Your future has already begun. It has begun in your heart, in your attitudes, in your expectations. It starts now. It won't just suddenly happen on the day of conquest.
But where does preparation begin?
For the Christian, strategies are to be given by the Holy Spirit. You need to clearly identify what land it is that you are to possess
But the Holy Spirit, in turn, awaits a request. He waits for that individual to cry out in fervent prayer. At no time does He impose Himself without the individual making sincere and fervent invitation. He awaits that which is the beginning point of every successful spiritual endeavour: the beckoning hunger of the human heart.
How does one commence the preparation process to become a possessor of the land? With hunger!
Pay the price to hear God's voice. Call out to Him with a heart that is unconditionally surrendered, without a pre-set agenda. Hunger has no agenda; it has passion! May God grant you such hunger as you set your heart to become one of His “Heroes of The Faith.”
Always remember that He has said to “come boldly before the throne of grace”. That is His open invitation. He does not condemn you, he beckons you!
I have extracted this article from my devotional “Born to be Heroes” (Pages of Empowerment Volume 3) but we all must acknowledge that the greatest of all heroes is the Saviour that walked up that hill of the skull, Golgotha.
Without His sacrifice, His resurrection, His overcoming life, His Gift of the Holy Spirit to empower us, we would most miserably fail.
However, with that life now within us and our free access to His commands and empowerment, we too can stand with the saints of old and declare ourselves to be true “Heroes of The Faith”.
God bless you as you hunger for His voice and receive the courage to obey.
Your friend,
David |
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