What to do when God says go forward but You need to know more.

So I am at a really pivotal time in my life right now, a time of change and transition. And as is the nature of us human beings, this can be a very uneasy time, where when we need to see things so clearly theybare often not that at all.

But nevertheless, God continues to tell me and you to GO FORWARD! I was read ing in Exodus 14 today as the children of Israel were fleeing Egypt and they approached the Red Sea ahead of them and Pharoah and his goons behind then and they started to despair again. They, much like us, were faced with the perceived uncertainty of what lied ahead, and the perceived comfortability or security of what was behind them. In the midst of this all, their leader Moses went to God to pray and God says, why are you crying to me, get up and go forward (Exodus 14:15 my paraphrase). But he doesn't tell them how they will get through what's ahead of them until after he tells them to get moving. I believe the next verse, when God instructs Moses to lift up his rod and part the Red Sea (Exodus 14:16) wasn't spoken until after they started moving again.

I am learning more and more that this is one of the ways God works, he gives us an instruction and once we start to follow it, he opens up doors to make it possible. I know to us this is a little unsettling and for this of us who tend to be more practical this can seem crazy, but it's proven in scripture over and over again. I would tell you where, but you might need to study a little on your own to show yourself approved, LOL.

But seriously, the next time God asks you to move forward on a command or promise without giving you the whole plan, and you require the full layout first, remember, that may be your way but not his and it may make no sense to you, but all the sense in the world to Him. When we face these times it's important to remember what the Holy Spirit said through Isaiah in
55:8-9 his ways and thoughts are different from ours, but not only are they different they are "higher" or BETTER. Take his way, it always works better than your own.

Get Up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Joshua 7:10
10 So the Lord said to Joshua: “Get up! Why do you lie thus on your face? 

Have you ever had one of these moments with God? I have, as a matter of fact I just had one that motivated me to write this.

So for context purposes, Joshua and the children of Israel had just taken the city of Jericho and in the midst of the victory Achan had defied the Lord's command and kept some of the spoils for himself.  After Jericho was won Joshua set out to defeat Ai, which should have been an easy feat according to the spies he sent out, but unbeknownst to him they were in trouble due to Achan's disobedience. Let me pause right here and say, be careful because the disobedience of others close to you can cause you trouble too. Back to the story, they went out against Ai and they got whooped(Reuel's paraphrase).


In response to the loss Joshua came before the Lord in what he thought was a prayer and began to sob and complain and ask questions like:
"Alas, Lord God, why have You brought this people over the Jordan at all—to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us?" (Joshua 7:7)


And he made silly statements like:
"Oh, that we had been content, and dwelt on the other side of the Jordan!"(Joshua 7:7)

Then he began doubting God as if it was his fault they lost saying:
For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land will hear it, and surround us, and cut off our name from the earth. Then what will You do for Your great name?” (Joshua7:9)

And all this he did while laying on his face as if he were in prayer and worship before God.  Well God definitely didn't see it that way as we can tell by his response. If God spoke like us, which i am glad he doesnt, he would have said something like, "Joshua shut up all that crying and moaning and get up". He wenton to tell Joshua what their problem was and how to solve it.

Im not coming down on Joshua, because God knows we have all had our moments of complaining to God and calling it prayer, as I said I just had one. But right in the middle of it I could hear the Holy Spirit say get up, repent and begin to decree and declare victory over this attack of the enemy.


We have to remember that when there is a setback in  our lives or the enemy attacks and we react in the wrong way, its not the time to whimper and cry, but the time to stand up and "Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might" not in the weakness of our strength.

A Word On Courage

Courage, a word often used but seldom lived. Webster's 1828 dictionary defines courage as:
 
"Bravery; intrepidity; that quality of mind which enables men to encounter danger and difficulties with firmness, or without fear or depression of spirits; valor; boldness; resolution. It is a constituent part of fortitude; but fortitude implies patience to bear continued suffering."

In the 1st chapter of the book of Joshua God tells Joshua to be strong and of good Courage 4 different times (Joshua1:6, 7, 9, 18) , and two of those times he uses the phrase, only be strong and have courage (Joshua 1:7, 18). 

We all have purposes in life and though to you, yours may not seem as important as Joshua's, to God no one of us or our purpose is anymore important than the other. But one thing remains true, whatever God has called you to do, he has put within you the gift and ability to do it, but you must have Faith in God and the COURAGE to step out on that Faith and do it.

Are We Christians Limiting Ourselves?!?!

I was at Bible study last night and the speaker made a comment that has been ringing in my ears ever since.  He was speaking on making the impossible possible in our lives, just the type of message I love to hear. While in the middle of building our faith he challenged us to not be like most Christians that;

Think too small...

Aim too low...

and Quit too soon...

The statement was hard to swallow as I began to ponder the way I think.  I began to wonder if I was one of those people. Then I decided instead of pondering if I was I would purpose to never be again.

You see, most of us who believe in God and trust in the name of Jesus fail to realize the limitless ability that we possess.  We have the creator of the universe, the almighty God living on the inside of us, and there is nothing too hard for our father God. We profess to know that Jesus died for us to bring us into right relationship with God, but we often stop right there. We often fail to associate the benefits of the death of Christ and the blood that he shed for us, with our ability to succeed right here on earth, and skip straight to heaven. Without a doubt Christ died for our salvation and that will get us into heaven,  but the truth is Christ died for us to have an abundant life here and there (John 10:10).

We have to begin to renew our minds and think big, we have a big God and a larger than life helper called the Holy Spirit.

We have to begin to aim higher, if we are truly Heaven bound then we should be aiming to accomplish things on the way to heaven which is on high not down low.

And we have to begin to stay in Faith and persevere until we see the promises of God come to pass in our lives.  We are Christians, people of Faith, we are not quitters.  When life throws us a curve ball we use our faith and hit that thing out of the park.  We don't quit, we don't get weary in our well doing and give up because we have Faith that in the end we will win (Gal 6:9, 2Cor 2:14)

So to my main point, we as Christians are the ones limiting ourselves. Stop blaming the devil, he doesn't have the power to stop you, all he can do is deceive you. Definitely don't blame God, he already said he gave you all things that you need for life and godliness (2Pet 1:3) along with the countless other promises he has given us that enable us to live wonderful lives. It is us, we are limiting ourselves through our ignorance, laziness, selfishness, and other ways God has given us the ability to overcome.

We need to snap out of it and pursue all that Christ gave his life for us to enjoy.