REVIVALUTION

S: 30 Then Joshua built on Mount Ebal an altar to the LORD, the God of Israel… 34Afterward, Joshua read all the words of the law – the blessings and the curses – just as it is written in the Book of the Law.

O: Joshua and his men just returned from fighting and winning an epic battle against the people of Ai. Spirits and morale must have been high and people must have been exhausted from the battles. BUT, instead of celebrating or sitting around to rest, Joshua built an altar to the Lord and then he read the words of the law to everyone at the campground. In doing so, not only were they reminding themselves of God and His words, but they were also renewing their covenant with God; they were remaining faithful to God by bringing themselves back to Him…even after the epic win.

A: I definitely experience lots of epic wins in my life. And I’m really good at giving lip service saying “Thanks God! You’re the greatest!” But in times of those epic moments, I easily forget to stay grounded in Him and His words. I selfishly and independently live off of my “epic win,” making myself believe I’m someone really powerful and important. Even though I say “Thanks God!” I pat myself on the back saying “You did a great job, Joann!” And the next thing I know, I kid myself into believing I accomplished whatever it was, on my own. So from reading today’s words about how Joshua and his men renewed their coveneant with God, it convicted me and gave me instruction on how to remain grounded with God. So today, like Joshua, whether I have epic wins or epic fails, I want to renew/remind myself of my relatioship with God as well as the promises God has made to me through meditating on His words. Because in the end, everything comes from and belongs to the Lord.

P: Dear God!!! Thank you for all the epic battles you help me win in my life. But Lord, can you please help me to be like Joshua where I renew my convenant to you and remind myself of your words after each obstacle I overcome and each victory I gain..no matter how big or small?  So that I can remain grounded in you at all times. Thank you for reminding me that you’re on our side and that all you want us to do is remain close to your heart. I LOVE YOU SOOO MUCH, LORD!!! In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen!

Joshua 4

S-He said to the Israelites, “In the future when your descendants ask their fathers, ‘What do these stones mean?’ tell them, ‘Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground.’…He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the LORD is powerful and so that you might always fear the LORD your God.”

Joshua- 21, 22, and 24

O- These stones were reminders of God’s power and what He did for His people and those who obeyed His commands. God is with the priests in the middle of the Jordan and they just stand there until everyone crosses and until Joshua or God commands them to come out from the bottom of the river. Sometimes, I forget what God has done in my life and I need to be reminded of those things. I also need to remember that He is with me when I do what I am called to do and I have nothing to be afraid of except for God Himself.

A- Instead of an action plan and having an practical application, this passage is like an encouragement. At times I can already feel discouragement set in such as when I don’t know what to say or how to act, but this chapter reminded me that God is always with me wherever I go, every step of the way.

P- Dear God,

Thank you for the much needed encouragement and reminder that you are always with me. I am sorry that I’m not always listening to you or ignoring or just doubting you. I ask that I pray for a spirit of courage and wisdom in all the things you ask of me. In Jesus’ name, Amen

S:  V. 3-4 says “When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, and the priests, who are Levites, carrying it, you are to move out from your positions and follow it.  Then you will know which way to go, since you have never been this way before.”

O: In this chapter, Joshua is instructing the Israelites what to do.  He was specific.  When they saw the ark of the covenant, they were to move out and follow and that is what they did.  The Israelites trusted Joshua to guide them because they did not know the way.  They also trusted that Joshua was in conversation with God because when Joshua spoke to them, he said “listen to the words of the Lord your God.”

A: -continue to trust in those who are the appointed leaders over me (Pastor David, the leaders of my accountability group at church, Robert)

-to be a leader that is in conversation with God and to listen to God for His specific instructions and to follow those instructions

P: Dear God,

I ask that You continue to bless an anoint those you have appointed as leaders of Your church.  May I continue to trust them and to humbly come under their guidance.  I also ask that I would be a listener of Your instructions and to follow what you say. Amen.

Joshua 2:9 “she said to them, “I know that the LORD has given this land to you and that a great fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you.”

Every single time I’ve tried to start a conversation about GOD with my non-Christian friends that I grew up with, the atmosphere in room becomes tense. It’s almost like when you and your buddy are having lunch somewhere, and that one ex-girlfriend walks in with her new boyfriend and sits at the adjacent table from where you were happily enjoying your meal. Now, not only have you lost your appetite but you have to put on the defensive act that everything is ok and perfectly fine.

In Joshua 2, we see the people of Jericho turn towards this defensive mode. And thus the King of Jericho immediately seeks after these spies in order to purge them from his city. However, Rahab understands why they are there and who these people are. Thus she welcomes them into her home and offers them shelter and safe passage. GOD works in our hearts the very same way. When GOD presents himself he often is accompanied by those seeking to destroy Him. We need to welcome him into the walls of our hearts and shield Him from the outside world just as Rahab welcomed these Israelites into the walls of Jericho. It is then, when we have truly embraced Him and when we have tied the cord stained with the blood of Jesus around our lives will we be free in his love.

I pray today that I can be reminded that everything is on His time and that nothing I do can accelerate that process. I pray that I have courage to continue to to dive into conversations about You with those in my life. I pray that the fear you have struck into the hearts of those who don’t know you can turn into seeds of curiosity. And lastly I pray that those seeds, once planted in their hearts can continue to grow and seek shelter.

Joshua 1:9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.

I ordered a book on amazon by Victoria Osteen for my aunt for Christmas, but unfortunately (or was it fortunate according to God’s will?) it didn’t arrive until a week after all the festivites. And because I had already given her another Christmas present, I ended up keeping the book for myself.

As I read through it though, I was dissappointed that there really wasn’t anything of much substance. But right before I was about to put the book down, I started reading something that held my attention long enough to stir something in me. Victoria Osteen was explaining how she was holding a hot cup of tea in her hand…ready to enjoy it after a long day at church. But all of a sudden, her little nephew spotted her and charged toward her. She braced herself for the impact, and the moment he collided into her legs and embraced her, Victoria was forced to put down, and let go of her hot cup of tea in order to fully return her love as well as fully recieve the child’s love. She went on to explain that in our lives, we have things that we hold on to. Sometimes it’s a good thing, sometimes it’s a bad thing, and sometimes it’s neither good or bad. But ALWAYS, God has something greater He wants to give us or fill us with. And it’s only a matter of letting go of what we have now that we will be able to fully give or fully recieve something GREATER.

Currently, I am working very comfortably at my doctor’s colonoscopy office. It pays well enough where I can support myself living away from home as well as go out to eat/treat people out without having to worry too much about finances. I get to meet new people everyday as well as build relationships with people I’ve met before. I get to stimulate my brain as I learn new things each day about health insurance or diagnoses for different types of colon diseases or problems. I get to have time to do things like this..write blogs, or read books by Victoria Osteen.

But since about two weeks ago, God has been placing on my heart an urgency to move forward from this job. To stop being stagnant. To start flowing again like a stream. And my first step is to LET GO of this job I have right now. But it’s not easy! It’s not easy when you’re comfortable with where you are. It’s not easy when you’re TERRIFIED of the idea of not finding another job in due time. It’s not easy when I feel like God isn’t with me in the decision I’m making in my life.

But this is where today’s Bible reading of Joshua 1:9 comes into play in my life. “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged. For the Lord, your God will be with you wherever you go.”    

Yes, I have been feeling discouraged and yes, I have been feeling terrified. But in the year 2010, God is calling me and ALL OF YOU to BREAK THROUGH those feelings of discouragements and fear as we take COURAGE from the Lord. Taking courage isn’t some kind of feeling we get from trying to force it into our hearts. Taking courage is an action step that we take in order to meet God halfway. Taking courage isn’t easy when we feel like we are in this alone. But that’s the thing. We AREN’T IN THIS ALONE. God has our back. And so does your community of brothers and sisters in Christ. 

So whatever it is that you’re holding onto that’s keeping you from experiencing a spiritual breakthrough, whether it be feelings of fears, complacency, arrogance, laizness…or tangible things like a careers or relationships, it’s time to LET IT GO and move forward until we experience a spiritual breakthrough in our lives.

Today, and for the rest of this year, let’s meditate on Joshua 1:9 and ask God how we can experience spiritual breakthrough when we choose to live courageously for Him.