Crossed Any Rivers Lately?

Is there a "river" in your life you just can't seem to get across? Are the "waters of doubt" keeping you on dry land? What will it take for you to step out into the deep?

In the book of Joshua, the nation of Israel can finally see the Promised Land of Canaan. They are so close to their inheritance, but there is one thing keeping them from occupying it - the Jordan River. It's spring and the waters of the Jordan are overflowing its banks. (Normally the river was about 100 feet wide, but during the flood season, it became a mile wide). God chose this time and location to demonstrate His power (once again). God parted the Red Sea to let the people out of Egypt, now He will part the Jordan River to let them into Canaan.

Joshua 3:8 instructs the priests who are carrying the ark of the covenant,"When you reach the edge of the Jordan's waters, go and stand in the river." What if the priests had been too afraid to enter the rushing waters? What if they had refused to take the first step? Often God provides no solution to our problems until we trust Him and move ahead with what we know we should do! Unless we step out by faith and "get our feet wet", we're not likely to make much progress in living for Christ and serving Him.

In verse 17, we see that each step the priests took, God opened the waters before them until they were standing "on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan..." Don't you think God wants to do the same for us? But we have to be willing to take the first step. Notice they didn't stay close to shore, or stick their big toe in to "test the waters", they walked by faith, to the middle of the river!

Walking by faith :: a concept the Bible is full of. "For we walk by faith, not by sight" 2 Cor. 5:7. "Get up! Pick up your mat and walk" John 5:8. "The land on which your feet have walked will be your inheritance..." Joshua 14:9. "March/walk around the city with all the armed men. Do this for six days..." Joshua 6:3. I encourage you to do your own word search and find more examples of how walking, trusting and faith go hand in hand.

Walking requires action. Action requires direction. Direction requires a guide. Our Guide is God and His Word. The people in Joshua's army didn't know why they were walking around the city of Jericho day after day, but they did it. The priests didn't know why they had to walk into the water before it would stop flowing, but they did it. Peter didn't know why he had to walk on the water to come to Jesus, but he did it. You may not understand why God is asking you to step out in faith and obey Him, but if you want to experience your own miracle, you need to do things His way. He's waiting to help you across that river in your life that's keeping you from your spiritual inheritance; your own Promised Land. Don't let the "waters of doubt" and the Enemy keep you for stepping out in faith.

The book of Joshua ends with his charge to the nation of Israel , " But be very careful to keep the commandment and the law that Moses gave you: to love the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways, to obey His commands, to hold fast to Him and to serve Him with all your heart and all your soul" Joshua 22:5.

Active faith - walking - does not require that you understand all or any of what God is doing in your life. Trust Him. Attempt the impossible by submitting to God's directions, and watch the troubled waters of your seemingly impossible situation part before your eyes!

Online Class: Choose your question this week....look forward to reading your comments. Also, leave your "I am....." statements...you've come up with some great ones!!