Prepare To Go

Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying, “Pass through the midst of the camp and command the people, saying, ‘Prepare provisions for yourselves, for within three days you are to cross this Jordan, to go in to possess the land which the Lord your God is giving you, to possess it.’"
Joshua 1:10-11
           
The time has come – the time to start a new year, the time to embrace change, the time to move forward, and the time to follow God wherever it is He is leading us!  What an exciting time for those that like change and what a terrifying time for those who don’t!  As Joshua and the Israelites were getting ready to make that big change they were given three days to prepare and to pack.  What would you have done to prepare for the big move?  What provisions (only the essential things) would you take for the journey and for your new life?  They had some things to consider and evaluate.

Whenever we move or make changes in life we are forced to evaluate what we really need and what is not necessary.  What do we need to take with us on this journey and into this new phase of our life?  Inevitably there are things that get left behind, things we determined are not as important (or as essential) as they once were.  But, we may also end up taking things with us that we will later learn we didn’t actually need.  For instance, how many boats were taken to the Jordan river – because why wouldn't you need a boat to cross a river?  As it turned out God had another way – He divided the river and they walked across on dry ground! 

The real question we need to ask ourselves is are we willing to leave the old and unnecessary behind?  The hardest things for us to leave are always the things we found value in at some point or brought us comfort.  Those are hard to leave because they have worked for us before.  But, maybe, in this new life God has called us to, we don’t need them anymore.  Maybe, god has a new way and a new plan that is better.  Would you rather have to row a boat across the Jordan or watch God split the waters and just walk across on dry ground?

​Trust God as we start this new year and this new journey.  Be ready to drop what you don’t need and follow His lead.  He is ready to part the river and lead you on to victory.  We may not know all the details of how, but we don’t need to.  All we need to know is the One we are following and the one who has promised victory.
 
Pastor Matt