Courageous Choices Part 3Sample

CAREFULLY & PATIENTLY FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS

Now Joshua has the instructions from God. He calls the Priest and the people together and gives them the “battle plan.” Years ago, the Israelites had defeated the Amorites, and this generation is itching to be battle-tested. But now they are being told to just march around the city for 7 days. This strategy probably sounds dumb to them! But the thing to remember is that this is about God’s work- He had just blocked the waters of the Jordan so they could cross, plus Joshua was face to face with the Commander of the army of the Lord so he is going to carefully obey what God has told him. In fact, he’s so careful that we get to read the same instructions multiple times! It’s super clear, that Joshua is following all the instructions down to a T. And amongst that careful preparation and execution was extreme patience. Jericho was right there for the taking. These warriors are ready to taste victory, but first, they must be patient for seven days while they march around the city. Jericho was about 10 acres in size so the daily march would have taken only about an hour. But imagine 7 laps on the seventh day! It would have taken them close to seven hours to march around the wall. How exhausted and irritated they must have felt. But, through all of this, Joshua and the people chose to be patiently obedient.

Ask Yourself:

-Where do you need to be patient with God and his plan for you?

-Has the Lord asked you to do things you consider odd or stupid?

-How are you and others blessed when you obey God?

Pause to Pray: Ask the Lord to guide and be patient with you. Pray that He would help you to live in the Spirit and follow His prompting instead of you falling into the groove of the old human nature and reacting and acting as you always have in the past.

Take a Next Step:

-Find your chair daily- reading God’s word and listening in prayer. Choose to patiently wait on the Lord as you make courageous choices.