“In three days, you will cross the Jordan River.
This is my command—be strong and courageous!
For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9-11

The river was dark with fear: hesitations, doubts, timidity, paralysis. On this side stood the people of Israel, on the other, the land of God’s promise. Just step in. Walk across. Easy! Right?

Wrong! There were two problems. The first was physical, the second spiritual. The Jordan was at flood stage: wide, deep, fast, and dangerous. God worked a miracle. The waters stopped. The river dried up.

Problem one solved.

The people had to solve the problem two. God was going to carry them across. They had to wade through it. The river of fear had to be crossed on foot. The only solution was courage.

Life sometimes takes us to the banks of fearful rivers. God is not going to carry us across. “Step in and walk,” He says. “Time to get going.” That first step can be terrifying! How do you take it?

God gave Joshua a command: “Be strong and courageous.” Courage? It’s hard but not an option. “Lift up your drooping hands,” Hebrews says, “and strengthen your weak knees” (Hebrews 1:12).

God also gave a promise. “I will be with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9).  Sounds like Jesus, “I am with you even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).

Are you standing before a river of fear? God has brought you to it. Your task is to gather courage. God will supply His presence.

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you… and they will not overwhelm you” (Isaiah 43:2).

Father, I’m scared of the next step. Help me to gather my courage and find strength in you. Amen.

Dr. Guy Safford
Used by permission

www.thelife.com/dailydevotions

FURTHER READING

• When We Are Fearful
• Fear Not
• Don’t Get Lost in Your Troubles

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https://thoughtsaboutgod.com/four-laws

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The post Crossing the River of Fear appeared first on Thoughts About God.

When we study what Jesus taught, it is obvious to me that He came to make us “unoffendable.” Consider: He says that if someone slaps you on one cheek, offer him the other (Luke 6:29). He said to love our enemies and bless those who curse us (Luke 6:27-28). What He’s really doing is showing us how an unoffendable heart of love overcomes all adversity.

We pray, “Lord, I want to change.” To answer our prayer, He sometimes must put us in situations that perfectly offend us. The offense itself awakens our need of grace. Thus, the Lord precipitates change by first offending the area of our soul He desires to transform. He does not expect us to merely survive this adversity but to become Christlike in it.

Ask Joseph in the Old Testament: the land of offense became the land of his anointing and power because he possessed an unoffendable heart. He never stopped trusting God in spite of the injustices and trials he faced.

Listen my friends: the destiny God has for us unfolds or withers at the junction of offense. How we handle offense is the key to our tomorrow.

“Those who love [God’s] law have great peace, and nothing causes them to stumble” (Psalms 119:165).

Lord, grant me that new creation heart that can walk as Jesus walked through a world of offenses without stumbling. I want to see everything as an opportunity to pray, everything as an opportunity to become Christlike. Lord help me to interpret offenses as opportunities that lead to transformations. Grant me, Lord Jesus, the pulse and beat of Your unoffendable heart. Amen.

By Francis Frangipane
Used by Permission

Francis Frangipane
info@frangipane.org
www.frangipane.org
www.icitc.org
www.arrowbookstore.com

Further Reading

•   Going Deeper with God

•   Forgiveness – Yourself and  Others

•  Salvation Explained

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