– Joshua 6:10
SHHHHHHHHHHH!
Can you imagine? Millions of people gathered, poised to take over a city, adrenaline pumping, heart racing, marching in circles . . . in complete silence. No way! Not even a whisper? No one saying "Oy, all this dust is killing my sinuses" or "Is this the 5th time around or the 6th?" I know these are silly examples but that's exactly my point. I'm the type of guy who would say something to the guy next to me, just to break the tension and to try to ease some of the nervous energy. But at this time, in this situation, I believe that the Israelites had seen enough of God's unusual ways of bringing about victory that they knew to stay quiet until the time was right. No one dared whisper a word for fear of being the one who prevented God from fulfilling His promise.
Would we do that today? Or would we scoff at the ludicrous and the illogical and try to change God's plans to fit our own understanding of how things should go? Would we be willing to stay when the situation appeared to require us to go? Would we be OK with waiting when moving forward would seem to be the logical thing to do? How about sitting in silence when voicing our opinion would surely and quickly call attention to a problem? Sometimes all those logical things are appropriate, but then there are other times when not doing the obvious is exactly what God requires. Are you be able to recognize the difference?
The key is being willing to let God stay in front of our plans and our own ideas. When He leads, it is easy to get in step behind HIm, but when we try to get ahead of God, when we rush into situations without taking the time to let Him give us clear instructions, we run the risk of being out of God's will. We, in our well-meaning, "git-er-done" frame of mind, can even prevent God from fulfilling the promise that He had planned, and instead, He will allow us to fail miserably. Oh we might make some noise on our own, and initially, our efforts may produce some results, but because we got ahead of God, our efforts will eventually fall short, and the work we started will fizzle and become ineffective.
So let's get behind God. Let's learn to listen to His voice before we act. Let's learn to move when He says move and go when He says "GO!" Let's be so in tune with God that we recognize and understand how to be about His work so that He brings the victory in every situation.
It's good to be doers of the Word, but let's make sure it's His Word and not our own that we are doing. And when it's time, and we hear Him say "Shout," then let's be ready to shout away, at the top of our lungs, so all the world will see, and hear, and know that our God is THE God. The God who brings down walls, and breaks through barriers, and fulfills every promise through His people who are called by His name, and who clearly hear His voice.
Prayer
Father, we want to get to know You so well that we can clearly hear Your voice. We want to know and understand Your will so we can be effective ministers of Your Word. Help us to be in tune with You Lord. Help us to discern when it's time to move and when it's time to be still. Forgive us for the times when we get ahead of You. Show us the way Lord and we will follow in Your footprints so that Your Will be done, in every situation.
Have a blessed day everyone!
– Richard
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