Crossing the Jordan: “Write”

God definitely has a sense of humor. But, he also knows how to deal with us lovingly, directly and how to best get our attention.

I am really tired right now.

Two nights ago the Spirit awoke me at 1:30 am. I did not get to fall into deep sleep until 6am. Granted, I laid there and flip-flopped between reading my bible, praying and doing my best to focus on him. I also read through my WP reader blog and then went back to prayer. That sleepless night has made for a rough two days. I can’t seem to get caught up on rest. Which I usually try and focus on since I am working on healing my borderline Adrenal Fatigue & Hashimotos – but I digress. Sleep or the lack thereof is not the point.

Ten minutes ago, I was tinkering with what blog post I should write next. I started, deleted. Started and got frustrated..I was ready to run for the hills in search of chocolate.

While chocolate is a mainstay for many people, I am seriously trying to kick the sugar habit. Sugar is toxic to my gut/thyroid. I have done enough reading to know sugar nor chocolate are my friends.

So, as I paused at the keyboard and held my head in my hands I asked God “What can I eat that will help this craving? What will help curb this?

Five minutes later, after I dried my daughter’s hair and went to brush my own, I got my answer: “Write.”

The response was actually a double answer. Always remember to be careful what you ask for!

Last year, when I was still on facebook, I remember a ton of people saying what their “Word of the Year” was for 2015. I started asking the same question but never heard anything. (Note: I did ask once or twice about this in the days leading up to New Year’s.)

As I stood there and brushed, the Holy Spirit conveyed:

“You don’t need chocolate to satisfy a craving. Nothing from this world will satiate what your soul is needing. You have a story to tell, God’s Story. You see it as darkness, sin and shame. He sees you and all that happened. It was for a purpose. Let Him work through you to display His Glory. So that you too can see the same things He does.

You need to ‘Write,’ that is your Word for the year.

Chocolate won’t replace what it is that needs to be dealt with. You need to cross the Jordan. You need not fear. You have the power of Jesus within, you possess it. Let him be your compass. Keep your eyes fixated on the one who is leading you.”

It will be worth it.

Trust Me. Believe Me. Write. 

Joshua 3 New Living Translation (NLT)

The Israelites Cross the Jordan

3 Early the next morning Joshua and all the Israelites left Acacia Grove^[a] and arrived at the banks of the Jordan River, where they camped before crossing. ² Three days later the Israelite officers went through the camp, ³ giving these instructions to the people: “When you see the Levitical priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord your God, move out from your positions and follow them. ⁴ Since you have never traveled this way before, they will guide you. Stay about half a mile^[b] behind them, keeping a clear distance between you and the Ark. Make sure you don’t come any closer.”

⁵ Then Joshua told the people, “Purify yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do great wonders among you.”

⁶ In the morning Joshua said to the priests, “Lift up the Ark of the Covenant and lead the people across the river.” And so they started out and went ahead of the people.

⁷ The Lord told Joshua, “Today I will begin to make you a great leader in the eyes of all the Israelites. They will know that I am with you, just as I was with Moses. ⁸ Give this command to the priests who carry the Ark of the Covenant: ‘When you reach the banks of the Jordan River, take a few steps into the river and stop there.’”

⁹ So Joshua told the Israelites, “Come and listen to what the Lord your God says. ¹⁰ Today you will know that the living God is among you. He will surely drive out the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites, and Jebusites ahead of you. ¹¹ Look, the Ark of the Covenant, which belongs to the Lord of the whole earth, will lead you across the Jordan River! ¹² Now choose twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one from each tribe. ¹³ The priests will carry the Ark of the Lord, the Lord of all the earth. As soon as their feet touch the water, the flow of water will be cut off upstream, and the river will stand up like a wall.”

¹⁴ So the people left their camp to cross the Jordan, and the priests who were carrying the Ark of the Covenant went ahead of them. ¹⁵ It was the harvest season, and the Jordan was overflowing its banks. But as soon as the feet of the priests who were carrying the Ark touched the water at the river’s edge, ¹⁶ the water above that point began backing up a great distance away at a town called Adam, which is near Zarethan. And the water below that point flowed on to the Dead Sea^[c] until the riverbed was dry. Then all the people crossed over near the town of Jericho.

¹⁷ Meanwhile, the priests who were carrying the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant stood on dry ground in the middle of the riverbed as the people passed by. They waited there until the whole nation of Israel had crossed the Jordan on dry ground.

 

Father,

I pray for the strength to carry out this directive, to remain obedient. Fill me with your wisdom and understanding…

The Lord’s Prayer: (Book of Matthew)

“Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed by thy name. Thy Kingdom come, thy Will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For thine is The Kingdom and The Power and The Glory, forever and ever.

Amen