“Not one of these men of this evil generation shall see the good land that I swore to give to your fathers, except Caleb the son of Jephunneh. He shall see it, and to him and to his children I will give the land on which he has trodden, because he has wholly followed the Lord!” — Deuteronomy 1:35-36 ESV
The last blog emphasised how we can move forward in faith especially when we face challenging situations. This can be done by reading, meditating and focusing on God’s Word.
As Christians, the Bible is our blueprint, lifeline and lighthouse. Without God’s Word in our lives, we will struggle to navigate life, know and choose the right path to follow. And thanks be to God, we have the Holy Spirit that helps us understand what the Father is saying to us.
Another tool for moving forward is remembering the past victories and deeds that the Lord has done both in our lives and in other believers. The Israelites that left Egypt, quickly forgot the miracles of the plagues, the crossing of the Red Sea and the destruction of Pharaoh and his army.
When we remember past victories that God has given us, it should lead to praise and thanksgiving. And when we praise and give thanks, all fears, anxieties and worries melt away in the presence of the Lord.
That’s why I love the song “I raise a Hallelujah”— picking out some of the words of the song— “I raise a Hallelujah, my weapon is a melody, I will watch the darkness flee. I raise a hallelujah, in the middle of the mystery, fear, you lost your hold on me!” Once you remember God’s wondrous, marvellous works, you start praising, and your courage and faith will rise in the Lord.
Remember that everything God tells us to do is for our benefit and good. His ways and plans for us are perfect. He said, “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the Lord. ‘They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.’” Jeremiah 29:11 (NLT)
When we fail to move forward in faith there may be consequences that can affect us and those close to us. The Israelites languished and roamed the wilderness for 40 years with the majority of them missing out on entering the promised land.
For us, it could mean living an unfulfilled life, which could lead to frustration, anger and bitterness. There’s also the risk of showing resentment and jealousy especially when we see others that have stepped out and the Lord is using and blessing their life.
King Saul is a good example of this, he refused to obey God’s commands as instructed by Samuel and the kingdom was taken from him. Seeing David conquer Goliath and hearing the market women’s song in praise of David, he knew deep down that David was his successor. The bitterness and jealousy meant he spent the majority of his reign trying to kill David.
Moving Forward in Faith sometimes requires risk-taking. In the next blog, we will discuss a few Bible characters who stepped out in faith, risking everything.
Stay blessed,
LaraLex
Hills and Valleys 