His Sweet Promise

I like to begin the year with a 21-day Daniel Fast. It helps me to receive break through in areas I have been struggling with and gives me direction. It has become a special time of increased intimacy with my Heavenly Father. 

This year, I am fasting for my husband. His walk, his talk, his work, his relationships, and his God-given position as the spiritual leader of our family. His salvation and walk with the Lord have been heavy on my heart for quite some time. My biggest dream is for our family (our WHOLE family) to study, serve, worship, and pray together. I want them to have the greatest Gift of all - Jesus. Even though, God confirms in His Word that His will is just that for my family, I tend to listen to the enemy far too often. I fall into his trap when he tells me that my dream is hopeless, and my husband has too much pride to ever follow Jesus. The enemy tells me that it will always be me, all alone, leading my children to Jesus. I could go on and on with all of the lies that I believe that keep me in a constant state of defeat. So much doubt. So much unbelief. No freedom.

I'm in the last few days of my 2017 fast and while I've received some encouragement from the Lord in my husband's changes in behavior, a dream I had one night, and some prophetic words from my wonderful, godly girl friends, I was still not feeling like I had received what I was longing for.

But God is faithful. 

Last night, I was scrolling Instagram when I came upon an add for an app (it is called Verses) that helps you memorize Scripture, which is something I've been wanting to do more of. I installed it immediately, chose a topic and was given Joshua 1:8 to learn.

Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then, you will be prosperous and successful.

I went through several of the exercises in the app and committed it to memory. Then, for the first time in weeks, I opened my First 5 (devotional) app and it brought me right to the beginning of the Joshua study that they are currently working through. Joshua chapter 1! Coincidence? Nope!  However, while I enjoyed the devotion and found much of it helpful, it wasn't until I was in prayer this morning that I received that for which I had been searching. As I was journaling and asking the Holy Spirit where He wanted me to go in His Word, He reminded me of the "coincidence" from last night and had me open to Joshua 1. After a few verses, I was a weepy mess as God gave me the promise for which I had been waiting, longing, hoping, and fasting. 

Joshua 1:5-9

No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them.

Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left,that you may be successful wherever you go. Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.

I strongly believe that there are no other verses in the entire Bible that would speak more life into me in my situation than these. This promise, meant personally for me today, jumped off of the page and into my weary heart. I know, without a doubt, that He has made me and my family a promise.

He has promised me that He will never leave me in this journey of leading my family to the Promise Land. In this case, the dream, the Promise Land, is that my entire family would walk with Jesus. With Him by my side, the enemy cannot stand against us. I can be strong and without fear because I WILL lead my precious loves to inherit the land. He wants me to pay close attention to obeying Him in the directions that He gives me. In this season where I am leading, He wants me to grow in knowledge of His Word. Cling to it. Meditate on it and be careful to walk in obedience of Him. If I remain faithful, He says I will have prosperity and success in my pursuit! I LOVE that He says more than once to be strong and courageous and encourages me to not be afraid or discouraged by what I see around me or what lies I hear from the enemy. Now, I know, without any doubt, that He is with me, and my sweet family, my sweet husband, His lost child, is in His hands. 

What an honor that He has entrusted me with the task of leading my daughter, my son, and my husband, to the Promise Land. Oh, I cannot WAIT to see it!

Amen!