**Update** If you weren’t able to join us live last Thursday, you can listen to our conversation HERE.

Today from 11:00-12:00 EST, I’m joining my dear friend and mentor, Lisa Shaw, on her online radio show The Whole Woman. We’d love for you to join us as we chat about Jesus and living upside-down for Him. If you can’t join us live, our time together will be recorded and I’ll send out the link to the podcast when it’s available.

They sit on the stage together, a young married couple, the pastor to their left. Their children, one girl and one boy, are little. In a few short months they’ll make their home in a different land, surrounded by a different people group, learning and speaking a different language. They tell their story; how they’ve sold worldly possessions, given away treasures, rid themselves of the “American dream” and said ‘yes’ to their Jesus calling.

I sit and listen, nodding and smiling and even wiping away tears as they share how God has paved this way for them. They ask for support and prayers, and corporately we, the church, agree to lift prayers to the throne for their family, for their mission, for their Jesus calling.

Their time of sharing concludes and we pray and applaud their ‘yes’. But, my applause of support and encouragement becomes paused. And I drop my hands onto my lap and wonder, “Am I doing enough for Jesus? Am I saying ‘yes’ to my Jesus calling?”

****************

He stands, the preacher’s son, beside his dad, the preacher. And this preacher-dad tells us how proud he is of his son. He tells us of the years of wilderness roaming his son traveled and of the place in which God has now brought him. I sit up straighter in my seat. My eyes, they spill over with tears. I’ve lived this preacher’s son’s story; the preacher’s daughter who chose her own way, who spent many years wandering through wilderness lands.

This redeemed wilderness traveler, he spent some time in a foreign land, and now he’s going to do it again he tells us…this time for Jesus. For eleven months he’ll make his home in eleven different lands, ministering to different people groups, learning and speaking different languages.

Their time of sharing concludes and we pray for this preacher’s son, we commission him, and we applaud his ‘yes’. But, my applause of support and encouragement becomes paused. And I drop my hands onto my lap and wonder, “Am I doing enough for Jesus? Am I saying ‘yes’ to my Jesus calling?”

****************

I flip through the mail and stop when I see her smiling face. She sent us a prayer postcard. She’s traveling to a different land this summer, to minister to a people group different from her own, and she’ll learn to speak a different language in order to tell others of Jesus’ love. My heart swells with pride. She’s not my own, but I’m so very proud of the young Jesus-loving lady she’s becoming. She’s saying ‘yes’ to her Jesus calling, pursuing Him on this trip, seeking out His plans for her life.

I place her prayer postcard in my Bible so that I’ll remember to pray for her daily. And this is what I pray: wisdom for God’s leading into this ripe field of missions, boldness to speak Truth to those He places in her path, a compassionate heart to meet the hurting in their pain, willing hands to serve those in need, the eyes of Jesus to see into the lives of those who live in silence, ears to hear words not spoken, tenderness to know the Spirit’s leading, and above all an obedient heart to follow hard after Jesus.

I send her an email telling her how excited I am for her and how I have no doubt God has great plans for her life. I encourage her to continue to seek God’s face in all things. I tell her I love her, I thank her for the privilege to pray for her, and I applaud her ‘yes’.

But, my applause of support and encouragement becomes paused. And I drop my hands onto my lap where my Bible sits open, a prayer postcard staring up at me and I wonder, “Am I doing enough for Jesus? Am I saying ‘yes’ to my Jesus calling?”

****************

I listen to all these stories and many others; stories of those adopting, of those digging wells for the thirsty, of those organizing food drives for the hungry, and of those nursing the sick. I applaud them all, really I do. But, I drop my hands and I wonder, “Am I doing enough for Jesus? Am I saying ‘yes’ to my Jesus calling?”

Maybe I’m the only one who looks at others and thinks that my doing isn’t enough. Maybe…but I doubt it. I think we all suffer from paused applause; the applause of praise paused because we wonder, “Am I doing enough for Jesus? Am I saying ‘yes’ to my Jesus calling?”

What I’ve come to understand and embrace is this: God has created us all uniquely different and called us each to a different ‘yes’. And He’s asking each of us to drop our hands, not in paused applause, but in total surrender. Surrender to do whatever, wherever, and however. A surrendered ‘yes’ life lived in such a way that results in a world turned upside down for Jesus. Our ‘yeses’ aren’t the same; they can’t be compared. My living out my Jesus ‘yes’ can only be lived out to its fullest by me, no one else. And the same goes for you; only you can live out your Jesus ‘yes’.

So, am I doing enough for Jesus? Are you doing enough for Jesus? If we’re dropping our hands in surrender, saying ‘yes’ to our Jesus calling—whether that ‘yes’ is doing (again) the same Monday morning mountain of laundry, washing a sink full of dirty dishes, changing dirty diapers and wiping runny noses, loving on and encouraging a woman who just lost her spouse, cheering on the couple who want to end their marriage, preparing dinner for a family agonizing over a wayward child, listening to a recovering addict tell their story, chatting and laughing with a lesbian or gay friend over coffee, spending a Saturday at the homeless shelter playing card games with the homeless—whatever our ‘yes’ is, then we’re absolutely doing enough for Jesus and our applause for others should never become paused because we’re all fulfilling our kingdom purpose.

For we are the product of His hand, heaven’s poetry etched on lives, created in the Anointed, Jesus, to accomplish the good works God arranged long ago.

Ephesians 2:10, the Voice

It’s that time of year. Time to trim the tree and deck the halls.

Time for Fa-la-la-la-la’s and jingles all the way.

But…

What IS the purpose of Christmas?

Is it the beautiful evergreens that light up our family rooms
or the snowmen decorations that sit on our mantels?

Is the purpose of Christmas to see just how many lights we can hang from our rooftops
and blowup Santa’s we can adorn our yards with before the breaker blows?

Could it be that the true purpose of Christmas goes much,
much deeper than the beautifully wrapped presents that sit beneath our trees
and the stockings that hang strategically by the chimney?

Could it be?

Yes, indeed!

I do believe it could be…in fact, it IS.

The purpose of Christmas?

A promise,
made by God
to a sinful people.

A promise,
that from the woman
a Seed would come.

A Seed that would
heal mankind of the
disease of sin.

Christmas is
God’s promise fulfilled
through the Seed,
His Son,
our Savior,
Jesus Christ.

Christmas IS the promise of healing for all those who believe.

“So the Lord gave to Israel all the land of which He had sworn to give to their fathers, and they took possession of it and dwelt in it. The Lord gave them rest all around, according to all that He had sworn to their fathers. And not a man of all their enemies stood against them; the Lord delivered all their enemies into their hand. Not a word failed of any good thing which the Lord had spoken to the house of Israel. All came to pass.”

Joshua 21:43-45, NKJV

Upon the completion of the distribution of the Promised Land to the twelve tribes of Israel they could then settle in and become the nation God intended them to be. They could practice the laws and the statues God had given to Moses on Mt. Sinai and they could live out those laws, being an example to other nations, reaping the benefits of a life of obedience.

“The LORD gave them rest all around, according to all that He has sworn to their fathers. And not a man of all their enemies stood against them; the Lord delivered all their enemies into their hand.” God was faithful to His people. He provided for and He fought for His cherished treasure. He never one time failed them.

“Not a word failed of any good thing which the Lord had spoken to the house of Israel. All came to pass.” All came to pass…all that God said He would do, He did. Because He is trustworthy and can, without a doubt, be taken at His word.

His spoken Word penned to paper by His chosen.

His Word. Living and active. Sharper than any two-edged sword.

His Word. It revives the dead. Heals the wounded. Binds the broken-hearted.

His Word. Restores the lost. Redeems the sinners. Transforms the wayward. Grants hope to the hopeless.

His Word breathes life. Rains grace. Gifts mercy.

God’s Word is perfect (Psalm 19:7a). It contains no error (Romans 7:12).

God’s Word is sure (Psalm 19:7b). It is absolute. IT.IS.TRUTH (Psalm 111:7).

God’s Word is right (Psalm 19:8a). It is in no way wrong (Pslam 119:160).

God’s Word is pure and enlightening because it flows from One who is the essence of holiness (Psalm 19:8b; 1 Peter 1:15; Psalm 119:130).

God’s Word is true and righteous (Psalm 19:9; John 17:17).

God’s Word is worth more than gold (Psalm 19:10; Psalm 119:72; Proverbs 8:10-11).

And because God’s Word is perfect, sure, right, pure and enlightening, true and righteous, worth far more than gold, and living and active it will…convert us from sin to holiness (Ephesians 5:26; 1 Peter 1:23); give us wisdom in knowing how to handle situations (Hebrews 6:18-19); cause our hearts to rejoice (Psalm 119:111); shed light on our sin and give us light for our journey (Psalm 119:105); endure forever and ever (Hebrews 4:12); give us warning and keep us from destruction (Psalm 17:4); and bring eternal reward, blessed salvation (2 Timothy 3:15).

God’s Word never fails. All that He promised His people He’d do, He did. And all that He promises us today, He will do!

Application:

Today, I encourage you to read through the application questions/activities that are woven throughout today’s reading. Consider sharing with us in the comments section what God is speaking to you? If you’d rather not share, please feel free to email me at jenifer@jeniferjernigan.com. I’d love to connect with you, pray with you, walk with you, answer any questions you might have, and encourage you any way that I can.

Do you believe God?

Do you believe God’s Word?

Do you trust that God will do what He says He will do?

My friend, people will fail us. They’ll go back on their word. They’ll lie to us. They’ll manipulate us with words. But God…He will never go back on His Word. He will never manipulate us into anything. And He will never lie to us. That goes against the nature of His character. You can trust Him!

Take the brave step today of trusting God and His Word.

Downloads for Taking BRAVE Steps into Abundant Living: a study of Joshua, week 13

Taking BRAVE Steps into Abundant Living- week 13 Guide

Find Taking BRAVE Steps into Abundant Living- week 1 here.

Find Taking BRAVE Steps into Abundant Living- week 2 here.

Find Taking BRAVE Steps into Abundant Living- week 3 here.

Diving Deeper into Intimate Relationship

Find Taking BRAVE Steps into Abundant Living- week 4 here.

Find Taking BRAVE Steps into Abundant Living- week 5 here.

Find Taking BRAVE Steps into Abundant Living- week 6 here.

Find Taking BRAVE Steps into Abundant Living- week 7 here.

Find Taking BRAVE Steps into Abundant Living- week 8 here.

Find Taking BRAVE Steps into Abundant Living- week 9 here.

Find Taking BRAVE Steps into Abundant Living- week 10 here.

Find Taking BRAVE Steps into Abundant Living- week 11 here.

Find Taking BRAVE Steps into Abundant Living- week 12 here.

“And Joshua said unto the children of Israel, How long are ye slack to go to possess the land, which the LORD God of your fathers hath given you?”

Joshua 18:3, KJV (emphasis added)

There remained seven tribes who had yet to receive their inheritance; they had yet to lay claim to the land God had promised. Why? Why had they not taken possession of what God had already declared their own? Why were they “slack”?

Slack is a transliteration of the Hebrew word, ra?pha?h. It means to be slack, be remiss, be idle; to be weak, be feeble; to desist; to sink down; to be despondent, be disheartened; to be lazy. (Zodhiates, Spiros. The Complete Word Study of Old Testament: Bringing the Original Text to Life (New King James Version). Chattanooga: AMG Publishers, 1994. Print.)

Lazy. It stands out to me. Because so very often, I find myself being lazy in the work God has called me to. And in my laziness I fail to lay claim to the life of abundant living He has for me.

Joshua spoke into their slackness, their laziness, and encouraged them to get up and get busy.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It was definitely not my intention. My plan was to drive; to stay in the truck and enjoy the cold A/C blow on my face. My skin was already sun burned from the previous day’s swim club adventure with my kiddos, so to be out in the sun again wasn’t the wisest of choices. And, I was certainly not dressed for the occasion. Wearing a white tank underneath a cute little jacket, comfy Capri lounge pants, and black flip flops isn’t the usual attire one would wear for an undertaking of this magnitude. BUT, my daddy needed help and when daddy needs help- well, what’s a girl to do? So I took off my cute little jacket and all my jewelry, and with already fried skin joined him in the middle of the hay field.

The field was ready to be harvested. The hay had been cut, dried, and made into rectangular bales which were tied off neatly with two twine strings. Rows and rows and rows of hay bales lined the field with just enough room between each row for a vehicle to drive through.

“Let’s go to the end of that row over there,” my dad pointed as he surveyed the best place for us to begin. “We’ll pick up where the last group left off.”

And so it began, the tedious task of heave-hoeing 50 lbs. bales of hay and strategically placing them on the trailer so every one would fit and stack neatly.

One hundred and thirty something bales of hay were loaded onto the trailer that day. And by the time we were done I was disgustingly nasty and smelled of sweat mixed with scents of stale hay and a hint of the freesia deodorant that I’d applied to my underarms MANY hours earlier. My burnt, crispy skin was now blistered and very painful. My white shirt wasn’t so white anymore and was covered and filled with hay. And now, not only were my flip flops black, both of my feet were black from the dust in the field. But the day had been a complete success; the task that had been set before us had been accomplished.

Our Daddy, God Almighty, has set before each of us a task, a field that is ready to be harvested; a land that is ready to be conquered. And there’s no room for laziness in the mission before us.

You and I must get up and get busy!

Survey the field before you.

Your job is a field. The gas station where you fill your car with gas is a field. Those restaurants you frequent are fields. Play groups, kids sports teams, those moms you sit with while your girls practice dance; your church, home, and circle of friends are all fields God has placed you in for such a time as this. These are fields God has given you the job of claiming and conquering, working and cultivating for His glory.

Purposefully build relationships.

God has strategically placed within each of our lives “hay bales” that are ready to be picked up and loaded onto the trailer of eternal life. We must be purposeful about investing time into these persons. It will require sacrifice on our part and quite possibly will stretch us beyond our comfort zones. There’ll be times when we’ll pick up where others have left off, but there will also be times when we’ll begin our God given task on uncharted land; we’ll be called to start something new, traveling by faith alone into fresh soil that has yet to be sown into and harvested by His worker-warriors.

Work diligently.

Just as the rows of hay bales had exactly enough space for a vehicle to travel through, God will give us exactly what we need to travel down the paths He’s set before us. Yes, the task will be tedious. And yes, it will be hard work. It will require that we get our hands dirty and maybe even our feet a little dusty. But, in the end, when His task has been accomplished and our work on earth is done, it will all have been worth it- even if we do come out a little smelly and exhausted.

Pray for the harvest to come.

Pray for the individuals God has placed in your field. Pray that their hearts be opened to Him. Pray they are receptive to the Gospel message. Pray for lives to be changed. Pray that you would be faithful to the work God has called you to. The work of planting, cultivating, and harvesting souls for the Kingdom of God.

“Swing the sickle, for the time of harvest has come
the crop on earth is ripe.”
Revelation 14:15b, NLT

Application:

Today, I encourage you to read through the application questions/activities that are woven throughout today’s reading. Consider sharing with us in the comments section what God is speaking to you? If you’d rather not share, please feel free to email me at jenifer@jeniferjernigan.com. I’d love to connect with you, pray with you, walk with you, answer any questions you might have, and encourage you any way that I can.

Does today find you in a place of slackness, of laziness, of being idle in your walk with God and the work He’s called you to?

Friend, get up and get busy! Take the brave step forward and lay claim to your life of abundant living; plant, cultivate, and harvest your land of abundant living!

Downloads for Taking BRAVE Steps into Abundant Living: a study of Joshua, week 12

Taking BRAVE Steps into Abundant Living- week 12 Guide

Find Taking BRAVE Steps into Abundant Living- week 1 here.

Find Taking BRAVE Steps into Abundant Living- week 2 here.

Find Taking BRAVE Steps into Abundant Living- week 3 here.

Diving Deeper into Intimate Relationship

Find Taking BRAVE Steps into Abundant Living- week 4 here.

Find Taking BRAVE Steps into Abundant Living- week 5 here.

Find Taking BRAVE Steps into Abundant Living- week 6 here.

Find Taking BRAVE Steps into Abundant Living- week 7 here.

Find Taking BRAVE Steps into Abundant Living- week 8 here.

Find Taking BRAVE Steps into Abundant Living- week 9 here.

Find Taking BRAVE Steps into Abundant Living- week 10 here.

Find Taking BRAVE Steps into Abundant Living- week 11 here.

“…I wholly followed the LORD my God.”

Joshua 14:8, NKJV

We live in a day where waiting is something we aren’t very accustomed to doing. There’s just not much that you and I have to wait on or for these days.

For instance…

~Need something for dinner? Just go to the nearest fast food restaurant or pop something in the microwave, and ta-da… dinner is served.

~Out and about and need to call a friend? Never mind waiting until you get home, just pick up your cell phone, hit #2 because you have her on speed dial, and talk until your heart’s content.

~Forgot that your mom’s birthday is tomorrow and now it’s too late to send her a card through snail mail? Don’t panic! Send her an e-card, with music, for free!!

Are you with me here? Waiting has become a lost art. And while I am thankful modern technology has afforded us the freedoms to hurry some things along, I’m afraid an attitude of impatience and dissatisfaction has been birthed in our hearts.

In this week’s lesson we learned of the land Caleb inherited; a land that he waited 40+ years to claim as his very own. Forty years people! Forty years, he waited for God’s promised land. And for forty years—through years of wilderness wandering, complaining of the people, unknowns, enemies, and battles—Scripture tells us that Caleb continued to wholly follow the LORD.

Wholly is the transliteration of the Hebrew word ma?le?‘  ma?la?‘ which means to fill or (intransitively) be full of, in a wide application (literally and figuratively): – accomplish, confirm, + consecrate, be at an end, be expired, be fenced, fill, fulfil, (be, become, X draw, give in, go) fully (-ly, -ly set, tale), [over-] flow, fulness, furnish, gather (selves, together), presume, replenish, satisfy, set, space, take a [hand-] full, + have wholly.

Satisfy. That word messes with me. In Caleb’s waiting he wholly followed God; and he was satisfied. He was satisfied with where God had him. He was satisfied to wait as long as the waiting lasted because he believed God would do what He’d promised He’d do. He was satisfied with God.

Which begs the question…

Am I satisfied with where God has me?

Am I satisfied to wait for God’s best?

Am I satisfied with God?

I so want to say yes. But to be completely honest, I’m struggling with that ‘yes.’ Because there are dreams in my heart, dreams that I have no doubt God has conceived in me, but they’re dreams that aren’t being birthed as of yet. I’d love to grab the closest genie in a bottle, release that genie, and have her grant my dearest wishes, make my dreams come true. But I’m learning that genies in a bottle don’t exist; they aren’t God’s way. And God planted dreams only come true in God appointed time; not a minute sooner or a minute later.

I’m learning to be content, to be satisfied in where God has me in this moment. To say ‘yes’ today, daily surrendering my selfish desires. To live in today’s God moment and trust Him for all my tomorrows. To help people follow Jesus today and be excited about tomorrow’s opportunities to do the same. To be satisfied with God alone, because He is all that I need. To wait patiently and well for His timing and His perfect plan.

To wholly follow Him in the hard and the easy; in the mundane and the interruptions; in the small and in the large; in the spotlight and in the background; in the dish washing and toilet scrubbing; in the burnt dinners and the mountains of laundry; in the workplace and in my home; in the bill paying and the balancing of the checkbook; in seeing the hurting and in extending a helping hand; in listening and in speaking, and in taking brave steps forward.

I’m learning to wholly follow and be satisfied with God as I wait for His dreams in me to be birthed.

“Wait for the LORD; be strong and let your heart take courage; yes, wait for the LORD.”

Psalm 27:14, NASB

Application:

Today, I encourage you to read through the application questions/activities that are woven throughout today’s reading. Consider sharing with us in the comments section what God is speaking to you? If you’d rather not share, please feel free to email me at jenifer@jeniferjernigan.com. I’d love to connect with you, pray with you, walk with you, answer any questions you might have, and encourage you any way that I can.

How long are you willing to wait on what God has for you?

Are you willing to wait on His timing?

And, in the waiting, will you continue to follow Him, trusting His plan, His way, and His timing, believing He will do what He said He would do in and through you?

Are you satisfied with God alone?

Downloads for Taking BRAVE Steps into Abundant Living: a study of Joshua, week 11

Taking BRAVE Steps into Abundant Living- week 11 Guide

Find Taking BRAVE Steps into Abundant Living- week 1 here.

Find Taking BRAVE Steps into Abundant Living- week 2 here.

Find Taking BRAVE Steps into Abundant Living- week 3 here.

Diving Deeper into Intimate Relationship

Find Taking BRAVE Steps into Abundant Living- week 4 here.

Find Taking BRAVE Steps into Abundant Living- week 5 here.

Find Taking BRAVE Steps into Abundant Living- week 6 here.

Find Taking BRAVE Steps into Abundant Living- week 7 here.

Find Taking BRAVE Steps into Abundant Living- week 8 here.

Find Taking BRAVE Steps into Abundant Living- week 9 here.

Find Taking BRAVE Steps into Abundant Living- week 10 here.

“And it came to pass, when Jabin king of Hazor heard these things, that he sent to Jobab king of Madon, to the king of Shimron, to the king of Achshaph, and to the kings who were from the north, in the mountains, in the plain south of Chinneroth, in the lowland, and in the heights of Dor on the west, to the Canaanites in the east and in the west, the Amorite, the Hittite, the Perizzite, the Jebusite in the mountains, and the Hivite below Hermon in the land of Mizpah. So they went out, they and all their armies with them, as many people as the sand that is on the seashore in multitude, with very many horses and chariots. And when all these kings had met together, they came and camped together at the waters of Merom to fight against Israel.

But the Lord said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid because of them, for tomorrow about this time I will deliver all of them slain before Israel. You shall hamstring their horses and burn their chariots with fire.” So Joshua and all the people of war with him came against them suddenly by the waters of Merom, and they attacked them. And the Lord delivered them into the hand of Israel, who defeated them and chased them to Greater Sidon, to the Brook Misrephoth, and to the Valley of Mizpah eastward; they attacked them until they left none of them remaining. So Joshua did to them as the Lord had told him: he hamstrung their horses and burned their chariots with fire.”

Joshua 11:1-9, NKJV

This time frame in history is known as The Middle Bronze Age; a period of time when iron was used in the making of tools, weapons, and chariots. This availability and use of iron afforded Israel’s enemies to come against them armed with great weapons and chariots pulled by horses. Israel, a nation who’d spent years in Egyptian captivity followed by years roaming wilderness lands, came to the battlefield as slave-nomads with simple swords and hand-made spears.

From man’s viewpoint, the enemy had great advantage over Israel. But, God is never to be out-done.

“Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; but we will remember the name of the Lord our God. They have bowed down and fallen; but we have risen and stand upright. Save, LORD! May the King answer us when we call.”

Psalm 20:7-9, NKJV

The word trust means to have confidence in, to trust in. To trust in God’s name means that one has confidence and trust in the person of who God is.

In ancient times a name represented a person’s character and was chosen with great care. God’s name represents His character, His attributes, His nature. To know His name is to know Him. To trust in His name is to have confidence in who He is!

Diving below the surface of this verse we find beautiful promises to cling to. Israel’s enemy stepped onto the battlefield lead by a horse-drawn iron chariot which encompassed his body, protecting him from danger. Israel, our slave-nomads friends with simple swords and hand-made spears, stepped onto the battlefield lead by their God, hedged in and kept safe by His protective hands.

Promise number 1: Daily, we face battlefields, enemy lands. They aren’t necessarily physical battlefields, although sometimes those are stark realities; but, rather daily battles where we fight against the rulers of darkness; the enemy himself, Satan (Ephesians 6:12). When we place our trust in God, calling on His name to save, protect and provide, trusting that He is the victory, He will answer. He will provide. He will protect. Because, He goes before us and He prepares the way. Just as God did for His chosen people, Israel, so He does for us, He’s chosen.

Promise number 2: Trusting in a horse-drawn iron chariot guaranteed a fall, a defeat; but trusting in the name of the LORD promised victory and a rise above the enemy. A trusting in God’s name connects itself to a putting on of His soldier armor; an armor that protects…

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.”

Ephesians 6:10-20, NKJV

Promise number 3: We can also be confident in the fact that the Angel of the LORD, Jesus Christ Himself, encamps around us.

“The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear him, and delivers them.”

Psalm 34:7, NKJV

He hedges us in and builds up a fence around us to protect us from the enemy and to keep us from evil (Job 1:10; Job 3:23; Job 19:8).

“Have You (God) not made a hedge around him (Job), around his household, and all around that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land.”

Job 1:10, NKJV

Application:

Today, I encourage you to read through the application questions/activities that are woven throughout today’s reading. Consider sharing with us in the comments section what God is speaking to you? If you’d rather not share, please feel free to email me at jenifer@jeniferjernigan.com. I’d love to connect with you, pray with you, walk with you, answer any questions you might have, and encourage you any way that I can.

Joshua and the nation of Israel didn’t have iron weapons or horse-drawn chariots. Their swords and spears were hand-made and simple. But, none of that mattered because their trust was in their God. They called on God. They moved forward. And, they defeated their enemy.

Who do you trust in? What are you trusting in?

Boast in the Lord today for being your Protector (Psalm 121:15) and for preparing the way for you (Jeremiah 29:11).

Downloads for Taking BRAVE Steps into Abundant Living: a study of Joshua, week 10

Taking BRAVE Steps into Abundant Living- week 10 Guide

Find Taking BRAVE Steps into Abundant Living- week 1 here.

Find Taking BRAVE Steps into Abundant Living- week 2 here.

Find Taking BRAVE Steps into Abundant Living- week 3 here.

Diving Deeper into Intimate Relationship

Find Taking BRAVE Steps into Abundant Living- week 4 here.

Find Taking BRAVE Steps into Abundant Living- week 5 here.

Find Taking BRAVE Steps into Abundant Living- week 6 here.

Find Taking BRAVE Steps into Abundant Living- week 7 here.

Find Taking BRAVE Steps into Abundant Living- week 8 here.

Find Taking BRAVE Steps into Abundant Living- week 9 here.

“Now it came to pass when Adoni-Zedek king of Jerusalem heard how Joshua had taken Ai and had utterly destroyed it—as he had done to Jericho and its king, so he had done to Ai and its king—and how the inhabitants of Gibeon had made peace with Israel and were among them, that they feared greatly, because Gibeon was a great city, like one of the royal cities, and because it was greater than Ai, and all its men were mighty. Therefore Adoni-Zedek king of Jerusalem sent to Hoham king of Hebron, Piram king of Jarmuth, Japhia king of Lachish, and Debir king of Eglon, saying, “Come up to me and help me, that we may attack Gibeon, for it has made peace with Joshua and with the children of Israel.” Therefore the five kings of the Amorites, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, and the king of Eglon, gathered together and went up, they and all their armies, and camped before Gibeon and made war against it.

 

And the men of Gibeon sent to Joshua at the camp at Gilgal, saying, “Do not forsake your servants; come up to us quickly, save us and help us, for all the kings of the Amorites who dwell in the mountains have gathered together against us.”

 

So Joshua ascended from Gilgal, he and all the people of war with him, and all the mighty men of valor. And the Lord said to Joshua, “Do not fear them, for I have delivered them into your hand; not a man of them shall stand before you.” Joshua therefore came upon them suddenly, having marched all night from Gilgal. So the Lord routed them before Israel, killed them with a great slaughter at Gibeon, chased them along the road that goes to Beth Horon, and struck them down as far as Azekah and Makkedah.”

 

Joshua 10:1-10, NKJV

Application:

When the Gibeonites called for Joshua’s help, he immediately went to their aid, honoring the oath he’d made with them. How quickly do you go to the aid of those who cry out for your help? Are you willing to leave your comfort zone, take time out of your day, sacrifice where need be in order to help others?

The Gibeonites were reliant upon the oath Joshua and the Israelites had made with them; an oath that promised they’d be helped and protected. And even though they’d deceived Joshua, he still held up his end of the oath. Think about this fact in relation to our covenant keeping God. Even in the midst of our failures, faithlessness, and faults God never leaves us nor forsakes us. His promises are sure and His love for us is everlasting. Nothing we can do will ever change this fact!

“And it happened, as they fled before Israel and were on the descent of Beth Horon, that the Lord cast down large hailstones from heaven on them as far as Azekah, and they died. There were more who died from the hailstones than the children of Israel killed with the sword.

 

Then Joshua spoke to the Lord in the day when the Lord delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel:

 

“Sun, stand still over Gibeon;
And Moon, in the Valley of Aijalon.”
So the sun stood still,
And the moon stopped,
Till the people had revenge
Upon their enemies.

 

Is this not written in the Book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and did not hasten to go down for about a whole day. And there has been no day like that, before it or after it, that the Lord heeded the voice of a man; for the Lord fought for Israel.

 

Then Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to the camp at Gilgal.”

 

Joshua 10:11-15, NKJV

The battle could have gone longer than the number of hours in that day, but Joshua remembered God’s promise to him, “Do not fear them, for I have delivered them into your hand; not a man of them shall stand before you.” (Joshua 10:8) And, because Joshua believed this promise and knew that his God was able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that he could ask or think (Ephesians 3:20) he spoke, in great faith, for the sun to stand still and the moon to remain in its place until the battle was won. The sun and the earth moved together in perfect unison until God’s plan for that day was done; a miracle only explained through believing faith.

It was a brave step of faith our friend Joshua took when he spoke this miracle; a brave step of faith, trusting completely that God would do what He said He would do; a brave step of faith believing God to do the impossible.

Application:

Do you believe God can do exceedingly abundantly beyond your wildest dreams?

Do you trust God completely to do what He’s promised you He’s going to do?

Do you believe God for the impossible?

Is there a “sun stand still situation” in your life that you need to speak over?

“But these five kings had fled and hidden themselves in a cave at Makkedah. And it was told Joshua, saying, “The five kings have been found hidden in the cave at Makkedah.”

 

So Joshua said, “Roll large stones against the mouth of the cave, and set men by it to guard them. And do not stay there yourselves, but pursue your enemies, and attack their rear guard. Do not allow them to enter their cities, for the Lord your God has delivered them into your hand.” Then it happened, while Joshua and the children of Israel made an end of slaying them with a very great slaughter, till they had finished, that those who escaped entered fortified cities. And all the people returned to the camp, to Joshua at Makkedah, in peace.

 

No one moved his tongue against any of the children of Israel.

 

Then Joshua said, “Open the mouth of the cave, and bring out those five kings to me from the cave.” And they did so, and brought out those five kings to him from the cave: the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, and the king of Eglon.

 

So it was, when they brought out those kings to Joshua, that Joshua called for all the men of Israel, and said to the captains of the men of war who went with him, “Come near, put your feet on the necks of these kings.” And they drew near and put their feet on their necks. Then Joshua said to them, “Do not be afraid, nor be dismayed; be strong and of good courage, for thus the Lord will do to all your enemies against whom you fight.” And afterward Joshua struck them and killed them, and hanged them on five trees; and they were hanging on the trees until evening. So it was at the time of the going down of the sun that Joshua commanded, and they took them down from the trees, cast them into the cave where they had been hidden, and laid large stones against the cave’s mouth, which remain until this very day.”

 

Joshua 10:16-27, NKJV

Imagine being one of the captains of Israel standing over your enemy. He is, literally, under the weight of your foot. You are the victor; he is defeated.

Now imagine the scene in the Garden of Eden when God spoke to the Serpent, our greatest enemy, “He shall bruise your head.” (Genesis 3:15) It wasn’t a question; it was a matter-of-fact promise…He, being Jesus, will bruise, crush, destroy with a fatal blow Satan in all his evil glory. I see Jesus standing strong, confident, brave over His enemy, the weight of His foot weighing down heavy. The enemy, he cannot move because he is defeated.

And because he is defeated, we can stand victorious over the enemies in our life. What enemy or enemies do you need to exercise victory over today? Put your foot down and claim your victory!

“The LORD said to my Lord, “Sit as My right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool.”

Psalm 110:1, NKJV

Today, I encourage you to read through the application questions/activities that are woven throughout today’s reading. Consider sharing with us in the comments section what God is speaking to you? If you’d rather not share, please feel free to email me at jenifer@jeniferjernigan.com. I’d love to connect with you, pray with you, walk with you, answer any questions you might have, and encourage you any way that I can.

Downloads for Taking BRAVE Steps into Abundant Living: a study of Joshua, week 9

Taking BRAVE Steps into Abundant Living- week 9

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Diving Deeper into Intimate Relationship

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