Week 4 Tuesday

Dragging Our Feet

Today’s scripture selection: Joshua 16-20

Key verses: Joshua 18:3

    

     When was the last time there was something you knew you should do; perhaps you had a clear sense that God was calling you to do it – but you still weren’t doing it?  That can easily happen in our lives.

For one thing, we like to talk about answered prayer; hear dramatic stories from those who claim their prayers have been answered – but really knowing for SURE is another thing.  We think to ourselves, “Maybe I misunderstood.  There are still a lot of unanswered questions.  There are still too many obstacles in my way.  Maybe I need to think this through just a little more.  I mean, what’s the hurry?”  Sound familiar?

     Or maybe we are sure about what we are to do – but there’s just SO much to do – it’s hard to know where to start.  While we may feel led to take action in one area of our lives; there are a thousand other voices screaming at us at the same time.  “WAIT A MINUTE!  HOW ABOUT ME?  TAKE CARE OF ME FIRST!”  So what happens?  We don’t get ANYTHING done – because we are paralyzed at what to do first.

     Well, in the middle of all the details about how the Promised Land was distributed to the various tribes of ancient Israel – something like this happened to the people.  God had promised the land to them; they had fought long and hard battles to make it as far as they had; on the one hand they were celebrating God’s blessings.  On the other, some of them were stuck in neutral – and not moving forward to finish the job and really lay claim to the land.

     So Joshua, their leader, got a little exasperated.  Here’s what he had to say to them:

     “How long will you be slack about going in and taking possession of the land that the Lord, the God of your ancestors, has given you?”

Then he gave them their marching orders – and they got the job done.

We have much to do in life, have many important decisions to make, and sometimes – it’s only natural we get stuck in neutral.  But like the people entering the Promised Land – God doesn’t want us to just think about what He has in store for us – He wants us to claim it!  So, don’t drag your feet.  Keep moving.  There are good things ahead.

 

 

     Prayer:  Father, in your goodness, you have brought me to the edge of blessing and promise.  Help me to have the strength and determination to simply claim it.  AMEN.