Shaped by the Word – Joshua 1:1-9

 The Lord spoke to Joshua, saying, “Moses My servant is dead; now therefore arise, cross this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them. Every place on which the sole of your foot tread…will be your territory. No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you. Be strong and courageous, for you shall give this people possession of the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the law; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have success wherever you go. This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

For Joshua, it was Canaan, the land of promise. For the believer it’s the kingdom of God. To us both, God says, “With your minds saturated with My words and your wills committed to them, go. Possess the land and establish My dominion. Your enemies will flee before you. Put them to flight. I will be your constant companion so do not fear your opponents. Go. Be strong and courageous. Validate my promises. Vindicate my words.” To us both, He says,You are great. Go and be great.”

I wonder if God isn’t also saying, “Moses’ and Billy Graham’s time has past. It is time for you to arise and recognize your destiny. Christ in you equips you with the promises I made to these men and more. Envision the earth responding to my words, seeing Me as Lord. Lock arms with your tribe—those I am connecting you to—and help each other to recognize and represent My kingdom. Moses and Joshua longed to see the new covenant I have given you—this door into My kingdom. You are the Church. Everywhere you go you shall be My Church. Through you, light and truth will put fear into the enemy’s heart. Keep thinking and praying, “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

I could not help but think of the lyrics to Josh Garrels’ song “White Owl.”

When the night comes

And you don’t know which way to go

Through the shadow lands and forgotten paths,

You will find a road

Like an owl you must fly by moonlight with an open eye

And use your instinct as a guide, to navigate the ways that lay before you,

You were born to

take the greatest flight

Like a serpent and a dove, you will have wisdom born of love

To carry visions from above into the places no man dares to follow

Every hollow in the dark of night

Waiting for the light

Take the flame tonight

Child, the time has come for you to go

You will never be alone

Every dream that you have been shown

Will be like living stone

Building you into a home

A shelter from the storm

Like a messenger of peace, the beauty waits to be released

Upon the sacred path you keep,

leading deeper into the unveiling

As your sailing, across the great divide

Like a wolf at midnight howls,

You use your voice in darkest hours

To break the silence and the power,

Holding back the others from their glory

Every story will be written soon
The blood is on the moon

Morning will come soon

Child the time has come for you to go

You will never be alone

Every dream that you have been shown

Will be like living stone

Building you into a home

A shelter from the storm

From where we are to where we are going, there will be a divide of darkness we must navigate that will require the Word and the Spirit. We will find the way. Our destiny is to take this greatest of all paths. The kingdom dreams that have been planted in our hearts will find expression, connecting us to each other as a shelter of safety for whatever is to come. As messengers of peace with our love-born wisdom, we shall call each other out into our appointed glory.

Father, reveal this part of our stories to the world, demonstrating the incomparable superiority of Your kingdom to any competing principality or power. Awaken us to the glory within. Help us to see ourselves as You see us. Amen.

 

 

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