May 14, 2010
Ask God!
Two of the most important things we've learned while navigating "the storm" is:
My prayers weren't just a laundry list of what I wanted Him to do for me, but I certainly wasn't focused on praising Him for who He is like I am now. Now, I praise God first and foremost, and then I inquire of Him what He wants me to do. I literally ask. What is it You want me to do God?
When you ask—God answers.
We each need to make sure we have the right perspective and keep the God/man relationship in the right order.
The Israelites didn't ask what they should do when people showed up at their camp seeking peace. It appeared the people were from a great distance away, but they weren't. They were tricking the Israelites and the Israelites fell for the trick because they didn't ask God what they should do about it.
Ask God!
Two of the most important things we've learned while navigating "the storm" is:
- The importance of asking God what it is He wants in each situation; and.
- How to ask God what He wants.
My prayers weren't just a laundry list of what I wanted Him to do for me, but I certainly wasn't focused on praising Him for who He is like I am now. Now, I praise God first and foremost, and then I inquire of Him what He wants me to do. I literally ask. What is it You want me to do God?
When you ask—God answers.
We each need to make sure we have the right perspective and keep the God/man relationship in the right order.
God
↓
Man
The Israelites didn't ask what they should do when people showed up at their camp seeking peace. It appeared the people were from a great distance away, but they weren't. They were tricking the Israelites and the Israelites fell for the trick because they didn't ask God what they should do about it.
Ask!! God will reveal to you what He wants you to do.
All throughout these verses there is a recurrent theme. Over and over God tells Joshua and the Israelites to be strong and brave. "I will..."! Joshua 10:25 - "Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Be strong and courageous... I will hand them over." Acknowledge who God is. Ask Him what He wants you to do, and then do it. Leave all the rest up to God. Wait on Him. Follow His lead.
All throughout these verses there is a recurrent theme. Over and over God tells Joshua and the Israelites to be strong and brave. "I will..."! Joshua 10:25 - "Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Be strong and courageous... I will hand them over." Acknowledge who God is. Ask Him what He wants you to do, and then do it. Leave all the rest up to God. Wait on Him. Follow His lead.
Addendum: 2/5/2024 ~ As I was reading about the destruction of the Southern Cities in this passage (Joshua 10:29-43) this morning—I found the violence rather disturbing. But then, a phrase repeated five separate times, jumped out at me. The destruction of these cities were "... as an offering to the LORD." God promised the Israelites this land, but he didn't just hand it over to them. They had to be obedient and destroy the evil, but it wasn't personal acts of violence and destruction they were perpetrating upon the people living there out of anger, jealousy, greed or any other reason. No, their actions were entirely in obedience to God's instructions and it was "as an offering to the LORD." I'm so thankful we are living in New Testament times and the LORD would never ask us to personally go out and perpetrate violence on our fellow human beings, but the essence of the teaching remains the same. Our obedience to whatever difficult thing He is asking us to do—is "an offering to the LORD."
Next Entry: Joshua 11:1 – 12:24
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