Daily Devotion, March 24, 2020

Devotion:

Read Joshua 3:6-17.

The Israelites had been wandering in the wilderness for 40 years. They had the Promised Land in sight but there was one problem: the Jordan River lay in their path. It was flooding season, and the waters were deep and turbulent. They most certainly felt anxious as they looked out over the swollen river and also considered the fortified cities that surrounded them. The Israelites had a spiritual obstacle to overcome; they needed to pass through troubled waters.

God did not make the rivers subside, but he gave Joshua a set of orders. The priests were to pick up the ark and then go stand in the river. This command took courage. This generation had not experienced the parting of the Red Sea like the previous one. They had wandered the desert, so the priests probably didn’t even know how to swim.

But…the priests had faith that as soon as their feet touched the water’s edge, the water from upstream stopped flowing. The priests stood firm on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan River while the Israelites passed on to dry land. God stopped the river from flowing AFTER the priests put their feet in the water. The Israelites shifted their focus from their troubled waters to God and God performed miracles. They stepped out in faith right into the middle of troubled waters and God led them to the other side.

What troubled waters have your focus?

·     A financial problem

·     A troubled marriage

·     A struggling child

·     Poor self-esteem

·     A bad habit

·     A physical disability

·     A bad attitude

·     Family problems

Maybe we need to shift the focus of our prayers. Let’s quit focusing on the waters. God knows them. God wants us to step out in faith right in the middle of our troubled waters so that he can lead us to the other side.

Personal Worship Option:

Facing insurmountable obstacles can be a turning point in your life. Claim the promise in the verse today:

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. Isaiah 43:2 (NIV)