Smoothing The Paths

Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that we have to, at all costs, keep our faith, and stay on the path laid out before us.  The message bids us to remember how Jesus came walking on the waves to the disciples.  The instant He was aboard ship, they were at the other shore.  We’re also reminded that a lot of God’s work has been hindered, or even marred, by our activity.

When I read this message, I think about the woman with the issue of blood.  She stayed on that “path” to Jesus.  She didn’t look left or right, she swallowed her fear, she got to Jesus.  She could have been stoned to death for even being in public in her condition.  I also think about Jericho.  The walls came down when they shouted.  God led them on a march round and round that city…going in circles…by all appearances, anyway.  That’s a lesson about trust, perseverance, and obedience.  It really doesn’t make sense to go round and round an enemy’s city, allowing them to see you, and giving them access to you, does it?  “God, we’re marching ducks here!”

When you look at that in the Spirit, though.  That’s a fierce, fierce army!  Psalm 8:40-42 comes to mind.  “You have made my enemies retreat before me…I beat them as fine as windblown dust; I trampled them like mud in the streets.”  When we are on a difficult path-and we’re fair game down here-(John 16:33), we have to put a battle plan into action to overcome the difficulties.  I came up with five keys to overcoming and gaining the victory.  1. Keep your standards and boundary markers in place.  2. Be proactive in affirming your faith, and staying filled with God’s Word.  3. Maintain your routine(s) and schedule(s).  *This is an order vs chaos thing  4. Persevere; keep going forward, or holding steady.  *Even when you feel like you’re just going in circles, or not moving at all, God’s still working it out within, and round about you.  5. Prayer, praise, and obedience are killer weapons in the Spirit.  *That’s where Jericho comes in-march and shout, even when it doesn’t make sense.  Obey God’s Word and His Voice-even when that doesn’t make sense.  And, don’t delay on that one.  God will tell you to give your last pair of shoes away or your last dollar…but you can’t see the blessings coming down; He can.  When you know it’s Him talking, obey.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Copyright by Marina Morrison (aka) Eden Stillwater, February 10, 2020, 5:00 p.m.