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a few weeks ago my kids had their school cross country. a race.
with a start point and a destination. and a journey in-between.
up hills. through gates. down paths. a course to follow.
When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, ‘If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.’ So God led the people around by the desert road towards the Red Sea. The Israelites went up out of Egypt ready for battle. Exodus 13:17-18
i read this the other night in my youversion Mc’cheyne reading plan and it struck me how God had a course for the Israelites to follow. and there was purpose to the path.
How often do we look at our own life and see the destination ahead of us but wonder WHY we seem to be going round in circles, or up gut busting hills, or through valleys…?
God did not lead His people the shortest most direct route for a purpose. His purpose was that their hearts would remain steadfast towards Him, that they would trust Him and honour Him. His purpose was so that they would be His people and not return to Egypt, into slavery and pain.
What is the purpose of the race we are on? What is the purpose of the path?
Our steps are ordered by God. He is the master planner of my life.
Though i may not know the path i do know the destination. The finishing line is to please Him and live forever in His presence.
Until that point i am growing and being transformed. Until that point i am to be a light to shine, to demonstrate the reality and goodness and greatness of God.
No matter what the path.
Each step i take i choose to take with love and grace and trust.
Each step i take i choose to take with obedience and confidence in the goodness of God.
Each step i take i choose to lead me closer to the destination.
i am in a race and i run to win.
no matter the path.
i love the above jillian michael’s quote.
but you know, sometimes the path involves puking and fainting. sometimes i’m pushed to the boundaries of my strength. sometimes i’m overcome in my weaknesses. sometimes the pace i am running at is slower than a snails, and the position is on my knees, crawling with ever ounce of strength i can muster, the ground wet with tears and sweat. sometimes its painful and feels purposeless. sometimes its mundane and monotonous. sometimes its ordinary.
and if i die, i still win.
i die to self, i die to my will and my rights and i choose Jesus. All the time. Every step. All the way.
#FiveMinuteFriday free write time! <—click to tweet this!
Five Minute Friday is a feature over at Lisa-Jo Bakers TALES FROM A GYPSY MAMA blog. i first read about it on my friend Fee’s blog and thought it sounded fun!
1. Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking.
2. Link back here and invite others to join in.
3. And then absolutely, no ifs, ands or buts about it, you need to visit the person who linked up before you & encourage them in their comments. Seriously. That is, like, the rule. And the fun. And the heart of this community..
OK, are you ready?
Meanwhile, the Philistine, with his shield-bearer in front of him, kept coming closer to David. He looked David over and saw that he was only a boy, ruddy and handsome, and he despised him. He said to David, Am I a dog, that you come at me with sticks? And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. 1 Sam 17:41
David said to the Philistine, You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the LORD will hand you over to me, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. Today I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD’s, and he will give all of you into our hands. As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly towards the battle line to meet him. Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell face down on the ground. So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him. 1 Sam 17:45 – 50
Good thing that David had unshakable faith and wasn’t influenced by the words an opinions of others. Just as he had fought a bear and a lion he had overcome the words ment to shame and scorn him by his brothers so the insults of Goliath didn’t affect his faith or self confidence, his God confidence.
David defeated the giant. But first before he even picked up those stones he defeated doubt and fear in his own life. He had an attitude of faith and confidence in God. He had resolved issues and learned lessons on the way to this epic battle that equipped him. And He took God at His Word. The battle was Gods. Naturally there was no logical reason why a 16 year old kid armed with a stone and a sling should defeat a fully grown fully armed freak of nature. But with God ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE.
Remember, fear and doubt arent conquered by confidence in our own giftings or abilities – but the reality is that doubt is conquered when we know the greatness and power and almightiness of God!
You can be a giant killer.
You can be a nation deliverer.
You can be anything and everything that God has called you to be.
Today you can have an extraordinary life and be used by God to make a difference, to change the world.
But it will come down to your attitude and openness for God to work in and through you.
Remember the twelve Israelite spies. Ten doubted. Two had faith. The ten that doubted caused a millions to die in the wilderness. The two that had faith split the Jordan river and walked on dry land into The Promised Land and victory. Attitude. Choosing to believe God.
Today you have a choice.
Will you listen to the voices of “your brothers” – people who put your down and want to make you doubt? Will you listen to your own voice of doubt?
Or will you make a decision to have faith and trust God and overcome doubts? Will you be determined to have a mind shift from fear to faith? Will you defeat the lions and bears in your life? Will you feed your faith?
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