Stepping out in Faith!

Many years back, when our elder son was studying at the University of Kentucky, I visited him during one of my official trips. During that visit, he took me to Cumberland National park in Southern Kentucky to see the beautiful Cumberland falls.  It was the time of the year when the Cumberland river was in spate and was overflowing its banks. The noise of the roaring waters made me so frightened that I still remember the fear I felt.  In India, we are not used to seeing rivers full of water!

When the people of Israel were at the Red Sea, the Lord's instruction was, "Stand still and see the salvation of the LORD…" (Ex 14:13).  But at the river Jordan, it was completely different (Joshua 3).  God was calling Israel to step out in faith. God told the people of Israel to wait three days at the Jordan River and sanctify themselves.  All that time, the people of Israel saw a rushing river swollen with spring rains in front of them.  They must have thought about how they could ever cross it.  We would have wanted the river to be dry before we even take a step.  The Lord commanded the priests who carried the ark of the covenant to step into the river when it was overflowing and stand there!  The Lord told them that as soon as the soles of their feet rested in the waters, the waters of the Jordan would be cut off. They had to trust the Lord and step into that raging river in obedience to experience the blessing of God!  Inheriting God-appointed blessings will be possible only when we step out in faith.  Joshua had the Word of God on his lips, on his mind, and that governed his actions (Joshua 1:8).  

My friend, when we are surrounded by the raging waters of disease and distress, stepping out in faith seems impossible.  It is then we have to look back and see how God's mighty hand has healed us and helped us in the past.  We have to fix our minds and thoughts on the Word of God.  We have to focus on the power of God and not on the problems around us! Only then can we inherit the blessings God has in store for us!

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