It was William Carey who said: “Expect great things from God; attempt great things for God.”
As we close out the year 2020, I’m sure each of you will agree that we’d want to put that experience behind us and expect a new beginning. That’s the beauty of a new year, there is an aura of new beginnings! Each of us have an opportunity to make the best of it. With having a renewed sense of anticipation, we attempt mighty things for the kingdom of God.
It is almost like we have never been this way before. The year ahead looks like an uncharted territory with its own twists and turns. This was exactly the way the Israelites felt as they were moving into their promised land under the new leadership of Joshua. Joshua moved the people of God through the next phase of their journey with God going before them.
What we see in this journey is that even though they had never been through this way, God always came through. No king or natural or manmade barrier stood in the way.
A new year of opportunity, is a new beginning with its own set of challenges. “But thanks be to God, who in Christ Jesus always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere.” (2. Cor. 2:14)
Yes, the journey of transition from wilderness to promised land was riddled with all kinds of “sites”, but our supernatural God did the dirty work. We see that the people of God were relying on Experience, Empowerment, and Engagement along the way.
Just as the people of God were proceeding with anticipation due to experience, it is our own history or experiences that propel us forward. There is a huge list of accomplishments in their journey thus far. Emphatically, none of it was because of their might, but the pure demonstration of God’s power. Similarly, when we look back at 2020, every valley and mountain experience was God ordained. He brought us thus far, He will see us through to the next set of experiences. We are spectators and supports in God’s plan. Ultimately it is God’s battle.
Throughout this journey, we see God gave them just the right number of tools to overcome each challenge. For example, the Ark of the Covenant parted the river Jordan and was instrumental in the fall of Jericho. It was a testament of God’s presence and faithfulness! The people of God are to just wait and trust in their mighty God!
There was a line of communication between God and His people. The people of God did exactly as God commanded. But if they did disobey, then God corrected them. That was one lesson that they had in the battle for Ai. Therefore, as we stand here on the cusp of a new year, we need to take a hard look at our lives and at our walk with the Lord.
Here are a few questions to help us evaluate ourselves:
1. Are there some blessing in your life that need to be remembered?
2. Do you need to look at the experiences that God has brought you through thus far?
3. How has God empowered you for facing new giants?
4. How has God spoken to you and engaged in your life?
5. Are we in God’s perfect plan or are we making God fit into our plans?
God is getting ready to take us to a place where we have never been before.
As we step into uncharted territory in faith, may this blessing in Deuteronomy 6 be upon you:
Then it shall come about when the Lord your God brings you into the land ... to give you, great and splendid cities which you did not build, and houses full of all good things which you did not fill, and hewn cisterns which you did not dig, vineyards and olive trees which you did not plant, and you eat and are satisfied...
