Morning by Morning, January 15 - Crossing Over as Carriers of the Presence of God
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Lead me on the path You've chosen for me today -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God. ...
"When the people set out from their tents to cross over the Jordan, the priests bearing the ark of the covenant were in front of the people. Now the Jordan overflows all its banks throughout the time of harvest. So when those who bore the ark had come to the Jordan, and the feet of the priests bearing the ark were dipped in the edge of the water, the waters flowing from above stood still, rising up in a single heap far off at Adam, the city that is beside Zarethan, while those flowing toward the sea of the Arabah, the Dead Sea, were wholly cut off. Then the people crossed over opposite Jericho. While all Israel were crossing over on dry ground, the priests who bore the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan, until the entire nation finished crossing over the Jordan" (Joshua 3:14-17).
Before the day of crossing over the Jordan came, the priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord had received a prophetic word. Though Joshua, You had prophesied, "When the soles of the feet of the priests who bear the ark of the Lord, the Lord of the earth, rest in the waters of the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan flowing from above shall be cut off; they shall stand in a single heap" (Joshua 3:13). This was to be sign to everyone that the Living God was among them on their journey (Joshua 3:10).
And on the day of crossing over, when "the feet of the priests bearing the ark were dipped in the edge of the water" Your prophetic word was fulfilled. The waters stood back and the priests walked out into the middle of the Jordan to stand firm on dry ground.
Without Your word, the priests would have never stepped out into the waters of the Jordan. But inspired by Your word, they stepped out in faith. Even though they carried with them the most precious cargo on the face of the earth -- the ark of the covenant of the Lord -- they obeyed Your word and stepped out in faith to find Your word was true. You were among them; You were with them; You were teaching them to trust You and obey You with expectant faith that Your word would come to pass. And it did.
All that happened to them speaks to us (1 Corinthians 10:11). The ark of the Lord they carried speaks to us of the Presence of the Lord we carry. The Holy Spirit of the Living God is among us. Your Holy Spirit abides within us (1 Corinthians 3:16). We are carriers of Your Presence -- the most precious Cargo on the face of the earth.
Even when the waters before us flood and overflow, even when we stand on the edge of the impossible and begin to step out into the places where we can only faith can stand, You call us to remember Your written Word and every prophetic word You have spoken into our hearts. You call us to trust You with expectant faith to step out in committed obedience to find Your word will come to pass, to find You are among us and even within us by Your Spirit, just as You promised (Matthew 28:20).
These are the days of the harvest! And at the same time, the waters overflow at the time of the harvest. The wild and dangerous and unpredictable waters can come rushing down before us like a flood that stands between us and our destiny in You. But You call us to cross over anyway. You encourage us by Your Word and inspire us in faith. You empower us to trust You and obey You to step out in confidence and boldness to go where You lead us because You are with us.
As You said to Your first disciples who followed You, You continue to speak to every disciple who will choose to come and follow You: "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. This is the Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. You know Him, because He abides with you, and He will be in you.... On that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.... Those who love Me will keep My word, and My Father will love them, and We will come to them and make Our home with them" (John 14:15-23).
As I come the edge of my Promised Land in You and all You have for me in this next season of my journey of faith, by the power of Your grace I choose to step out in expectant faith. I choose to cross over with great expectancy and enthusiasm, with excitement and confidence in the blessed assurance Your word will come to pass. I'm a carrier of Your Presence, filled with Your Spirit, and excited to see what You will do! In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays
My friend, may you cross over into all the Lord has for you, as a carrier of the Presence of God, with great expectancy and enthusiasm, with excitement and confidence in the blessed assurance of every word and promise the Lord has spoken into your heart for the season ahead, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!
I'm excited to be teaching the Healing Academy at Aldersgate Renewal Ministries again this year, the first week of February -- February 3-7, 2020 in Goodlettsville, TN just north of Nashville. Register today and come join us! Please spread to word to anyone who may be interested in this week-long equipping and experience of healing prayer ministry:
I will be teaching based on my book Free to Be Like Jesus-Transforming Power of Inner Healing and Deliverance, which I'm excited by have endorsed by Max Lucado, Randy Clark, and Andy Reese.
Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries
Healing from the Inside Out
Pastoral Director | Rapha God Ministries
4 Dominion Drive, Building 1
San Antonio, Texas 78257
Please share this word to encourage a friend!
