Jordan

I was reading Joshua tonight (I know it's late.....but I'm insomniatic...if that's a word) and I found something that I thought was interesting.

In Joshua 3, Joshua is preparing the children of Israel to pass through the Jordan river into the Promised Land. He tells them to sanctify themselves, and when they get to the Jordan River, to get in and stand still. After the Lord delivered the Israelites, Joshua commanded them to build an altar--stones of remembrance--on the other side of the river as a testament to what the Lord had done. I looked up some commentary on what the significance of the Jordan River was. What I found was interesting and the encouragment that I needed.

In the Bible, the Jordan River is symbolic of the passing over from one place to another--specifically, at a point in one's life where the Lord is in the process of changing and molding a life. Joshua commanded the people to get in and stand still.

At the point in our lives when the Lord may be molding us, it gets uncomfortable. The desire is to run, to go back to the "safe" and perhaps even pleasurable side of the river where we were before. If we follow the example, we should get in and stand still in the place where the Lord is growing us. As our relationship is just that---not a religion, but a personal, growing relationship with the Lord--this process should happen over and over again throughout the course of our walk on this earth. Don't run. Move to the place where the Lord has the ability (and permission--He won't force Himself) to teach you, and then stand still while He does!

If you follow the story, Joshua commanded the Israelites, once they got to the other side, to construct an altar as a place of remembrance for what the Lord had done for them on that day. When you come through a period of trials, growth, learning, or help (and often they seem to show up together...), leave stones of remembrance as a testament to the Lord's grace and His work on your life. Allow the process of change in your walk with Christ to be one that others can be inspired by...not because of how phenomenal we are, but because of His mercy and grace that He would still continue to chip away at the areas of our life that are unnecessary to make us something beautiful.

On that note, I'm headed to sleep. :) Sweet Dreams. Remember....Get in and stand still.