They stood before the great River.

They fought hard, endured much, and it was before them.

The time was Now.

The Promised Land.

All they hoped and dreamed of and been promised.

“They camped….for three days” (Joshua 3:2)

Do you camp for three days before you are ready for something big in your life?

As I read this verse I was startled because this is not my natural instinct – to wait, to rest, to prepare.

How many times do you get to a point in your life you are ready to just GO because you finally know where God is taking you?

We can learn a thing or two from Joshua and his men.  They waited.  They strategized.  They gained composure before claiming what God had prepared them for.

“When you see the Ark of The Covenant…..you are to follow it. Then you will know which way to go, since you have never been this way before.” Joshua 3:3-4

These words grip me.  Not only did the men wait before going where God called them, but they were instructed to follow the Presence of God (via the Ark) because they had never been to the place they were going before, and they didn’t know which way to go.

Is God calling you to something new? If so, here are thought-provoking principals from this passage.

• Wait for God to lead.
• Stay behind the Father, do not run ahead.
• Keep your eyes on His Presence because He knows where you’re going {you don’t}.
• Keep your footsteps in His path because He knows what the new environment is like and the challenges you may have.

I don’t know about you, but I tend to see new opportunities and jump into them.  I tend to know what God has called me too but am tempted to run ahead.  Then I get frustrated and disillusioned when the honeymoon period of the “new thing” wears off.

I’m challenged to take these principles to heart, not just for new opportunities, but for every day.

• Wait for God to lead.
• Stay behind Him
• Keep my eyes on His presence because He knows where I need to go.
• Keep my footsteps in His path because He knows what’s up ahead.

I hope these principles bring you hope, strength, and peace, too, for your situation.

Where and what is God calling you to?  Will you be  patient?  Will you wait for Him to lead, and keep your eyes on Him and rest in His presence?

Father, help us to be like Joshua’s men…..waiting, staying behind you, keeping our eyes on your presence and our feet in your path.  Help us to see, hear, and follow you.