Their toes were still in the sand of wilderness, but their eyes could finally see the Promised Land.
They knew it was for them.
Just waiting for the taking.
Are you in that place? You’ve prayed and longed for “it.” You’ve waited and waited. Now, all of a sudden, God has placed it in front of you.
I’ve become a little obsessed with the Israelites and their story, from slavery to wandering to being chosen to enter into the Promised Land. I’m sure you can identify, too, on some level.
I feel like our little family is on the edge of what God has planned for us. God has set the place in front of us.
I can identify with the Israelites’ excitement, fighting the fears and asking for forgiveness for all the grumbling I’ve done in the waiting.
I believe you and I have a Promised Land this side of heaven. You might name it your calling, your ministry, or your unique design. My Promised Land has even become a physical place.
I’ve seen the giants, the ones we have to fight. Sometimes it’s the sheer size of the project, the overwhelming need, the lack of time and energy. This place is occupied by things I don’t think I can overcome. Even though the Promised Land is always occupied by a real enemy, these “giants” are small in comparison to the true giants of faith.
“Don’t be afraid! The Lord your God is going before you. He will fight for you . . . like He did in Egypt.” {Deuteronomy 1:29}
Just like Jesus fought for you on the cross. Just like Jesus pursued you when you didn’t know Him and didn’t care to. Just like Jesus fought off the ugly voices, the difficult family relationship, the chains of whatever was weighing you down after you met Him. He will fight for you again. Now, on your behalf as you follow God into what He has for you. He has promised it to you. He has planted the desire in your heart, changing you in the process, preparing you for what “is right in front of you.”
I love how God fought for the Israelites when they left Egypt. They did nothing but grab their families and a few belongings and walked out of their chains and into freedom. There was no battle. They followed God out of the gates and into what could have been a special time with the Captain of the Lord’s Army.
Such a wonderful reminder for us to know we don’t have to work for it, fight for it, or wish for it. At the right and opportune time, usually when we least expect it, after a time of purification in the wilderness, God will bring us to the place He has promised.
Let’s cross through the waters and step foot in the Promised Land. He will take care of the rest for you.
Lord, I pray we have been transformed by the wilderness. Forgive us for complaining and griping about the path You took us to get here, the length of our journey and how we initially viewed the Promised Land You want us to occupy for You. Yes, this place You have prepared for us is about You, God, that we might give great care to Your kingdom and people. Silence the giants. Empower us with courage that can only come from the Holy Spirit. Free us from our current bondage and allow us to see Your vision clearly. Let us faith-fully step into possession of all You have promised. Let us continue this adventure guided by You, Lord. Give in abundance, provide all we need, and be the center of our lives in our Promised Land. Be magnified!
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After a time of purification in the wilderness, God will bring us to the place He has promised. {Tweet this!}
by Stephanie Bryant
Stephanie,
I so need to be reminded that the Lord, God goes ahead and fights for me…fights for what is good and right and true. I have been called to help a small, but mighty Christian school in Pakistan. Yesterday, after months of waiting, I had an audience with my church. My requests (pleas) were turned down with a lot of rhetoric and red tape. I can see and taste the Promised Land of seeing this school come through crisis and flourish, but the reality is that we’re still stuck in the wilderness of great need and I am disillusioned. I need prayers to continue fighting and believing…thanks…
Blessings,
Bev
Bev,
Prayers for you and your school! May God bring about a miracle and provide the necessary funds!!
This couldn’t have come at a better time !! so apt for where we are right now in our lives.God bless you and your ministry Stephanie
I am still in the wilderness of WHY? I was always going to buy the family farm and when the time came I was to upset and scared to do it. When I felt better and prayed for it to return to me,it was sold to someone else. I do not understand why God took it from me, I am in despair and heartache. I pray for God to perform a miracle. Please pray for me
Marianne, my heart goes out to you as I’ve experienced a similar event. God must have something better for you, something He needs to prepare your heart for first.
It is so hard to understand. I am trying to trust
It’s impossible to understand. We can do nothing else but trust. And we have a trustworthy God. Do not fear or be dismayed, for I am with you…. And that’s a promise from your Father…
This is so where I am right now. The Lord has been pressing me to “Write” and I have kind of set that direction aside. It’s too mega to me. But, again, He tells me to “Write” because I know exactly what He’s calling me to write. I’m scared, though…and I don’t even know why! I’m scared I’m going to fail my kids by being taken up with yet another thing. I’m scared I’m going to fall short of someone in the process of obeying. I’m scared I’m going to mess up what I’m told to write and lead someone astray. I’m just scared. But, I’m praying, and I know the Lord will get me through this into the Promised Land of the calling that’s been on my heart since my childhood. I can see a glimpse of it, and it’s glorious…and terrifying. But, I’m pressing on….
I am glad you are hearing His direction. He will be with you through it all. Stay strong. I enclose a prayer with this…
I’m scared and haven’t stopped crying for like 4 days…growth is an interesting phenomenon.
I’ve got my feet at the waters edge and I’m starting to see the fishies swim south and the waters north rise. I’m seeing the water disapate at my feet…slowly I raise my foot…
My husband just had another stroke and we are now back home again from the hospital. It came without warning and woke us up at 4AM two days ago. I knew God had already known that this was going to happen when we went to bed, and that we were in His plans for us and for my husband. Ps.62:1-2 was on my Bible ap on my phone in the ER: “For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken.” I have written a Bible study entitled “Taming the Lion’s Roar. Handling Fear in the Midst of a Trial,” which God led me to write after several major trials in our life and then the culmination of it all with my husband having a stroke in 2012. Satan continues to throw his weapons at me, but I will continue to stand firm in Christ. I don’t ask “why” anymore. I let the doctors do that, and I simply walk the path in front of me. However, your writing this morning, was another encouragement to me to keep on keeping on.
This discussion feels like it was written just for me. God is so good, when He carries our load, even when we’re unaware of it. I’ve been in the wilderness of a loved one’s physical & mental unwellness for 5 years now. I try to encourage him as best as I can, but it’s hard, because his thinking is so distorted, as a result of major amounts of chemotherapy. He’s going through the chore of settling a relative’s estate, & finds he is unable to make decisions. He was never like this before the chemo…he was self-assured & decisive. It’s been hard on both of us. Please pray that God will guide us on the right path, & see us through to the promised land. Also, I’ve been very lonely, & need prayer for a good friend. Thank you!
Debi G
Prayers for you and hubby! May God bring healing and restoration to your husband. Prayers that you can find wisdom, peace and contentment amidst all this! May God bring you a covenant friend to share life with!
Blessings 🙂
What an awesome and timely word! Thanks!
I love this “God has brought you to this.” This has been my testimony, and He will bring me through it. I, too, am on a new journey of transformation this year in 2015, and I like when you said we are in the Promised Land on this side of Heaven. and I love the song, “We are Bound for the Promised Land!” I love the photo and the beautiful words you added to this. Turquoise is one my favorite colors next to purple! Thank you so much…I shared on Facebook. Have a blessed weekend on this Friday, April 17, 2015! I was keeping track of each week in the New Year, but due to complications, I got side-tracked and lost track. My faith may get hindered at times, and I may fall (to my knees), but I can get stand back up, Praise the Lord. Wow…this is the 17th Friday on the 17th day of April, 2015. I must focus on my goals: Go slow, keep it simple, and be sure, but most of all, take each day at time by walking slowly, enjoying each day, so the time won’t go by so fast!
p.s. (taking it slowly)…I am a new member of a church in my community since this past Sunday on April 12, 2015, one week after Easter Sunday, so it doesn’t seemed like time has passed quickly after that…just 5 days…:-)
Thank you for this beautiful post, Stephanie. In the midst of a discouraging morning, it’s so good to remember that God goes before me. I hadn’t thought about how He fought for the Israelites when they left Egypt. He goes before us too. Thank you so much for the truth.
wise words…that I needed to read today – and they were written by you…isn’t that just like Father God. thank you…and be blessed
Woah! What a powerful message. Thank you for taking the time to share it today. It helped open my eyes to an opportunity that was put in front of me that I wasn’t really aware of. Still, with this exciting “promise land” in my future, I need LOTS of wisdom on how to pursue it. Please pray for me that I would be open to what God would have me to do. Thanks!
This so resonates with me, where I am, Stephanie. It’s not just what does God want me to do next, but also where is He going to take me physically and geographically? None of this worries me, and I am patiently waiting and watching for my next move. I know God has great plans for me, will fight for me, and is helping me now to be spiritually ready for what comes next. I’m just praying I will walk in faithfulness.
Thanks for hearing God and sharing it with the rest of us!
Blessings!
In two weeks my husband and I become Senior Pastors. It is our Promised Land. We have waited for this (and grumbled at times) but we are about to cross over. There are giants to take and cities to fall but we are so excited. Your prayer, Stephanie, was beautiful. I will print it out and pray it as I pray for myself and my church.
Promised Land here we come!
‘Was especially moved by the paragraph: “Just as Jesus fought for you…Just like Jesus pursued you…” The last three sentences of that same paragraph seemed downright prophetic as I read them. Thank you, Stephanie, for giving us all a booster shot of faith, hope, and encouragement!
Thank you so much for this timely post/reminder Stephanie! It is exactly what I needed to be reminded of in this time of waiting. TRUTH! The Lord’s Wisdom filling the empty places of doubt with renewed hope and faith.
So I wait as He continues to purify me in this wilderness place.
I am in the wilderness of job dissatisfaction. Don’t like my job and haven’t for a while now, but God keeps me there for some reason. Perhaps it is to draw me closer to Him as he did the Israelites. I find myself praying more–& not just for me. Also coming off throws of dealing with aging dad and His health issues for 1 year now. That has contributed to job problems.
I guess I will have to wait and see what God has in store for me. Jeremiah 29:11