Give Me This Mountain

Bible Reading For Sunday 14 March 10:
Joshua 12
Joshua 13
Joshua 14
Joshua 15

Thought For Today “Give Me This Mountain”

Joshua 14:10-12

10 And now, behold, the LORD hath kept me alive, as he said, these forty and five years, even since the LORD spake this word unto Moses, while [the children of] Israel wandered in the wilderness: and now, lo, I [am] this day fourscore and five years old.

11 As yet I [am as] strong this day as [I was] in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength [was] then, even so [is] my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in.

12 Now therefore give me this mountain, whereof the LORD spake in that day; for thou heardest in that day how the Anakims [were] there, and [that] the cities [were] great [and] fenced: if so be the LORD [will be] with me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as the LORD said.

Joshua reflected on the goodness of God and concluded that he had been through a lot but God kept him alive for a SEASON and a REASON. What a powerful testimony! Today, we need to realize that God’s plans for our lives are not limited because of our socio-economic status or pedigree. Joshua was ever mindful of the wonderful things God had done and gave Him the Praise for it. Through All of the battles he fought and won, he Praised God for them!

Joshua learned early in his ministry and life that obedience to God without reservation meant there were no limits or reservations placed on God’s blessings in his life. When the Lord called him, He qualified him AHEAD of the call. Every detail, trial, and success were seen by God before Joshua encountered them. Why do we go through things if God knows ahead of time WHAT they are? It’s called having an “EXPERIENCE” with Him. Every challenge brought TO us is designed by God to POSITION us to “KNOW HIM” experientially, not just theologically. Like Joshua, our testimony should be that through it all God kept me alive and gave me grace to run the race.

Even when I had questions as to what God was doing and not doing, He gave me peace and strength to ENDURE until I received His lessons and instructions. It’s important that we understand that God seeks to “grow us” in Him through KNOWLEDGE and EXPERIENCE! Joshua had a serious “CONNECTION” with the Lord, so much so that his request for more daylight time to finish the war against his enemies. This was the first mention of “DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME”(24 hours), according to Joshua 10:12-14! By the way, I hope you set your timepieces ahead one hour, if not, you’re officially late! (smiles)

Joshua’s prayer request “literally” stopped time and suspended rotation activities of the sun and moon. When you get a moment, reflect on the fact that sunset according to the weather channel is 6:30 pm, then you notice the sun is still shining bright. Then 12:00 midnight rolls around and the sun is STILL SHINING! Then you look out the window and it’s 3 am, the sun is still shining. Then you turn on CNN and MSNBC an read the caption that said, BREAKING NEWS: Joshua prayed to the Lord and asked for 24 hours of “DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME” to finish beating down his enemies in battle. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the first time in the history of the world this has happened. Can you imagine Meteorologist Al Roker interviewing Joshua about “HOW” were you able to pull this off? I can hear Joshua saying, God Did It Oh Yes He Did! Remember, nothing is too hard for the Lord. He is the ONLY one able to make the Impossible Possible!

Joshua’s final request centers around an inheritance God promised him before entering the Promised Land. Do you think God had a problem granting this request in light of what He did for Joshua in the abovementioned paragraph? He asked God to give him “THIS” Mountain. Until we get specific and detailed with God in terms of what we want and need, there is the tendency to assume that it’s going to happen automatically. NOTHING happens for us until we ASK for it. Please let this sink in! Joshua, though seriously connected to God, wasn’t so self righteous or spiritually arrogant that he didn’t need to ask God for ANYTHING!

PLEASE READ Matthew 7:7-11. God wants us to “FEEL” our petitions for help. He wants us to know how much we “NEED” Him MORE than the request we ask of Him. Prayer says, I need the God of my request and I love the God of my request more than anything! When we get to this point in our experience, God causing the sun and moon to stand still is just a drop in the bucket. God has SO MUCH MORE He is ready to do for us that eyes haven’t seen nor ears heard the things God has prepared for them that LOVE Him! I Corinthians 2:9. Live your life EXPECTING great things from God. Don’t box Him in or limit Him because you’re having challenges, rather claim the “mountain” while you are in the valley! God will give you as far as you can see. Blessings are attracted to minds that have “crazy faith”. The ability to claim a “MOUNTAIN” which is far bigger and greater than you are is the kind of faith God honors. You may be saying that what you are facing in your life is the size of a mountain and you’re asking me to believe God for “another mountain? When last you read Mark 11:22-24? The answer to these questions are near the end of verse 22, Have faith IN God, not in what’s challenging you or even causing you hurt and pain. Prayer moves God and God moves the mountain!

If we start hanging around what and where God is ALREADY BLESSING your faith will be strengthened even more. Read His WORD, see how He dealt with others in similar situations and by faith, place yourself right there being blessed as well.

As you go through this day, always remember that there is a difference between “May I Have This Mountain and Give Me This Mountain!