March of Faith

Being a “Stay at home" mom can be very challenging at times. One

challenge might include a daily routine without much change. The

routine never really changes much it's just the day that changes!

Someone can ask you what you did that day and usually, your answer is

the same as it was the day before. Staying at home with your children

every day can make you think at times "Am I making a difference?"

When your children though are grown and have turned out how you

hoped, is when you will say “My day in and day out routine did make a

difference!”

Joshua and his men also experienced a routine that they believed

would "Pay off." God told Joshua the city of Jericho would be

delivered into his hands along with its King and fighting men. God

then told Joshua for this to happen he and his men were to walk

around the city once a day for six days, and on the seventh day, they

were to walk around the city seven times. During these days of

marching, they were to have the seven priests go before everyone

carrying and blowing the seven trumpets of ram's horns in front of the

ark of the Lord. The rear-guard men were to be continually blowing

trumpets as well. On the seventh day, they were to march around the

city seven times and make a long blast with the ram's horn and then

shout, and then the walls of Jericho would fall.

Joshua after hearing from God went and told his men what God

had commanded them to do. He also told them that while they were

doing this each day, they were not allowed to speak until he gave them

the signal to shout. So Joshua and his men headed out and did exactly

as they were told, and the walls of Jericho did fall, and they went in

seizing the city.

Imagine these men being told to do this and to do it without

speaking a word so the walls would fall! Think also to what they must

have been thinking on the third or fourth day of marching in unison

and silence. Interestingly, they were not allowed to speak. Perhaps

because by that third or fourth day if they did speak they would have

been grumbling. They might have said words like "What are we doing?"

"We're marching around every day and what, on the seventh day the walls are going to miraculously fall down after we march another seven

times and shout?" God knew they would probably say something

negative, so He simply said, "No talking!"

This army of men every day had to do the same thing repeatedly,

and then seven times more on the last day. Do you think they thought

for a split second "We're doing the same thing over and over- is this

really going to make a difference or change anything?" However,

because they obeyed God they saw the miracle of their faith being

revealed.

Often God directs us to do something, and we don't see an

immediate result. We then start to question and think "I'm doing the

same thing over and over again- when does it finally pay off?" It takes

faith to continue in obedience when you are not seeing that instant

result, but you will- in God's time.

For these men, it took seven days and thirteen times around the

city, but it did happen as God said it would. For most of us, it takes a

lot longer than seven days, but it will happen. Whatever God has asked

you to do, be faithful and diligent in it even when you do not see

immediate results or change. Also, keep the negative words out of your

march of faith and obedience.

Have the faith in God has Joshua did that day believing that the

city walls would come crumbling down. Be inspired by his example of

the power of faith, obedience, and seeing God showing up and doing

His part whenever we're obedient.

Whatever God has asked you to do- remain diligent and faithful in

it. Keep marching every day in that faith and watch the miracles that

God will bring to you just as He did for Joshua and his men.

From Gardens of Splendor by Gina Burns