Just Joshin’

Hey Guys!!!

How are you? We’re halfway through January and can I just say I am really looking forward to what’s up ahead in this ground breaking foundation laying year! Now I must be honest, this year hasn’t started off as amazing as I had hoped in certain aspects, however it’s important to note that seasons aren’t predicated by the beginning and the ending of a calendar year so God’s perfection is still at work in us according to what His purposed plan requires for and from us in and/or at this juncture! And alllll of it is good!!

That statement excites me! “...Alll good...”

Have you ever felt like you were throwing yourself toward faith instead of standing up in it? For me, striving to believe God and what He said concerning me was literally exhausting. Trying to believe with all of my might instead of all of my faith had my disappointment on repeat. Thankfully, I genuinely feel my soul moving from blubbering faith to confident declarative faith. Speaking from a knowing instead of crossing my fingers and hoping I’ve been “good enough”, then God will just feel sorry for me and bless me anyway?! Kinda??! Chile a

mess!

Have you marked your faith level?

How do you believe?

Why don’t you believe?

Are there limitations in your capacity to believe?

Earlier this week I started reading Joshua. I haven’t made it past Chapters 1 & 2 because I keep reading it over and over again. In chapter 1 God commissions Joshua to get moving. Moses is dead so now it’s time for him to take charge and lead the people... catch this... “TO A LAND THAT GOD HAS ALREADY GIVEN THEM”. Read that again for me please!! As I am reading, it jumps off of the page at me. He already gave it to them. Before they possessed it. Before they gathered themselves to go toward it, it was ALREADY, there’s! I read further, God gives more promises and more instruction that includes:

“Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.”

‭‭Joshua‬ ‭1:9‬ ‭KJV‬‬

https://www.bible.com/1/jos.1.9.kjv

This declaration from God suggested a few things:

1.) Josh was freaking out. Can we do this?

2.) Some challenges were up ahead!

3.) Gods Mood: “I got y’all!!”

Ya’ll as I was reading this I was getting so amp’d up!!! Here’s the thing, God never sends us before He first:

1.) Gets our attention.

2.) Presents the promise.

3.) Affirms us!

4.) Reaffirms His commitment to us!

After Josh and God have this talk, Joshua goes to the officers of the people and tells them to tell the people to PREPARE. Then he goes to the Reubenites, Gadites, and half tribe of Manasseh and tells them to suit up. They are about to go into battle to help the children of Israel fight for the Land that God had ALREADY GIVEN THEM!!

Why fight for a land already given? Likely that is the question your mind asked right? I don’t have the answer for that because THIS time my mind bypassed that question for once and went straight to the reality that the fight was fixed! The Land was Given before the battle which means they’re going into battle with leverage... It’s there’s! It already belongs to the people! God made that clear before he told them what was about to go down!!!

Maybe the fight is so that you can know who you are? Maybe the fight is to build your faith so that you know who God is? Maybe the fight is so your enemies are reminded of WHO YOUR GOD IS!?

Regardless of the why, HE GAVE YOU THE LAND! Recount every promise He’s made you. List them. No get out a pen and paper and list them. If you can’t think of any, open your bible and find some of the promises He’s made US...Go on, Look! Don’t be afraid to believe in a God who Gives the expected end, prepares the way for you to get there and boost your confidence up allllllll the way there!!!

I love the fact that we serve a God who seemingly works backwards right? Sheesh! I’m full and I’m grateful!

Before I end let me just remind you that it’s a choice. Everyday I have been fighting a more EMPOWERED FIGHT due to the shift in my belief as a result of my Trust (just going to sneak that in there, Ps. 91:1). Fighting old mindsets by opening my mouth and speaking the truth. Turning on a bop and dancing myself into Joy. The past, fear, old thought patterns etc. have to be eradicated by declaring THE TRUTH:

1.) The Land has been Given to us... The Land is Jesus guys (EEEEEEEK)

Whew! I’m getting excited!!

Be STRONG AND COURAGEOUS YA’LL...

It’s Allllll goood!!!

Love you,

Jess 💜

“You ARE Enough. Quality. Meeting ALL EXPECTATIONS!”