Day 2: Go and stand
“Tell the priests who carry the ark of the covenant: ‘When you reach the edge of the Jordan’s waters, go and stand in the river’” (Joshua 3:8).
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. You are the Lord—the Lord of all the earth (Joshua 3:13), the Maker of all things, who stretches out the heavens, who spreads out the earth by Yourself… who says to the watery deep, ‘Be dry, and I will dry up your streams…’ (Isaiah 44:24,27).
Lord, we confess our little faith before You. For our eyes and our minds often only see the elements and the forces before us— the winds, the waves the floods, the waters. Train our eyes, our hearts to see the God who walks in the recesses of the deep (Job 38:16).
All around us, the waters are rising, and life seems to be constantly at flood stage (Joshua 3:15). In the natural and in the spiritual realm the springs of the great deep seem to burst forth unrelentingly (Genesis 7:11). But You are still the God who urges us forward even when all we see is the torrent ahead. Who else but You is a God who tells His people, "when you reach the edge of the waters go and stand in the river" (Joshua 3:8)?
Father, help us to trust You. In all the grief, turmoil and devastation in our world, there is much we don't understand. But You are still the God who by wisdom laid the earth's foundations, by understanding set the heavens in place, and by Your knowledge divided the watery depths (Proverbs 3:19-20).
You established the clouds above and fixed securely the fountains of the deep (Proverbs 8:28). And because of Your great compassions we are not consumed (Lamentations 3:21), for even when and where we do not see, You continue to pile up the flood waters and cut off the flow (Joshua 3:16) to allow us safe crossing.
God who is our refuge, we have the assurance that There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day (Psalm 46:4-5).
When we reach the water's edge, help us to go and stand in that river.
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