I was reading Joshua again this morning and was surprised to learn that it took the Israelites seven years!! to take over the land God had promised them. It took just a few seconds to read all about it and so the actual time it took for complete victory surprised me a lot! However, I was comforted by the work, energy, and manpower 7 years of fighting the enemy must have taken for them. Fighting my enemies is taking a very long time, as well.
How about you? Do you have a battle you can't quite beat? I truly hope not, but if you do, I do know this: You are changing for the better! Or you will in the future if you haven't started the war as yet!
The study part of my bible said to me, "We often expect quick changes in our lives and quick victories over sin. But our journey with God is a lifelong process and the changes and victories may take time. It is easy to grow impatient with God and feel like giving up hope because things are moving too slowly. When we are close to a situation, it is difficult to see progress, but when we look back we can see that God never stopped working."
This, too, comforted me, both in my own desire to destroy some sinful attitudes of my own and also, in my family members who suffer from unchanged sin. The old saying of "a rotten apple spoils all in the barrel" has some logic. No one likes to think of being considered a "rotten apple", but the truth is ..sin truly does hurt the whole family. I don't want my family to suffer anymore than they already have. I will do my utmost to lick this thing with God's help and anyone else qualified to help.
All in all, those who sin and those who suffer from someone else's sin, need to remember how long it took Joshua to claim all of Israel for the themselves. He made lots of mistakes, and God helped him out of the jams he got in and helped him through his battles with the enemy until finally, all Israel was theirs! The Victory was won!
I am working to change myself. But excuse me...that sounds very proud. God and I are working to change me...and I am counting on Him!! Maybe there will be disappointments (there will be!) in myself and others, but God will not disappoint and eventually we will see His work in us and each other. And we will all celebrate with a cheer in gratitude and thanksgiving. Of this I am sure!
Lord Jesus, Accept, please, a hope that I will eventually have grace rather than annoyance at the small mistakes of others, for their mistakes are as nothing compared to the sin of my prideful annoyance. And, Lord Jesus, I ask, too, that you let your love be known for those who don't believe in it, so that they,too, might battle their wars with you as their Commander in Chief.
May the Peace of God find its way into your heart and may it blossom there in the place of any sin that so far may have taken God's place.
Friends Forever?
MN Jo
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