WORDS about theWORD
This is for the men. The hardworking men in our town working to provide, lead their families, and raise their kids with honor.
As men, the pressure of being good providers for our households is great. We often crave the affirmation of our wives. We desire that our kids be better humans than us. When the world around us goes against those plans, it can cause us to question our choices and our identity as the men we strive to be.
Far too many times, we turn against the family to the unhealthy things that immediately affirm our identity and our standing as men. As a husband and father to four kids, I experience the struggle often. I don’t think I’m alone. But, it’s tough to talk about because our buddies around us look like they’re killing it in life. Hopefully, God’s promises will serve to arm you against the lies of the world in the same manner as I experienced.
Last week, I had experienced a setback –one of those setbacks that made me start to question all the choices I had made up until that point. On this side of it, I’m thankful it placed me in a state of crying out to the Lord to speak wisdom into the dark places.
That morning as I was seeking Him in prayer and His Word, I noticed a picture my daughter had drawn,postedontherefrigerator door with the verse Joshua1:9highlighted.You know, the one about being strongandcourageous.SoI turned to that passage and read through the chapter. However,myattentionwas actuallycapturedatverse3.
“Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you, just as I promised Moses.” Joshua 1:3 I paused…and re-read it. My first thought was, “Hold on, don’t take scripture out of context. Make sure it aligns with other scripture.” (I’m sensitive to anything that smells like “prosperity gospel” stuff). I was very encouraged by it because it was a nod to God’s sovereignty – God’s will for my life, which is so much better than mine.
He then reminded me of another passage. “The heart of man plans his way, buttheLordestablisheshis steps.” Proverbs 16:9. (In fact, all of Proverbs 16 is pretty sweet!)
You see, it’s not my plans that even matter. It’s His plans. And when I commit to Him, He shapes the desires I feel. He makes my plans His. He establishes my steps, and wherever I find myself, I can take confidence that He has given me that ground in that moment. The soles of my feet are standing on ground He has given me, ground He has planned for me long before the foundations of the earth!
What task does he want me to do here and now? It’s uptometobebraveenough to take big, bold risks when He presents me with them.
However, if you look at what Joshua was looking at when he received that promise, the deck was stacked against them. The land was already inhabited by some pretty stout people groups, and Joshua had some pretty big shoes to fill having just taken up where Moses left off. It would take remembering that promise each step of the way.
I hope this encourages other men the way it hit me. From the ground he has given you, what challenges are in front of you? Financialissues?Marriage struggles? Health scares? Business seem to be hanging on by a thread? Worried about your kids future?
Where you stand is not a mistake. It has been preordained by the Lord. Look across the challenges with great anticipation of the next move He will have you make. But it takes a commitment to Him.
How? Matthew 6 serves as a guide. The end of the chapter is one I jump to most often because it’s all about not being anxious and focusing on the promises of the Lord.
However, in order to walkinstepwithhim,Ialso need to be equally shaped and changed by the earlier parts of the chapter. He tells us 1) how to be generous, 2) how to pray, 3) how to fast, and 4) how to view our stuff.
In summary, He wants me to look out and up to claim the ground He will give me. When I can view all of life from this perspective, it’simpossibletomake it about me. It has to be about Him and those He places in my path. That is the key to being confident in the purpose He has for me, the purpose He gives me on the ground the soles of my feet will tread.
To Him be the Glory!
