“Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. Do not stifle the Holy Spirit.”
(1 Thessalonians 5:16-19, NLT)
For the last few days, I have been reading the familiar story of the battle of Jericho. The battle strategy, if you can call it such, was to march around the city once a day for six days. On the seventh day, they were to march around the city seven times and when the priests gave the signal, all the people were to shout as loudly as they could. You can read the story for yourself in Joshua 6.
It was God’s strategy, not Joshua’s. It probably made no sense at all to the people. Don’t miss the fact that they had to march in silence other than their one shout (see verse 10). No complaining that the sun was scorching, or they were thirsty, or their feet hurt, or how much further till they could stop. So yeah, now you know what I would have wanted to say 🙂 But no, they remained in silence until the shout.
The shout – the shout of victory. The shout to remind them all of God’s Presence and His might.
- God’s people had to exercise faith in Him BEFORE Jericho would fall.
- Spiritual victories are impossible without the help of God’s Spirit.
(from the Key Word Commentary, page 205)
What battle do you find yourself facing today?
We are to be wholly dependent on God, “It is not by force nor by strength, but by my Spirit says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.” (Zechariah 4:6, NLT) Our God can make the mountains before us as level ground. He can open closed doors. He can make a way when there is no way.
And in the meantime, while we wait and battle, we are to be thankful.
It is God’s will for us to be joyful, praying and giving thanks in all circumstances. When we do not, we can stifle the Holy Spirit. So today, let us all give thanks. Let us lift up the Name of Jesus. And may each battle be won.
It is to His Great Name we give thanks.
It is in His Great Name we have victory.
For it is His Great Name we trust.
His Great Name.
Today I am joining … Testimony Tuesday and Intentional Tuesday and True Story and #RaRaLinkup and Reflect and Unite .
I’m loving all these posts from the Old Testament! God’s might power on display!
Michele, I am so grateful you are. There is much we can learn from the Old Testament. And I am finding I want Go’s mighty power on display in our time too!
I love the TRUE story of the fall of Jericho! Isn’t that the amazing thing, that this really actually happened in reality, that God’s Word isn’t some fantastical fairy tale?
Elizabeth, you are so right – it is absolutely amazing. We can so often overlook that these events took place in the lives of real and ordinary people. Should make us crave for these occurrences in our own days.
Joanne, you’ve truly sounded the trumpet of encouragement and truth today. I am soaking up every ounce and using it for the battle. Admittedly, I stopped for a second at the very beginning Scripture. Do you see the words “Always”, “never”, and “All”? How clear-cut they are. (And I forgot them so easily yesterday!) #goJesus Neighboring with you at #TestimonyTuesday
Kristi, may we not let the enemy distract us from the words “Always, Never, and All”. WE can do it! Even if we must write the Scriptures, or those words even, on an index card & carry it around with us 🙂
What wisdom, Joanne, that we must “… exercise faith in Him BEFORE …” Your second point is spot on: We need His Spirit to help us as we exercise our faith. Let our words be praise to Him and void of our complaints. Thank you, Joanne, for sharing your heart at #IntentionalTuesday on Intentionally Pursuing. : )
Crystal, I love what you added > “Let our words be praise to Him and void of our complaints.” Yes! I think I will try that today 🙂
I love this passage, Joanne, and I never thought about how hard it must have been to stay SILENT! But obedience does pave the way to victory. I’m battling to trust God with my daughter today. Blessings on your week!
I have been for you (and your daughter) since I read your comment Tues. May we each obey & be led to the victory He has for us. Blessings!
Joanne, This is so good. I never thought about them marching in silence! But what a great point, they had to exercise faith in God before the walls fell. Thanks for sharing this today!
Angela, I cannot tell you how deeply it has hit me that they marched in silence. Maybe because while growing up, I was always called “chatty”. May I learn when to come silently before Him, obeying Him in simple, quiet trust.
This story always leaves me amazed. It must have sounded like such a crazy battle plan (still does), yet they were completely obedient to it. Stepping out in faith and trust – taking those first steps – and then seeing God’s faithfulness after they first showed theirs.
Kathryn, perhaps the battle plan always sounds a little crazy so that we come to the place of trusting Him to being the victory. Love what you shared – God showed His faithfulness after they showed theirs. May we be faithful to what He asks!
I have such a hard time being thankful in the waiting and battling. But you are so right in how necessary that is, Joanne. It’s truly life changing. I’m learning this more in every single battle. Thank you for this important lesson and great video this morning! A perfect way to start the day :).
Candace, every battle brings a lesson learned, doesn’t it? Sometimes I just want to skip over the lesson & get to the win 🙂 May we be faithful to wait & be thankful & trust Him.
There is a time to be silent and use our patience – than also a time to shout. 40 years prior to this, they could have easily taken the city, but the 10 spies could not keep silent. No they had to criticize and give bad reports. May we all move forward when God says march on. Thanks for sharing with us here at Tell me a Story.
Hazel, I love the insight you brought in your comment. Perhaps God required them to march in silence knowing of their propensity to complain. Always grateful to read your comments. And that is why I always come back to link up with you. Blessings!