“So Joshua took the whole land,
according to all that the Lord said unto Moses; and Joshua gave it for an
inheritance unto Israel according to their divisions by their tribes. And the
land rested from war.”—Joshua 11:23 (KJV)
My last article
was on keeping patience for a long-term perspective. One of my favorite
supporters reminded me that short-term goals are as crucial as long-term ones.
Joshua
The great
warrior led the Israelites to the land of Canaan, the area promised to them as
a legacy. This was a journey that should have taken 11 to 15 days. In reality,
it took almost 40 years for them to settle the “land flowing with milk and
honey.” (See Exodus 3:17) Why? Scholars give us two reasons:
- The original occupants of Canaan had to be conquered.
- Many of the Israelites of this time were negative, ungrateful, and fearful. God didn’t want to give the blessed territory to that generation.
Obviously,
all the residents weren’t conquered at once. That’s too much to chew in one
bite. The Jewish people would not have been prepared for that in any way. They fought
approximately 13 extended battles over the decades.
The battle
of Jericho, the first and most famous one, was an exercise in faith, obedience,
and patience. Joshua, chapter 6, tells the story of how the Israelites were
instructed to silently walk around the city for six days.
On the
seventh day, the people were to encircle the town seven times. After the
priests blew their trumpets, everyone would shout, and the walls would fall
down flat. This is exactly what happened.
Our Goals
We’re all
navigating to our “Promised Land”, whatever that may be. We can’t get there in one giant leap. Every victory
requires gradual change.
Improved
physical conditionè
- Keep up with the latest health and science information. (Be your own health advocate.)
- Eat healthy. (Be aware of everything you put into your mouth.)
- Exercise regularly.
- Be aware of any dental and medical conditions.
New
job/promotionè
- Research your options.
- Get more education/training.
- Send out applications.
- Participate in interviews.
“America’s Got Talent” Finalistè
- Distinguish your interests and talents.
- Identify supporting resources (family, friends, church group, formal education, community-based classes and/or volunteer opportunities, finances).
- Practice, practice, practice—for years.
- Don’t give up.
Healing in every areaè
- Believe.
- Forgive.
- Be patient. (God has his own timeline.)
- Recognize assets for moving forward (church, family, friends, finances, therapists, research opportunities, medical and dental professionals).
My Conclusion
Don’t give
up hope! Wars are won campaign by campaign. The same is true for any challenge we face.
Related Posts
Are you planning the steps to
your next victory?
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