LIVING WORD DEVOTIONAL
By Pastor Mensa Otabil
Monday 27th December 2021
LET US PREPARE TO CROSSOVER
Scripture Reading: Joshua 3
Then Joshua rose early in the morning; and they set out from Acacia Grove and came to the Jordan, he and all the children of Israel, and lodged there before they crossed over. Joshua 3:1
After 40 years in the wilderness, Joshua led Israel into the Promised Land. The journey to the Promised Land required that they cross over the Jordan River. It also required preparation. Today, we start the final week of the Year 2021, we also need to prepare ourselves for the year ahead.
In one sense, a New Year is like any other day. In another sense, a New Year is unlike any other day. It is like your first day at school or the day you graduated from school or the day you got married. That day was like every other day but also very different from every other day. We tie special meaning to certain days because on those days we took steps that affected the rest of our lives.
Some people see New Year’s Eve as special but only in the sense that they can meet up with friends and count out an old year. Some consider it a time to celebrate, drink a toast and have fun. A Christian cannot approach a New Year in such a casual manner.
We believe that God holds the times and seasons in His hands. We also believe that the seasons that God brings us into, are related to His plans for us. That is why we approach a coming year as God opening up an aspect of His purposes for our lives.
Let us prepare our minds. Having lived in the wilderness for 40 years, Israel’s mindset was suited for a nomadic life in the wilderness. When they crossed the Jordan, they would start the process of possessing the land the God had promised their forefather, Abraham. They had to prepare their minds for warfare. They also had to prepare their minds for building towns and cities. As we cross over into a New Year, we must also prepare our minds for the new thing that the Lord wants to do with us.
Let us position ourselves right. Joshua and the rest of Israel positioned themselves close to the Jordan river before they could cross it. Similarly, we must position ourselves close to what we believe God has for us in 2022. If we believe God wants to Increase us in 2022, then we must position ourselves for Increase.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for the year 2021. Guide us to live in line with your purposes for the year 2022. In Jesus’ name, Amen.