Step: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

Step

Barefooted priests

stepped into swirling

water carrying holy trust

stood long hours

waiting for their people

bustling across miracle path

seeing only water walls

wavering love like trees

steadfast to call.

Will of God sustained

beating hearts,

still asks others to

wait upon travelers

struggling across rivers

worn with life’s journey

speak truth

stand firm as 

barefoot servants.

Reflection: Dry Ground: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

1.     Have you had to stand still and wait until others reach safety? What sustained you?

2.     How do you determine what combination of action and stillness enables a call to be completed?

3.     In what ways could we compare the faithful priests standing until all who crossed to a call to prayer today?

Share: When have you been able to cross an impassible situation because of prayer?

Dry Ground: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

Reading: Joshua 3

“Sanctify yourselves; for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.”     

Joshua 3:5

When Israel fled Egypt God told Moses to hold his staff out and God parted the sea. Now the time has come to enter the Promised Land and God’s directions include choices for each person and a particular call to the priests who carried the ark.

Sanctify yourselves—prepare to see the wonder—follow the ark—cross over on dry ground.

But the flowing waters would not be cut off until the soles of the feet of the priests who carried the ark of the Lord literally stepped into the waters. And then they “stood firm on dry ground until all the nation had finished crossing the Jordan.”

To Israel the ark represented God’s testimony to remain with the people—within their camp. His testimony—His word—His Direction—His Presence. And the priests faithfully stood under that authority and under that promise until all were safe.

Many times Jesus gave His disciples similar directions. Follow Me—I am the light—Abide in My word—I am the way, the truth and the light—keep My word.

Each had a choice, a decision to believe—to trust—to follow—in all circumstances. Eleven did and one did not.

Sometimes we too are faced with overwhelming rivers keeping us separated from the new land God intends for us and we let the impossibilities freeze us on the edge. Fear chokes our trust in His words. Sometimes for ourselves and often for others. Faith dissolves under the tide of rushing waters. There is no way through. Unless we take His words as seriously as did Israel and the disciples.

Lord, give us courage to remember that when we step forward first sanctified in Your word and in prayer You will direct our path onto dry ground. And you will give us strength to stand there for others when You call us to wait.

Psalm of Worship: Psalm 123:2

"As the eyes of servants look to the lord of the their master, as the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the Lord our God, until he has mercy upon us.”

Oath: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

Oath

She hid the spies

and gave them counsel

these men whom she knew

came to take her land.

Some would say a traitor.

She knew the truth

they carried

mattered more

than land and city.

Instead she hungered for life.

Saved her family and their kin.

She counted on words

words of oath, of covenant

words bound by promises

given by messengers.

Sent to bring light.

Reflection Territory: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

1.     What boundary are you hesitating to cross literally or metaphorically? Or do you know that someone is preparing to come into your territory?

2.     Is there a conversation that needs to be brought into the open but you are afraid of the confrontation?

3.     How has the Lord prepared you already?

4.     Upon whose words are you ready to engage: your own or the Lord’s?

Share: What surprises have you discovered in a challenging territory before?

Territory: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

Reading: Joshua 2

“According to your words, so be it.” Joshua 2: 21

Have you ever been thrown into a new responsibility with almost no warning and no ‘to do’ list of guidelines? You have no idea what your reception will be but are expecting hostility, so you approach with caution. Or perhaps barrel on it taking a firm grip of authority.

Joshua sent two spies across the Jordan river into hostile territory with a brief mandate, “Go, view the land, especially Jericho.” That’s all they had. To them fell the responsibility to gather critical information. So they took lodgings in the house of a harlot, probably hoping to stay under the radar and unnoticed.

Instead, because she had heard, she immediately witnessed to them her belief in God and His intent to take the land. And boldly asked for refuge for herself, her family and their kin. “Swear to me by the Lord,” she said.

Perhaps the spies expected a possible confrontation with the men in the city, or perhaps captivity, but did they expect a woman, a harlot, to demand confirmation that God not only was who she believed He was, but were these two spies were confidant enough as well to trust His words for themselves and for this foreigner. Did they wonder if they could make that promise?

All three of them had to choose to accept whether they believed God’s words would bring hope and life or destruction. The decision required concrete action and not a generic maybe. And the spies gave their word in the middle of enemy territory. And Rahab accepted with trust. “So be it.”

With so little history they all agreed with confidence Rahab’s affirmation that. “The Lord your God is indeed God in heaven above and on earth below.”

Lord, we have both Your spoken words and Your written words and too often we forget to stand on Your protection in enemy territory and/or forget to share that trust when in the midst of a conflict. Whether confronting a misunderstanding or facing down a monumental challenge, please help us to listen and act upon Your truth in faith.

Psalm of Worship: Psalm 122: 7-8

“Peace be within your walls, and security within your towers.

For the sake of my relatives and friends, I will say, ‘Peace be within you’.”

Be Strong: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

Be Strong

First came words of counsel

direct details, ordinary expectations

proceed.

Follow footsteps as taught,

push forward.

Second came words of courage

obey your laws,

firm steps.

Take care to remember

fail not promise.

Final came words of command

be strong, be courageous

no fear.

Resist trap of dismay

now enter land.

So he listened to God’s words

stepped out in faith

secure.

submissive to God’s will

strength supplied.