It’s Time to Put Your Foot Down - Girlfriends in God - December 28, 2016

December 28, 2016
It’s Time to Put Your Foot Down
Sharon Jaynes

Today’s Truth

“I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me” (Philippians 3:12 NIV).

Friend to Friend

Did you know that just because God gives you a promise that does not mean it is automatically yours? Nope, you have to believe it and take hold of it to make it yours!

Paul wrote: “I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me” (Philippians 3:12). In order to experience a thriving faith—the abundant life to the full—we must take hold of that for which Christ Jesus has taken hold of for us and placed in us.

I love how the Amplified Bible translates today’s truth.“I press on to lay hold of (grasp) and make my own, that for which Christ Jesus (the Messiah) has laid hold of me and made me His own.” I press on to lay hold of…to grasp…to make my own.

After Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt, that first generation of slaves-set-free were not allowed to enter the Promised Land. Their grumbling and unbelief kept life to the full at arms’ length. But when the next generation came along, they believed God would do what He said He would do. They moved forward to take hold of the promises, and lived bold to claim what their parents never saw. What made the difference? Let’s take a look.

After the death of Moses, God said to Joshua, Moses’ aide,

“Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites. I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses.

“No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them.

“Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:2-3, 5-7)

It is that sentence “I will give you every place where you set your foot,” that stops me in my tracks every time. God had given the Israelites the land, but they still had to take it. They had to put their foot down. They had to take hold of the promise.

I just love miracles. Don’t you? I love reading about times when God mysteriously and supernaturally intervenes in someone’s life—times when what was impossible with man became a reality with God. But almost every time, God performed a miracle in the Bible, He required men and women to participate—to put their foot down.

Build an ark.
Lift your staff.
Fill your jug.
Gather jars.
Make a cake.
Blow a trumpet.
Give a shout.

Jesus echoed his Father’s cadence in the New Testament.

Take up your pallet.
Cast your nets.
Stretch out your hand.
Wash off the mud.
Look in the fish’s mouth.
Roll away the stone.
Stand up straight.
Go and tell.

Yes, God does miracles. And in every one of the above-mentioned marvels, God’s power followed someone’s obedience. The key to experiencing the abundant life of relationship with Christ is obedience, and most people don’t even like the word. But it is the pathway to the faith you long for.

Oswald Chambers wrote, “Even the smallest bit of obedience opens heaven, and the deepest truths of God immediately become yours. Yet God will never reveal more truth about Himself to you, until you have obeyed what you know already.”

So girlfriend, put your foot down. It’s time to take hold of the promises of God!

Let’s Pray

Heavenly Father, I have been so wishy-washy when it comes to taking hold of Your promises and making them mine. But today, I’m putting my foot down! I will not allow my human reason to talk me out of my spiritual inheritance. I will set my foot down on every promise that You have given me today. I’m going in!
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.

Now It’s Your Turn

Pick three of the following stories and note what Jesus told the person to do. Read the surrounding verses to put the command in context. Note what happened when the person did what Jesus told him/her to do, and what would have happened if he/she didn’t.

Take up your pallet. Matthew 9:6
Cast your nets. Luke 5:4
Stretch out your hand. Matthew 12:13
Wash off the mud. John 9:11
Look in the fish’s mouth. Matthew 17:27
Roll away the stone. John 11:39

What is God calling you to do or believe today?

More from the Girlfriends

Today’s devotion came from my latest book, Take Hold of the Faith You Long For: Let Go, Move Forward, Live Bold. Let’s take hold of all that Jesus has already taken hold of for us and placed in us! Check it out at www.takeholdthebook.com where you can download a free chapter and watch a video book trailer. The book also comes with a Bible study guide. Make sure and sign up for my weekly blog for more great deals and inspiration.