Face the Big Black Dog

When all the Amorite kings west of the Jordan and all the Canaanite kings who lived along the Mediterranean coast heard how the Lord had dried up the Jordan River so the people of Israel could cross, they lost heart and were paralyzed with fear because of them. (Joshua 5:1 NLT)


A children's book "Black Dog" written by Levi Pinfold tells the story of the Hope family. Mr Hope spotted a black dog in their yard and was struck by how large it was. Soon every member of the family saw the dog and each one began to describe it. With each one's description, the dog grew larger and larger. At first it was the size of a tiger, then someone said it was as huge as an elephant, on and on everyone described it until it was the size of a Big Jeffy. Everyone was scared of the black dog and would not go out into the yard. However, Small Hope, the baby of the family, who didn't understand what was going on, saw the dog and decided to go out and play chase with the dog. Small and the dog played together and by the time she returned to the house with the dog, everyone saw that it wasn't as big as they had thought. It was just a lovable little hound. They all now saw that all their 'big fears' were just silly. There was really nothing to be afraid of.

This story illustrates the power of confronting your fears. Fear is often caused by an over-exaggeration of the issue or thing feared. When fear is confronted you discover that the real issue was not what you feared but your fear of it itself. In a 1933 speech, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, addressing the nation during the Great Depression and the start of America's involvement in World War 2, made the famous statement "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” Fear is the real enemy. Everyone faces fear regardless of background, race or status. Yet there are some who appear to be fearless, doing things that other people cower before. These people have learned the secret that fear is the real enemy and that the biggest battle they face is not what they fear but facing it and overcoming their fear of it.

To understand our text today, you need to think of it in context. All the Canaanite kings were paralyzed with fear as a result of what they heard about what God was doing with Joshua and his followers. Now go back a little bit in history and think of the time of Moses. In Numbers 13 and 14, Moses sent out spies to scout out the same lands and they came back with the following report.

This was their report to Moses: “We entered the land you sent us to explore, and it is indeed a bountiful country—a land flowing with milk and honey. Here is the kind of fruit it produces. But the people living there are powerful, and their towns are large and fortified. We even saw giants there, the descendants of Anak! ...“We can’t go up against them! They are stronger than we are!” So they spread this bad report about the land among the Israelites: “The land we traveled through and explored will devour anyone who goes to live there. All the people we saw were huge. We even saw giants there, the descendants of Anak. Next to them we felt like grasshoppers, and that’s what they thought, too!” (Numbers 13:27, 28, 30-33 NLT)

Then the response of the people:

"Then the whole community began weeping aloud, and they cried all night. Their voices rose in a great chorus of protest against Moses and Aaron. “If only we had died in Egypt, or even here in the wilderness!” they complained. “Why is the Lord taking us to this country only to have us die in battle? Our wives and our little ones will be carried off as plunder! Wouldn’t it be better for us to return to Egypt?” Then they plotted among themselves, “Let’s choose a new leader and go back to Egypt!” (Numbers 14:1-4 NLT).

The people were paralyzed not because of the giants but because of their own perceptions of the giants. Similarly, most fear is not rooted in fact but in feelings and wrong perceptions. Majority of fear is unfounded. It is only the anticipation of evil which may never even happen.

Now fast forward to the Joshua generation. The previous generation was scared of the inhabitants of the land so they refused to go on in and possess it
them. But for the Joshua generation, things were reversed, it was the inhabitant of the land who were paralyzed with fear because of them . What made the difference? While the previous generation allowed their perceptions to immobilize and paralyzed them, the Joshua generation decided to act in spite of their fears. They stepped out in obedience to God. They faced their fears and as they put some wins under their belts, the table turned - what they were afraid of now was scared of them.

You can also turn the table on your fears if you would dare to confront them. Inaction breeds fear. Action breeds confidence. Get busy! Look that thing, task or person that has kept you paralyzed before in the face and deny them of the power to hold you down. Get out and play with the Big Black Dog in your yard. You will discover it is only a cute little hound.


Decision of the Day

I choose to confront my fears. I choose action over inaction, faith over fear.

Helped by the Mighty Hand of God

For the Lord your God dried up the river right before your eyes, and he kept it dry until you were all across, just as he did at the Red Sea when he dried it up until we had all crossed over. He did this so all the nations of the earth might know that the Lord ’s hand is powerful, and so you might fear the Lord your God forever.” (Joshua 4:23, 24 NLT)

The following poem written by an unknown author but loaded with truth captures the message of today. Here it is:

A basketball in my hands is worth about $19
A basketball in Michael Jordan’s hands is worth about $33 million
It depends whose hands it’s in

A baseball in my hands is worth about $6
A baseball in Mark McGuire’s hands is worth $19 million
It depends whose hands it’s in

A tennis racket is useless in my hands
A tennis racket in Pete Sampras’ hands is a Wimbledon Championship
It depends whose hands it’s in

A rod in my hands will keep away a wild animal
A rod in Moses’ hands will part the mighty sea
It depends whose hands it’s in

A sling shot in my hands is a kid’s toy
A sling shot in David’s hand is a mighty weapon.
It depends whose hands it’s in

Two fish and 5 loaves of bread in my hands is a couple of fish sandwiches.
Two fish and 5 loaves of bread in God’s hands will feed thousands
It depends whose hands it’s in

Nails in my hands might produce a birdhouse
Nails in Jesus Christ’s hands will produce salvation for the entire world.
It depends whose hands it’s in

As you see now it depends whose hands it’s in.
So put your concerns, your worries, your fears, your hopes, your dreams, your families and your relationships in God’s hands
because it depends whose hands it’s in.

The hands are the most versatile part of the human external anatomy. With hands we get things done. We handle objects of various shapes and sizes with it. We write, fight, hug, warn, point, eat and do a variety of things with the hands. Scripture, to bring spiritual truths down to our level using what is called an anthropomorphism, speaks of God's hands, referring to the power of God. It is how he handles things.

As Joshua declared to Isreal in our text, after crossing the Jordan miraculously, since God has not changed, his desire is still to show how powerful his hands is in your life so the nations can glorify him through you. His hand is not shortened that he cannot save (Isaiah 59:1). It is revealed to those who believe his report in the word (Isaiah 53:1) . It exalts those who humble themselves under its might by casting all their cares and concerns on him. (I Peter 5:6,7). Let go of that thing your hand has been struggling to hold. Yours is too small and feeble. Roll your burden on the Lord. Let him carry it for you and see the mighty hand that holds the universe lift you up and fight on your behalf.

Decision of the Day

I know God's hand is powerful. I humble myself under his hands. I cast my cares, concerns and anxieties on the Lord. I believe his report and I am delivered.

Standing When It's Tough To Stand

The priests who were carrying the Ark stood in the middle of the river until all of the Lord ’s commands that Moses had given to Joshua were carried out. Meanwhile, the people hurried across the riverbed. And when everyone was safely on the other side, the priests crossed over with the Ark of the Lord as the people watched. (Joshua 4:10, 11 NLT)

Bill Hybels tells a story of an experience he had after a very exciting and joyful baptism service at Willow Creek. He bumped into a woman at the stairwell crying profusely. Concerned and wondering what could be causing her to cry on such a joyful day, he asked her if she was okay. Here's what she said according to Hybels: "My mom was baptized today. I prayed for her every day for almost 20 years. The reason I’m crying is because I came this close to giving up on her. At the 5-year mark I said, “Who needs this? God isn’t listening.” At the 10-year mark I said, “Why am I wasting my breath?” At the 15-year mark I said, “This is absurd.” At the 19-year mark I said, “I’m just a fool.” But I just kept trying, kept praying. Even with weak faith I kept praying. Then she gave her life to Christ, and she was baptized today. I will never doubt the power of prayer again.” 

Standing can be one the hardest parts of the faith walk. Praying, believing and standing while  watching the days, months and years go by while the answer to your prayers remains out of sight can be a severely faith-testing experience. The temptation to doubt God's faithfulness and to quit increases as the time rolls by and nothing seems to be happening. In fact, things might even be looking worse than when you weren't praying.  However, just as the woman's story illustrates, God's faithfulness always shines through if we continue to stand.

The priests in our text literally standing, for hours after hours in the middle of the Jordan, carrying the ark of the covenant,  until all of God's word to Joshua came to pass, paint a picture of the standing scenario of faith. It can be an encouragement to weary souls to stand there lifting up the covenant word of God until everything comes to pass as he promised. Don't drop the ark before everything is done. Don't quit until his word comes to pass. Stay there. Keep standing. As Paul said, 

"Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand." (Ephesians 6:13 NIV)

George Mueller, the founder of the famous orphanage in Bristol England tells of how he prayed for the salvation of five friends.  He prayed everyday for them. In 18 months one got saved. He did not stop. The next one got saved after 5 years of daily praying. After 6 years of praying, the third got saved. After 52 years of praying daily for their souls, Mueller died and the remaining two were still not saved, but he died believing they would be saved.  And it happened as he believed. After his death, the two came to Christ. 

Is there a promise God has given you that seems delayed? Are you praying for a loved one but it seems they  keep getting worse? Is there an assignment God has given you that is taking so long to bear fruits ?When discouragement comes and the enemy tells you to quit, remember the picture of the priests standing with the ark uplifted unmoving until the people passed over the Jordan. Remember the woman in Hybels story. RememberGeorge Mueller, and be reminded of God's faithfulness. Be encouraged to  stand and to keep standing!

Decision of the Day

I will keep standing. I will not quit. 

Account and Record So You Can Recount and Repeat

So Joshua called together the twelve men he had chosen—one from each of the tribes of Israel. He told them, “Go into the middle of the Jordan, in front of the Ark of the Lord your God. Each of you must pick up one stone and carry it out on your shoulder—twelve stones in all, one for each of the twelve tribes of Israel. We will use these stones to build a memorial. In the future your children will ask you, ‘What do these stones mean?’ Then you can tell them, ‘They remind us that the Jordan River stopped flowing when the Ark of the Lord ’s Covenant went across.’ These stones will stand as a memorial among the people of Israel forever.” Joshua also set up another pile of twelve stones in the middle of the Jordan, at the place where the priests who carried the Ark of the Covenant were standing. And they are there to this day. (Joshua 4:4-7, 9 NLT)

Diane Latiker, a woman in the Roseland community of Chicago got tired of kids being killed in Chicago through gang violence and began to erect a stone for each child killed on a small tract of land across her house. She inscribed the name of each child killed on the stone. As the stones piled up, people began to pay attention. It caught the attention of the community, the government and even the world. She was one of the top ten 2011 CNN Heroes of the Year . The memorial she erected penetrated the conscience of people and several organizations and individuals got motivated to partner with her and her organization, Kids Off The Block to do something about violence in the community. She raised a memorial to tell a story that started a movement.

While memorials are useful in highlighting issues of justice and compassion as Diane did,they could also be used to tell stories of God's faithfulness over time. In fact, this is the more common use in the bible. The pictures of a missions trip, a daily journal of your walk with God, a prayer diary, a visual record of the timelines of a vision you are pursuing, a biography, a testimonial video, a souvenir, a memento or an inspiring mural of significant events are all examples of memorials.

A spiritual memorial is any writing, picture or other objects that communicates a message to the observer of something that has taken place for the purpose of drawing from the observer appreciation, reminiscence, action, questions or other responses. Memorials are also used to remember significant people and events.

In our text, Joshua set up piles of stones in the Jordan to serve as a reminder of God's faithfulness to Isreal as they crossed it and also to serve as a story prompt in the future to remind coming generations of the mighty acts of God. Joshua wasn't the only one who practiced this. We see memorials all over the bible from the rainbow of Noah and the altars of Abraham to the Communion Table. They are all to remind us of God's mighty acts of faithfulness.

The use of memorials can add a great deal to your spiritual walk. Your journals of God's faithfulness of today might be your encouragement in future years or the discipleship tool for others in future generations. Just as God's help in killing the bear and the lion in the past became encouragement to David when he faced Goliath, your photographs or videos today might become tools that God will use to strengthen your faith in times of doubts and greater challenges in the future. Apart from these, memorials cause praises to ascend to God as his faithfulness is traced over time.

So, why don't you start setting up your on memorials today. Start journaling your answered prayers, put up something to remind you and others of the manifestations of God's faithfulness in your life. Look out for God moments and keep a record of them. Count your blessings now and record the amount so that in the future as you recount, they become a fount of inspiration to you and others and a mount of praise to God.


Decision of the Day

I will start erecting memorials of God's faithfulness in my life.

Wade in the Water

So the people left their camp to cross the Jordan, and the priests who were carrying the Ark of the Covenant went ahead of them. It was the harvest season, and the Jordan was overflowing its banks. But as soon as the feet of the priests who were carrying the Ark touched the water at the river’s edge, the water above that point began backing up a great distance away at a town called Adam, which is near Zarethan. And the water below that point flowed on to the Dead Sea until the riverbed was dry. Then all the people crossed over near the town of Jericho. (Joshua 3:14-16 NLT)

A little faith arithmetic for today. Three cats stood on tall tree branch. One decided to jump off the tree. How many cats are left? If you said two, you are wrong! You need a remedial in your faith mathematics. Ok. It's a trick question. The right answer is three. The cat only decided to jump off, it didn't actually take the leap . When it comes to walking by faith, making a decision is never enough, you have to follow through with your decision. You have to take the leap or you remain where you were.

Walking by faith is like playing the game of chess. It's played turn by turn. You cannot make two consecutive moves without passing the turn. Regarding faith, whenever it comes to your turn to move, expect God to obey the rules of faith chess. He will wait patently for you to make your move. If God is going to part the Red Sea, then you've go to stretch your rod. If he's to part the Jordan, you have to get your feet wet first. If you must see the promised land, you'll have to set out from home. If you would be healed of paralysis, you'll have to move your toes and pick up your bed. Many are praying for God to move when it's their turn to move.

In our text, the water of the Jordan did not recede until the feet of the priest got wet. To walk on water, you have to get out of the boat. Peter didn't only decide to walk on water, he backed his decision with action by putting both feet on water. Lack of faith keeps both feet in the boat. Doubt puts one foot in water and the other in the boat. Faith steps out of the boat- two feet and all.

It's your move! It's your turn. God has moved. God literally moved in the incarnation. He left his home and moved into our neighborhood. He also moved on Calvary. He saved you. He healed you. He broke your curse. He blessed you with all spiritual blessings in Christ. He took your shame. He moved again on Pentecost. The Holy Spirit made earth his home. He moved by compiling his written word and getting it across to you. It is now your turn.

If you would see God's supernatural and miraculous hand today, try making that long-delayed move. Go where you've been inspired to go. You may not know where you are going but you know who is leading. Give what you've been prompted to give. Say what you've been called to say. See who you've been procrastinating to see. Start what you've been delaying to start. A little step in faith can go a long way. Go beyond the decision. Get into action. Change the arithmetic of the status quo dwellers. Take that leap off the tree. If cats have nine lives, you have seven ( Proverbs 15:16). Deal with fear. You will neither know the thrill of leaping and landing right nor the thrill of being grabbed by the savior's upholding hand if you never take the leap. Get your feet wet. The water will part.

Decision of the Day

It's my move. I choose to act and then to follow through. I will see God's miraculous hand.

When Heaven Spills into You, You Start to Overflow

So Joshua told the Israelites, “Come and listen to what the Lord your God says. Today you will know that the living God is among you. He will surely drive out the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites, and Jebusites ahead of you. Look, the Ark of the Covenant, which belongs to the Lord of the whole earth, will lead you across the Jordan River! Now choose twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one from each tribe. The priests will carry the Ark of the Lord, the Lord of all the earth. As soon as their feet touch the water, the flow of water will be cut off upstream, and the river will stand up like a wall.” (Joshua 3:9-13 NLT)


Someone said there are three kinds of people-- the flint, the sponge and the honeycomb. To get something out of the flint you hammer it. But then it gives you only chips and sparks. To get something from a sponge you squeeze it, and the more pressure applied , the more you get. But of the three, the honeycomb just overflows its sweetness all by itself. It has so much that it must give out without force. You definitely want to be a honeycomb. You want to live an overflowing life. One that is so filled that it constantly overflows with love, courage, boldness, faith and inspiration. This was the kind of life Joshua lived.

It wasn't just Jordan overflowing its bank when Isreal crossed it in our text, something else was- Joshua's heart. In fact, it was the overflowing heart of Joshua that facilitated the crossing of the overflowing Jordan. Read our text again and imagine Joshua's demeanor as he spoke. Can you see his boldness? Can you hear his courage and certainty about what God was going to do? Can you see his courage and faith spill on his followers and lit their hearts.

How did he go from a timid rookie leader that God was encouraging a few days before to be bold and courageous to one who was so faith-filled. Joshua learned the secret. To be bold and courageous, you must first have the courage of heaven spill over into your own soul. You must first have an encounter with the powerful God through his faith-filled words. God had spoken to Joshua first. No wonder he said, “Come and listen to what the Lord your God says..." God had lit his heart and all he needed to do what allow the sparks to light the others- to allow the spilling streams of heaven to overflow to the people around him.

Peter experienced the same infusion when the Holy Spirit came on them. He went from Simon, a denying and hiding reed, to Peter, a declaring and healing rock. It entered the soul of Paul and suffering and danger could not stop him. The apostles prayed for this overflow from heaven and the building shook , " And now, O Lord, hear their threats, and give us, your servants, great boldness in preaching your word. After this prayer, the meeting place shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Then they preached the word of God with boldness. (Acts 4:29, 31 NLT).

Only full vessels can fill other vessels. What you do not have you cannot share. What God has not done in you, he cannot do through you. Being a blessing, begins by being the blessed. It is when you overflow your cup, that you are setup to take others up. The word of heaven will fill you with boldness and courage. His Spirit will set you and fire. Start there. Stay there everyday. Read his word. Speak his word. Pray his word. Your vessel will be filled and everyone around you will drink from the overflow.


Decision of the Day

I understand the secret of courage and boldness, that faith is an overflow from heaven into my heart. I will allow God to fill my heart and let it overflow to those around me.

God's Help for Leaders

The Lord told Joshua, “Today I will begin to make you a great leader in the eyes of all the Israelites. They will know that I am with you, just as I was with Moses. (Joshua 3:7 NLT)


John Maxwell, in his book, the 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership: Follow Them and People Will Follow You, writes that the foundation of leadership is trust. The leader's ability to lead is contingent on the trust followers have in them. He illustrates this dynamic using what he called a trust account. As leaders display competence, make good decisions, show character and accumulate results, the balance of the trust account grows but it declines when the opposites of these are displayed by the leader.

For most beginning leaders, the trust balance usually starts low. While the position of the leader might be respected, their influence and acceptance by followers might be limited. One of the gifts a leader in such a position could get is a crisis moment where they are forced to demonstrate leadership competence. Such a moment offers the new leader the opportunity to cross a threshold in the minds of their followers and thus increase their leadership clout. At such moments, leaders can rely on God to come to their aid and to confirm their leadership through supernatural grace for results.

In our text, Joshua was at such a seminal moment in his leadership. The people had accepted him as their leader but his leadership was yet unproven. His performance at the crossing of the Jordan would be the moment that would either begin to cement his greatness as a leader or start to erode it. His trust bank account would either get on the bankruptcy or overflow path. Good thing God was there to assist him. God promised him that he would confirm his leadership that day and he did. When Moses' and Aaron's leadership was challenged by rebels, God vouched for them by dealing with the rebels and causing Aaron's rod to bud (Numbers 16& 17).

If you are in any God-appointed leadership position (and most people are), you can rely on the same assistance that Joshua got from God to put in you in a position where your leadership is honored and respected, giving you momentum and thus making your work easier. Maybe you lead a family, an organization, a business or any other entity. God can make you a respected leader. If he called you to do it, he can vouch for you by bestowing on you his wisdom and grace. He can demonstrate his approval of your leadership by helping you to accomplish impossible results in crisis situations thus garnering the respect and cooperation you need for momentum and multiplied results. You can rely on God to help you in your leadership. He can help you overflow your leadership trust account. Solomon recognized this when he asked God for wisdom. Why don't you do the same? You can be a great God-made leader.


Decision of the Day

I understand that God can help me in my leadership. He can make me a great leader. I will depend on him in my leadership responsibility.