venture
“Then Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you shall go with this people into the land that the Lord has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall put them in possession of it. It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”
Deuteronomy 31:7-8 ESV
How beautiful that He not only goes before us, but He walks beside us in unison, perfectly knowing the pace in which we need.
How often in life do we stand at a crossroads unsure of the way forward? Perhaps we feel the shift coming, perhaps it comes unexpectedly, perhaps we think we’re totally ready for it, perhaps we don’t feel equipped at all. A career change, a move to a new place, a new relationship, new friendship, new hobby, a new experience — there are many times, albeit, big or small where the Lord will invite us to venture into new places with Him.
In the same way Moses charged the Israelites, God will invite us to “Take heart, be courageous” and venture forward into the unknown. For the Israelites the basis for their courage was found solely in the fact that God would surely go before them. His ever-present protection and guidance was their source of strength. As with the pillar of fire and the cloud in the wilderness, God pledged to go before the people on their journey — all they had to do was trust and He would grant them victory and bountiful blessing.
Recently as I was in the secret place with the Lord and I got a vision of Jesus and I on a path. He reached down inviting me to take His hand — as He did, I knew that this was an invitation to venture into a new place with Him. “For I know the One who goes before me.” was the thought in my spirit. So in faith, I reached up and took His hand and we began to walk together, hand in hand, venturing down the new path.
How beautiful is it my friend, that He not only goes before us, but He walks beside us in unison, perfectly knowing the pace in which we need. How beautiful is it that when we no longer have the strength to come from our own self sufficiency, our own understanding, that we get to trust in the one who goes before us. Day by day, hand and hand, in faith we get to reach up and grab Jesus’ hand as he invites us into the adventure of the promised land.
So reach up beloved, take His hand and venture with Him.
In Joy, Peace + Love
Riley Rae Baker
additional reading:
Isaiah 30:21 / Joshua 1:9 / John 14:3 / Hebrews 6:19
reflect:
Picture yourself on this path.. In what area of your life may God be asking you to reach up and take His hand? Talk with Him, tell Him your fears, your doubts, your worries. Decide if you’re ready to let Him guide you down that path hand in hand.
centering prayer:
God, today I choose to reach up and take your hand as we venture into new places. Whether the new is circumstantial, spiritual, internal or external — help me to have more faith in the midst of the unknown. For I know the One who goes before me. I love You. I trust You. amen.
