Crossing Over
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Devotional
Day 3: Tuesday, January 7, 2025
"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." Scripture: Joshua 1:9
Reflecting on the Call to Cross Over
There’s a moment in every journey, in every calling, when you stand at the edge of what’s known and look across to what’s next. It’s a moment filled with both promise and fear—where the past pulls you back, and the future calls you forward, but the step in between seems so uncertain. This is the place where the Israelites stood, staring across the Jordan River, the land of promise in sight, but still so far from their reach. It was a place where courage would be their greatest companion and faith their greatest weapon.
As Pastor Ladell shared on Sunday, crossing over isn’t just about moving physically from one place to another. It’s about leaving behind everything that has defined you—your comfort, your familiarity, your old patterns—and stepping into a new way of living, thinking, and being. It’s not just geography; it’s a transformation of the soul. When God calls you to cross over, it’s a divine invitation to let go of the life you’ve known and embrace the life He’s been preparing for you, even if you can’t yet see all that it entails.
But the call to cross over is not a call to leap blindly into the unknown. It’s a call to trust. It’s a call to believe that the God who has been faithful in the past will remain faithful in the future. It’s a call to take that first step, not because you have all the answers, but because you trust the One who holds the answers.
The Power of Courageous Obedience
The journey ahead will be full of questions, challenges, and moments where fear threatens to paralyze you. But God’s command is clear: Be strong and courageous. Courage isn’t the absence of fear; it’s the willingness to move forward in spite of it, trusting that the One who has promised is with you every step of the way.
And that’s the key to crossing over: God’s presence. The Israelites weren’t just stepping into a new land; they were stepping into the fullness of God’s presence with them. They weren’t walking alone. God was not calling them to venture out into the unknown without His guidance. In fact, He promised He would be with them wherever they went. That promise wasn’t just for the Israelites; it’s for you and me as well. Wherever God calls you to go, He will be with you.
This fast is not just about what you give up but what you are moving toward. Each prayer, each moment of fasting, is a step toward the "there" that God has prepared for you.
Today’s Prayer
"Father, You are the One who calls me forward, even when the path ahead seems uncertain. I hear Your invitation to cross over, to step into the promise You have prepared for me. But I also feel the weight of the pull of the familiar. I ask You to give me the strength to let go of what’s behind me and the courage to trust in what You have for me. I know I cannot walk this journey alone. I know that Your presence is my guide. Help me to step forward in faith, knowing that You will lead me through every obstacle and every challenge. As I cross over, cause Your presence to be the anchor that holds me firm. In Jesus’ name, Amen."
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