Crossing Your Own River Jordan

“Early the next morning Joshua and all the Israelites left Acacia Grove and arrived at the banks of the Jordan River, where they camped before crossing…giving these instructions to the people: “When you see the Levitical priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD your God, move out from your positions and follow them. Since you have never traveled this way before, they will guide you.” – Joshua 3:1-4

Joshua 3 tells the story of the children of Israel crossing the Jordan river These were the people who had been delivered from the hands of Pharaoh and out of Egypt. They had crossed the Red Sea. Then, after 40 years in the wilderness, they came upon one last stumbling block between them and the promised land: the Jordan river.

They were facing 200 miles of pure discouragement. Why? At that time of the year, the Jordan river was swollen and overflowing because of the rains during the harvest season. The Israelites camped out on the banks of the Jordan for three days, presumably trying to figure out how to cross it. They were stuck.

Maybe you're not where you used to be, but you're stuck in a place you're not destined to be...Your own Jordan river. Your Jordan could be financial, mental, emotional, or even spiritual. Whatever the case may be, you have found yourself in a place where you wish you were not. You're in good company, however, because we've all been there at some point in our lives. We are anointed, we have gifts and talents, but we've all been stuck. We are just not meant to stay there.

Joshua sought directions from the Lord about how to cross the river, and he received them. God instructed Joshua to have the priests, who were transporting the Ark of the Covenant, “Take a few steps into the river and stop there...As soon as their feet touched the water, the flow of water will be cut off upstream, and the river will stand up like a wall” (Joshua 3:8-13). That's exactly what they did, and “they waited there until the whole nation of Israel had crossed the Jordan on dry ground” (Joshua 3:17).

Whatever season we're in, we need God's clear instructions to face our own rivers. We've got to be like Joshua and the children of Israel, seeking the face of the Lord for strategy and direction. If God says to move, then we must move. If He says to speak, then we have to muster the boldness to speak His heart. If He says to be still, then we must do so until His will be clear. If we're to cross our Jordan, obedience to the voice of the Lord must be our top priority. I don't know about you, but I refuse to stay stuck and settle for less than what I'm destined to receive and achieve.