Sugar Fast Day 27
I can see the rainbow at the end of this fast’s tunnel. But I also notice the whispers of the enemy. “ Kathy, you are close enough to the end of this fast. You are farther along now than ever before. Go ahead and have a mocha.” Ever notice when you are within spitting distance of your goal the temptations to derail you seem to increase? I am reminded of the words of Paul, “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:14). Pressing on takes work! It also takes reliance on and faith in God; His work in me during this fast.
This morning I am reading about Joshua’s battle to destroy Jericho. Do you remember the song? “Joshua fought the battle of Jericho and the walls came tumbling down.” God had already given Joshua and his men victory over the city, but they had to follow some pretty bizarre instructions.
“Now Jericho was shut up inside and outside because of the people of Israel. None went out, and none came in. And the LORD said to Joshua, “See, I have given Jericho into your hand, with its king and mighty men of valor. You shall march around the city, all the men of war going around the city once. Thus shall you do for six days. Seven priests shall bear seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark. On the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets. And when they make a long blast with the ram’s horn, when you hear the sound of the trumpet, then all the people shall shout with a great shout, and the wall of the city will fall down flat, and the people shall go up, everyone straight before him.” (Joshua 6:1-5)
What I love about this story is Joshua’s unwavering belief in God’s instructions. Whether or not Joshua and the Israelites thought this plan was ludicrous, they followed God and did the work they were commanded to do. And the goal was accomplished. The walls of a Jericho fell.
Instead of walls of brick I am facing a city of sugar. The image of Candy Land come to mind. I am so close to my Candy Land walls falling, but there is still work to be done. Will I, like Joshua, follow the path and instructions God has laid out for this siege? I will. Am I pressing on? I am! Will my directions include trumpets and shouting? I don’t know, but as a musician I would welcome that.
What about you? What’s your Jericho?