Today’s Scripture Reading: Joshua 12:7 through Joshua 15:19
I just love imagining God talking with Joshua and saying “Buddy, you’re getting old and there’s so much left to do, but don’t worry I’ll take care of it—you just relax; you deserve it. I’ve got your back!” –Joshua 13:1-7
I know, I’m embellishing a bit, but it probably happened just like that! 
Sometimes God fights our battles for us so that we don’t even have to break a sweat…
but sometimes He doesn’t.
Remember the half tribe of Manasseh and the tribes of Reuben and Gad? They were the guys who chose to stop short of the Promised Land and receive their land on the east side of the Jordan. Well, they also stopped short of getting rid of their enemies.
But the Israelites failed to drive out the people of Geshur and Maacah, so they continued to live among the Israelites to this day. –Joshua 13:13
What battles are you trying to fight that the Lord has said to you, “Don’t worry about this one, I’ve got it.”
What battles are you wanting God to fight that have YOUR name on them?
I was a bit of a control freak when it came to raising my children. I took that responsibility very seriously. God made it clear to me that I had to lay my children on His altar, do my best as a parent and leave the outcome to Him. Needless to say, “I” wanted to lead the charge in that battle…just ask my kids. I was fretting, worrying and ‘trying’ to control, as if their salvation depended on me instead of the Lord. It is so amazing to me that once I was forced to let go of my children when they became adults– they began their own personal journey to “know Him” and are becoming amazing men and women of God. I sure wish I would have “let go and let God” when they were teenagers. It would have been a lot more fun!
But what about the battles that have my name engraved on them?
You see, I have these “issues”
…a controlling nature
…pride
…a tendency to prejudge
…selfishness
The List could go on and on… These are battles I’ve asked the Lord to fight for me. I’ve said things like, “Lord, you made me, it’s up to YOU to change me!”
And the Lord said to me in 2 Corinthians 10:5. This is “The Message” Translation…It just seemed to fit.
Dianne it’s your job to… use your powerful God-tools for smashing warped philosophies, tearing down barriers erected against the truth of God, fitting every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by Christ.
The New International Version says, “We take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ”.
If I understand this correctly, “we” have to work on our warped philosophies, barriers, loose thoughts and emotions. Ugh…I wanted a miraculous transformation; I wanted God to fight the battle of my mind. I wanted to walk away and come back and the battle be over.
Friends, if you’re fighting a battle that only the Almighty God can win, “let go and let God”. But if you in the middle of a battle that has your name on it, know that you are not alone. Yes, we may have to do some hard work but the good news is Jesus is coaching us and standing with us as we fight to take every thought captive. Take comfort in these words whatever your circumstance:
Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand. ~Isaiah 41:10
Let’s not be like the Israelites on the east side of the river and setting up housekeeping with our enemies; let’s take them captive once and for all!
Praying for you!
©2012, Dianne Guthmuller
Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Joshua 15:20 through Joshua 17:18
