How do we hold fast to God? We open our heart wide to receive from Him all the love He longs to give us. As we grow in His love, it begins to bubble up and spill over until we begin to live that love with Him always guiding us. A joy-filled place to be.

With Him…His help; us without Him…us turning away from His help.

We find that in Joshua 22 just as we experience it in our own lives. A little back-story. The Eastern tribes, the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh, who had asked for and received their allotment of land east of the Jordan River where there was wonderful pastureland for their flocks, have fulfilled their commitment to help their fellow tribes secure their allotted land west of the Jordan River. Now they can return to their families and their land. They don’t want to forget the Lord so they build an “imposing altar” by the Jordan, v. 10. When the other tribes hear of this, they go into panic mode and the whole assembly of Israel gathered at Shiloh to go to war against them. v. 11. Seriously? With God…without Him. They end up sending a delegation including Phinehas, son of Eleazar, the priest, with ten chief men to talk with them. They find out they haven’t built the altar to turn away from the Lord, but as a reminder. Sounds good, right? When they explain their reasoning, I can’t help but wonder why. “No! We did it for fear that some day your descendants might say to ours, ‘What do you have to do with the Lord, the God of Israel? The Lord has made the Jordan a boundary between us and you – you Reubenites and Gadites! You have no share in the Lord.’ So your descendants might cause ours to stop fearing the Lord.” v. 24-25. The Lord made the Jordan a boundary? They asked for that land and received what they asked for! How quickly we forget! Your descendants might cause ours to stop fearing the Lord…really? Our fears without God?

Do we ever consider how much we need God’s help? In how many ways we can get turned around, twisted, lost…just like our ancestors, our families and friends, us. How about when we hold fast to Him and His promises to always be there for us? Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4.

What does your heart desire?

The word of God. I’ve been growing in the desire to understand what that means. I read a chapter of the Bible every morning when I’m not on vacation or away visiting family. I read devotionals that bring what I’m reading closer to my heart and fortunately, devotional books are not big and you can easily carry one with you on vacation. Words of God. On paper. A wonderful, enlightening place to begin. God goes deeper when we allow Him into our hearts. For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light. Psalm 36:9. What light? God’s love for us filling us to overflowing. I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken. You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand. Psalm 16:8, 11.

What do I desire? The Holy Spirit moving into my heart and leading me in love to have and give love to others. The path of life…filling me with joy in His Presence. And what is God’s joy? Love. Healing, grace-filled love for others made possible in us in our love for Him. Hold fast to Him and He will show you the way and take your hand to lead you. He even provides us with His courage to step out in faith in Him and His living words of love for us. It’s so easy to get twisted up. Hold fast to Him and you will not be shaken for you will finally know He is with you guiding you. A wonderful place to be!

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