Move; Keep Walking

Photo: Ruben A. Navarrete

One of my favorite songs the past few years is "Move--Keep Walking," by Toby Mac. It inspired me and encouraged me during difficult times. God never leaves us alone, even if we may feel alone or discouraged with what we are facing in life. Like a soldier, we have to keep walking and keep fighting. This song came to mind again tonight because the words "keep walking" were repeated in the book I am reading called "Glory Days," by Max Lucado. Chapter 8 of this book is entitled "Walk Circles Around Jericho."

When Joshua was leading the Israelites into the Promised Land, their first obstacle was Jericho--a large, walled city. "Your Jericho is your fear...your anger, bitterness, or prejudice. Your insecurity about the future. Your guilt about the past. Your negativity, anxiety, and proclivity to criticize, overanalyze, or compartmentalize. Your Jericho is any attitude or mind-set that keeps you from joy, peace, or rest" (Glory Days. p 84).

"Just as Jericho was a stronghold in Canaan, we have strongholds in our lives...the stronghold of guilt...resentment...self-pity...pride...rejection...defeat...performance...appearance...materialism...But we don't have to be among them. Our weapons are from God and have divine power to demolish strongholds (2 Cor 10:4)" (Glory Days. p 86-87).

God did not give them victory by traditional means of trying to break through the walls, doors, or climbing over the walls. Instead, God called the soldiers to march around the city with the ark of the covenant in the middle of them. Each of us is in a spiritual battle, and God is calling us to march around the stronghold with His all-powerful presence in the center of our lives. "We employ every tool God offers: hymns, songs, communion, Scripture memorization, and petition. We turn off the TV and open the Bible more" (Glory Days. p 88).

"Keep walking. For all you know this may be the day the walls come down" (Glory Days. p 90). They walked around Jericho once a day for six days. But "on the seventh day...they marched around the city seven times...And the seventh time it happened, when the priests blew the trumpets, that Joshua said to the people: 'Shout, for the LORD has give you the city!'...when the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat. Then the people...took the city" (Joshua 6:15-16, 20).

Keep walking. Keep moving. Keep believing. Because God has promised you victory!