Praying Ephesians 1:17-23 and 3:14-19 is exciting! Why? Because God  does what you are praying for! However, sometimes the revelation he brings may not necessarily be what you were expecting!

In today’s reading of Joshua from the Year of the Bible reading plan from my church, we find ourselves with the Israelites taking the land as God commanded….well some of them were taking it. In chapter 17 we see that the clan of Joseph (Ephraim and Manasseh) want more land because they were numerous. They asked for it, but didn’t want do the work to “clear the forest” or fight something stronger than themselves. They wanted the easy route.

Then God revealed how this passage described…….. my own actions and desires!!!! Wait a minute….. me, God? I thought this was about the Israelites!

I have been praying for something that I wanted God to do (give me)  and it didn’t appear that He was working in the direction I wanted him to work. I didn’t want to have to clear the forest and I definitely didn’t want to fight for it!!! I wanted to wait for God to just give it to me all wrapped and ready exactly how I wanted it and how I desired it.

Well, sometimes it just doesn’t work that way! God has something really good for us and sometimes it just might take some effort on our part to get it. I’m not talking about “works” or “earning” something from God. I’m talking about a faith partnership. God has provided and he will go to battle in front of me, I just have be willing to do what is required of me. For one, I needed an attitude adjustment! I also needed to remember Proverbs 3:5-6. I will trust in Him and not my own understanding. I will trust that He will guide me in all that I set out do in His will as I submit to Him.

The Israelites didn’t just waltz into the Promise Land…. they had to fight for it with a dedicated trust in the One who gave it to them. And so shall I.