The one thing that drives me crazy is not completing what you started. I know for many people, this is a big problem, for me, I typically complete things I start but in this one area in my life, the devil had a foothold.
As I was continuing to read the Book of Joshua, as we already know, The Lord delivered Israelite’s into the promised-land and now, it was God’s command for them to destroy and drive out their enemy. The Lord commanded them in Joshua 6:17 “…the city and everything in it must be TOTALLY destroyed as an offering to The Lord.”
But in the following passages, you’ll see how that command was not obeyed or either compromised:
Joshua 9:15 (NIV)
15 Then Joshua made a treaty of peace with them (Gibeonites) to let them live, and the leaders of the assembly ratified it by oath.
Joshua 15: 63 (NIV)
63 Judah could not dislodge the Jebusites, who were living in Jerusalem; to this day the Jebusites live there with the people of Judah.
Joshua 16:10 (NIV)
10 They did not dislodge the Canaanites living in Gezer; to this day the Canaanites live among the people of Ephraim but are required to do forced labor.
Joshua 17:12-13 (NIV)
12 Yet the Manassites were not able to occupy these towns, for the Canaanites were determined to live in that region. 13 However, when the Israelites grew stronger, they subjected the Canaanites to forced labor but did not drive them out completely.
So the question is, why didn’t the Israelite’s drive out the giants? God said He’d be with them, they already had the victory, why didn’t they follow through?
We’ll, let’s ask ourselves the same question, why do we start things and not finish them?
For me regarding my weight, discipline over a period of time becomes hard and sometimes, I just get tired of being so regimented and I decide to take a break and that turns into a vicious cycle. In the past, sometimes, I stopped halfway with something out of fear, I wasn’t ready to deal with what was coming at me. Sometimes, I’d become comfortable and complacent and just accept things the way they were. Sometimes, I felt no motivation or courage to do anything differently to change my situation. There were times the obstacles I needed to face seemed much larger than me and I would shrink back in procrastination. Sometimes, I felt like I had time and in my mind, I could just do this later and that later turns into day, weeks, months and years.
But you know what happens to those that put off something consistently, that pattern of behavior turns into a habit and that habit, a vicious cycle and then, it becomes a stronghold. Procrastination and lack of follow-up has disatrious result and you’ll find yourself like a hamster turning in the wheel but going no where. Moreover, that thing you keep avoiding, will become a thorn in your flesh until you deal with it.
Until this day, the giants the Israelite’s didn’t destroy then is trying to destroy them now. The giants they didn’t kill then are reeking havoc in their lives as we speak, a constant thorn in their flesh and a state of chaos, confusion, destruction and death happening all around them. The enemy in their land is always a constant threat to their peace, safety and blessings.
Christ is calling us to finish the race He assigned us too. What’s happening to the Israelite’s will happen to us if WE ACCEPT CO-EXISTING WITH THE ENEMY! We have to destroy our enemy completely. Let’s not be like the Israelite’s accepting just enough of God’s blessings and promise but continuing to accept the thorns in our flesh that cause us pain.
Christ is calling us to have the FULLNESS of His blessing without the curses.
Proverbs 10:22 (NLT) says,
The blessing of the LORD makes a person rich, and he adds no sorrow with it.
Continue to join me as I share with you what Christ is sharing with me about overcoming. As always, Be Encouraged, Stay Connected, Fight and Let’s Become Free Together!!!
You’ve Got To T.R.A.I.N.
Terri Savelle Foy
Yours In Christ,
Ke’Shawn Adamson
B.O.O.M!
