"Jericho was bolted and barred shut because the people were afraid of the Israelites. No one could enter or leave. The LORD said to Joshua, 'I am about to hand Jericho, its king, and its warriors over to you. All the soldiers will march around the city once a day for six days. ...When you hear a long blast on the horn, all the troops must shout very loudly. The wall around the city will collapse." -Joshua 6:1-5 (GWT)
Like the city of Jericho, fear seems to be trapping you, Lucy. Because your heart is bolted and barred shut, our love has been unable to enter and yours unable to leave. You are afraid to be too vulnerable with us. Admittedly, it's been a tough pill for me to swallow. You wear a pretty mask, hiding behind good performance and flattery on the surface...but your sins have found you out. We know, Sweet Girl. We have been given eyes to see past the well-constructed facade and into the deep-rooted insecurities you are really struggling with. We have been made aware of the lies you've been spinning to cover the truth that you are actually crossing boundaries we've put in place for your own protection and healing.
It's so funny how much more we have come to understand our Father in Heaven and how He must feel about us through your adoption. Dad and I are no better than you. We, too, are guilty of making poor choices that go against God's will and the boundaries He has put in place for our safety...and we've been known to cover our mess in good works and flowery prayers to Him as well. But how silly we must seem to God!! Just as your insecurities are so apparent to us, even more so our innermost thoughts are to our Creator (Prov. 20:27)! When will we all get a clue?!This past Sunday, the Holy Spirit flooded me with conviction and brought me to my knees. I have been so resentful toward and frustrated with you, attempting to avoid the ugly truth by sadly avoiding you. I hate fake. I hate that you've been carrying on this masquerade, believing that you're fooling us. I hate that I know what we know, yet we've been led to wait on God to act.
After surrendering my own mess, literally leaving it at the altar, it was as if scales had been removed from my eyes so I could finally see what He had been trying to impress on me through His Word (that just wasn't sinking in before). In Joshua, Chapter 6, the Lord directs the new Commander of His Israelite army not to use their brute strength and force to take the city of Jericho, but to march around it and blow horns instead.
Seriously?!
And, as if one time around wouldn't make them appear foolish enough to their enemy, God requested they do this once a day for SIX DAYS (v.3)?! I can only imagine the choice words these incredible hulks must have been saying about their leader's unconventional battle strategy. Regardless, the men did what they were told for six days. On the seventh day, I'm certain their resolve was tested to the max when they were commanded to march around the city seven times. It was likely their last straw when Joshua called out, "'Shout, because the LORD has given you the city!'"
...but then the walls collapsed!! They ended up claiming everything in Jericho...not because of anything they had done so they could boast, but because God had delivered the city to them through faith as an act of His kindness (Eph. 2:8-9).
Unconventional didn't look so bad after all.
"Unconventional" about captures the essence of where God has been guiding us. My flesh longs to call you out on what it knows; to stick my tongue out and say, "Ha! Thought you fooled me, but you didn't--take this [extreme punishment]".... But that method of brutality wouldn't win your heart. In fact, I'm almost certain it would only cause you to fortify your heart even more against us. Nope. God's plan is not one of finger-pointing and harsh consequences, but of grace and love. He is asking us to maintain firm boundaries, yes, but to refrain from being swept up in our bloodlust. He wants us to go around and around you patiently instead, shouting His love and showing you His Grace. The Lord has made it clear that only He can cause the walls around your heart to come tumbling down. I pray, in Jesus' Name, we claim every part of your precious heart for Him.
I love you, Lucy <3 We are not the enemy. I hope that soon you will come to believe that we are standing at your gates with an intent to rescue and not ransack you.
