Yesterday,  I reflected on the situation of our country, the need to rebuild and our expected role. It was in the news some days ago that Charly Boy and some few Nigerians went to the National Assembly to protest the present situation while most of us stayed in our comfort zone expecting miraculous solution. Please don’t get me wrong, there is nothing bad in expecting miracles but we have to have faith and work for it. Our Lord Jesus did not do many miracles because of people’s lack of faith (Matthew 13:58).
Sitting down and doing nothing is not the essence of faith. Faith is not required when we receive everything we have been praying for; it is essential when we are living in the gap between our present situation and what we are believing for. So how do we maintain faith to keep us going while we are waiting for our miracle?
In Joshua chapter 3 we read how Joshua gave out instructions to the Israelites and the priests. He told the people to follow the priests who are carrying the Ark of God, he also told the priests to step into the Jordan River.
There are several lessons we can learn from these two simple actions:
*1)* The Ark of God was providing direction for their miracle. The Israelites did not know the way they were to proceed into the Promise Land. The Ark (God) was leading the way. For us to receive the miracles we are expecting from our Father, we must follow Him. We already have a handbook full of instructions on how to receive miracles and this handbook is God’s Word – our Bible. Just as the Ark provided direction, so will God’s Word provide direction for us during our nation’s difficult period.
*2)* We must keep our eyes on Jesus – the Author and Finisher of our faith. The Ark was not in the middle of the Israelites, it was in front of them so that they all could see the Ark. For us to receive the miracles we believe God for, we must keep our eyes focused on Him. Shikena!!! No controversy.
*3)* We must not fear or be afraid. According to the Scriptures, as at the time the Israelites crossed River Jordan, it was flooded. Naturally, this was the wrong time to try to cross but Joshua realized this was a faith building day. *He said to the Israelites, Come here and listen to the words of the Lord your God. This is how you will know that the living God is among you and that he will certainly drive out before you the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites and Jebusites. See, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth will go into the Jordan ahead of you* (Joshua 3:9-11).
Joshua knew that if they trusted God today, then they would have faith to trust Him for the battles that lay ahead.
*4)* Somebody has to step into the water. If we are going to see God do super natural miracles during our nation’s  difficult and uncertainty period, we Christians have to lead, we need to show others that we serve a living God and he answers prayer. We have to step out into swift water (work) and expect God for a miracle because soon after the Israelites  crossed the Jordan River, they marched around Jericho and the walls fell. This incredible miracle would have never happened if the priests had not been willing to get into swift water. When God performed the miracle at the Red Sea, He stopped the water and the people crossed over on dry ground. This time required action on the part of the priests. They had to step into the water.
Is it any different for us today?
Aren’t the people of Nigeria looking for someone to lead them to the Promise Land?
Aren’t the people of Nigeria looking for someone who believes that God still does miracles today and not someone who will collect their little money under the guise of the promise of miracles?
Even in our respective communities, aren’t people around us looking for a leader that will keep their eyes focused on Jesus?
Aren’t the people around us looking for a leader that will walk by faith and step into the River?
This morning, I  am asking us, what river is God asking us to step into today in order to solve our numerous economic challenges? While we ponder over this I pray that God will go before us and order our footsteps in Jesus name. Amen.
Good morning and have a blessed day.
Written By Dr. Adebayo Odunowo