Today we will conclude our study of Joshua 3:1 – 5. We have been looking at the fact that God wants to take us places we have never been. In order to do this we have to overcome the “duck mentality.” In other words, we have to quit waddling around and learn to fly.

So far we have looked at the first four steps to overcoming this mentality:  position ourselves to receive the promise; wait on God’s instructions when we come to an obstacle; keep our eyes on God and pursue Him; and make sure that God stays in the lead. Now let’s look at the last two steps to overcome the duck mentality and inherit our promises from God. 

The fifth step we must take is to sanctify ourselves and set ourselves apart from sin. Joshua 3:5, “And Joshua said unto the people, Sanctify yourselves: for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.” Sanctify means to be pure and clean. Joshua told the children of Israel to cleanse themselves because God was going to do wonders among them. If we want to inherit the promises and we want God to work in our lives, then we have to separate ourselves from the way of the world.

A lot of times, we want God to move and bless in our lives but we don’t want to give up our bad habits. We want the blessings of God to be poured out on the ways of the world. God just doesn’t work this way. If we are the temple of the Holy Spirit, God isn’t going to live in a dirty house. If we want God to pour out His blessings, then it’s time to clean the house.

The last step we must take to overcome the “duck mentality” is to forget about the past. The Children of Israel had been to this exact spot 37 years before. They saw the Promise Land. They saw the raging waters and the enemies in their land. They were afraid of their enemies and chose not to cross the Jordan River and they turned back into the wilderness.

Maybe you have been to this place with God before and you didn’t go forward. Forget about the last time, don’t look back, and don’t make the same mistake again. Today can be the day that you begin to inherit your promises. Will you take a step of faith?

Until next week be blessed and be a blessing.

 By Dustin Wilds