It Will Hurt...Let It Heal

And after the whole nation had been circumcised, they remained where they were in camp until they were healed - Joshua 5:8

You wake up in the morning, most mornings I imagine, much like I do. I’m not very “self aware” during those first few moments. I mean, I really don’t pause and internally journal what is going on in my heart and head; in what mood or disposition I have made my grand entrance into the day. We wake up, get up and start.

For me, generally somewhere around cup of coffee number two it becomes apparent to me that the great God of the universe desires that I get into His program for the day.

That is, if I am fortunate.

Many days one thing after another occurs (or I make them occur) and the next thing you know I’ve come to the end of the day, mostly baffled at what the day was constructed and where did it go? We string enough of these together, these kinds of lost days, and we end up with what Naturalist Henry David Thoreau called, lives of quiet desperation. Country singer Freddy Fender, in another context, called them wasted days and wasted nights.

We want lives that count. We say we do. We either wish to please God or leave our mark and the great intersection of human fulfillment is when we do both!

The opening verse describes the moment a whole nation had to endure before they could even get to the last chapters of their personal fulfillment. This is about Israel and their going into the land God had promised to them. Before Israel could go into the Promised Land the males had to be circumcised. Guys, if you are like me, you might be doing stuff like slightly bending at the waist or crossing your legs right about now. Why? We know why! Circumcision is painful, bloody, and personal. But this was part of the law that Israel had required God provide to them. (And yes, we are all masochists!)

The analogy or life parable we should derive from this is that God requires each of us to be circumcised in heart before we are allowed to enter and receive the life fulfilling blessings that await each believer in their personal Promised Land.

This circumcision can often be very painful primarily because it requires personal awareness; awareness of who we are compared to the great, might, eternal, holy God of all. And as we reflect circumcision of heart requires losing our old way of life. The process of spiritual circumcision may mean a loss in areas that have been a part of our lives in order to draw us to the Savior. It means we are awakened to our day. We are aware of the internal limits of who we have been in areas we have not allowed God to enter. It will be painful but it is also a time of healing.

There is wonderful news in all of this. God understands. Consequently, like the people of Israel, we must wait until we are healed before we begin to be effective in the receiving of our personal promise; our calling. If we launch out too early, we will be ineffective and may risk infection and disease and will not be at our full capacity. God wants each of us to walk in His healing grace.

The people of Israel fought only two battles when they were coming out of Egypt. In the Promised Land they fought 39 battles. Each of us must be prepared to enjoy the benefits of living in the Promised Land. However, we must also be prepared to wage war against the enemy of our souls. I would make a suggestion to you. Wake up, and as soon as you can shake off the fog reflect on your Great God and on yourself. Evaluate the healing. Make sure the Lord has provided the needed healing to your circumcision experience before you enter the next battle to fight in the Promised Land which is your life in Christ Jesus.

I remain…

InHISgrip,
~J~