Joshua told the people, "Consecrate yourself, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you." - Joshua 3:5 (NIV)
Purify yourself - NLT
Sanctify yourself - NKJV and AMP
In early August, my pastor preached on this and it was a one-week sidestep from our year long series in Genesis. I felt God say that this one applied to me. (In a very specific way that I'm just not writing here.) Multiple other things confirmed it, in ways that only God can. It called upon something I heard God say 7 years ago that has yet to be fulfilled. Over the years I have just stopped praying about it because it's just been so long, and all circumstances point away from what He said. I know that doesn't negate what He said, but I just couldn't hold that promise in my heart anymore because it was just too heavy. Years pass without any sign of it happening.
But I said ok, let me just start to prepare and sanctify myself as best as I can, and we'll see how it goes. Some days I feel like all of the signs in the world are pointing to it. Let's go. And then there are weeks of nothing, of normal days. However, I'm hopeful again.
It feels like 7 years ago I got an invitation to a party, and I was excited about it. I showed up, and nobody else did. The room was empty and bare. I kept coming back, and every time I did, no one was there. I asked God if other people got their invitations, and if they did, why weren't they there? I don't know. But He kept telling me there's going to be this amazing party. I eventually stopped checking in to see if anyone showed up. I never threw away the invitation, I just packed it away in a box in a place I never see it. It's dusty and faded from the sun.
And then He said to me "Ok, it's time." And He wants me to decorate the room for the party, and get food and buy a party dress. I feel like I'm going to do all of this to let it sit in an empty room again. But I got out the invitation and have started the process.
I hope that some day this will be a story of hope and God's promises to share with lots of people. Until then, I'm showing up again. I'm getting ready.
