One of my favorite leaders in Scripture is Joshua. The Bible book that bears his name begins with him taking over the reins of leadership of the children of Israel. “After the death of Moses the Lord’s servant, the Lord spoke to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ assistant. He said, ‘Moses my servant is dead. Therefore, the time has come for you to lead these people, the Israelites, across the Jordan River into the land I am giving them.’” (Joshua 1:1-2) That was an incredible moment! Joshua was about to see the fulfillment of a dream that had begun 40 years earlier when Moses sent him and 11 others into the Promised Land as spies.
Trust the promises of God, for your dreams
The set up for this moment, for this dream fulfilled, started when the people of Israel were slaves for 400 years and it weakened them as a people. Moses sent a dozen spies into the Promised Land to scope things out, but only two of them returned enthusiastic about going into the land: Caleb and Joshua. The others couldn’t see past the potential problems to the dream God had for them.
A generation later, only Caleb and Joshua remained from the time God first gave the dream. The other spies, the ones who couldn’t see the dream, never saw the Promised Land. How did Joshua hold onto this dream for four decades? How did he stay faithful and protect the dream God had given when he was a spy? The key to successfully dreaming daily is trusting in the promises of God—recognizing that you possess God’s promises the same way Joshua did.
Joshua had God’s stated purpose
Joshua possessed a commitment from God specifically about the Promised Land. “And I reaffirmed my covenant with them. Under its terms, I promised to give them the land of Canaan, where they were living as foreigners.” (Exodus 6:4) I can picture Joshua dreaming of getting back to the Promised Land on a daily basis; his report to Moses upon their return from spying out the land echoing in his heart and mind, keeping the dream alive: “We entered the land you sent us to explore, and it is indeed a bountiful country—a land flowing with milk and honey.” (Numbers 13:27) Then when the moment arrives for Joshua to lead the people into the land, God gives him a new commitment. “I promise you what I promised Moses: ‘Wherever you set foot, you will be on land I have given you—from the Negev wilderness in the south to the Lebanon Mountains in the north, from the Euphrates River in the east to the Mediterranean Sea in the west, including all the land of the Hittites’.” (Joshua 1:3-4)
God’s promise, God’s purpose for you
God’s promise for you is found in His stated purpose for you: “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” (Ephesians 2:10) Remember this daily. Pray this daily. Make it personal and speak it daily. “Heavenly Father, I am your masterpiece. You have created me anew in Christ Jesus. I am doing the good thing you planned for me long ago.”