Banned Things

Consecrate yourselves.

Remove banned things from your midst.

Be victorious.

-Joshua 7:13

My forgiveness confession recently has included, “I don't hold on to things that don't belong to me.” It's a purposeful statement of obedience and faith that I don't hold on to

...grudges

...unforgiveness

...past hurts

...my own past mistakes.

Anytime these things come to mind I choose forgiveness and release of the hurt (even when I FEEL like doing something else.)

In the first chapters of Joshua the Israelite army had just experienced a huge, supernatural victory over Jericho. Everything in that city was under a ban. The Israelites were not to keep anything from that city but to destroy it. Achan saw a few things he desired and secretly kept them buried under his tent. One seemingly small act caused the death of 36 of his fellow soldiers during their next battle.

We all want victory in our life, but we can hinder our own progress by keeping things we've been commanded to destroy – things under the ban. As Christians we are banned from unforgiveness. (Mark 11:25) We are banned from worry. (1 Peter 5:7) We are banned from getting back at others when they hurt us. (Romans 12:17)

Today's haiku is not just poetic but instructional. First, dedicate yourself to the Lord and to something from His heart that is bigger than you and your own needs. Second, get rid of the banned things as soon as they are presented to you. Refuse to hold on to worry or unforgiveness. Those are two steps to victory. 1 John 3:21-23 says:

Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; and whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight. This is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us.

Victory! Galatians 5:6, 1 John 5:4