Joshua 8:32-35 – “There, in the presence of the Israelites, Joshua inscribed on the stones a duplicate of the law written by Moses.  ³³ All the people, rulers, leaders, and judges were standing on either side of the ark, in front of the Levitical priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord.  Both resident foreigners and native Israelites were there.  Half the people stood in front of Mount Gerizim and the other half in front of Mount Ebal, as Moses the Lord’s servant had previously instructed them to do for the formal blessing ceremony.  ³⁴ Then Joshua read aloud all the words of the law, including the blessings and the curses, just as they are written in the law scroll.  ³⁵ Joshua read aloud every commandment Moses had given before the whole assembly of Israel, including the women, children, and resident foreigners who lived among them.”

As I read, prayed, and pondered the Word of God today, I was challenged by the connection of active, victorious faith and the eyes, heart, and mind.

God told Joshua, “Be strong and have courage.”   He saw the problem but rehearsed in his heart God’s history with Israel and filled his mind with the Word.   After a great victory, he read every word Moses had commanded them.  (Joshua 8:32-35).

In Matthew 15, the disciples were alone in the storm, and Jesus came walking on the waters of the storm.  They saw the storm, and fear gripped them.  Their frame of mind caused them to believe that Jesus was an apparition.  He said, “Do not be afraid.”

Impetuous and hungry, Peter requested confirmation: ‘Command me to walk on the water!’  Jesus said, “Come!”   Peter heard and responded in faith, but his vision of Jesus was overcome by his sight of the waves!  His focus shifted.   We do that.   We believe and step out, moving toward the promise, but see the problem, and the potential of the problem steals our hearts, and fear grips us.  With fear filling Peter’s heart, he began to sink.

He had two choices at that moment.   Sink and drown or refocus, repent, and call on Jesus.  He chose rightly.  Connect that to Jesus’s revelation of defilement and the heart.

If our hearts are filled with the Word and saturated with His imagery, if we refuse to allow ourselves to focus on the problem and fill our hearts and minds with His person, promise, and history, we won’t sink.

It takes the courage that comes from focused faith to stand in the storm.  That courage comes from filling the heart and mind with Him, and with full hearts, we see only the victory, not the potential disaster.  Fear is the fruit of wrong focus.  Faith is the fruit of right focus.

Jesus is saying, “Come!”   The storm becomes a problem only if we lose focus.  If He fills our vision, minds, and hearts, the storm is incapable of hurting us.

LORD, help us to connect the dots and totally trust You!