Crossing Over

And it shall come to pass, as soon as the soles of the feet of the priests that bear the ark of the Lord, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of Jordan, that the waters of Jordan shall be cut off from the waters that come down from above; and they shall stand upon an heap. Joshua 3:13 (KJV)

Joshua 3 speaks about crossing over into the promised land. However, they were instructed by the Lord to cross the Jordan River at the time when the waters were at their highest. He told the priests to take a step into the waters of the Jordan, and when they did, they saw the waters part.

God is looking for people who will believe Him and obey Him no matter what He says to do. As we take a step, we will see the thing that’s standing in the way move aside, just like the waters of the Jordan did for Israel. God is telling us to take a step and watch what He will do. This gives us experience and confidence to go where God is leading us. It prepares us to go into the land and conquer walled cities and giants and take what God has promised.

Recently, I told my wife I wanted to get my hair trimmed. I went to the mailbox and in the mail was a coupon for a discount on a haircut. All I did was take a step of faith by saying I wanted to get my hair trimmed and God provided. God uses these little incidents to help teach and train us in His ways. Take a step- even a little one- and watch God move. He always comes through.

Jordan speaks of crossing over, leaving the old behind and stepping into the new God has for us. It is a time of overcoming obstacles, a proving place. Will we obey God and take that step to go forward or will we retreat and miss what God has for us?

In Luke 4, Jesus was baptized in the Lordan River and experienced a visitation from God; an empowerment, an anointing from God. He heard the Father speak and He received the Father’s approval. He saw the Holy Spirit descend on Him and received power and ability to be and do all God called Him to.

Jordan is also a place of us dying to self to receive life from the Father. According to Bible scholar Kevin J. Conner, Jordan is a symbol of descending, dying to self, going down. (II Kings 5:10, Mark 1:9)

As we die to our own will, wants, and ways, choosing God’s, we will be prepared to go lower so God can take us higher, further, and deeper in Him. We will be ready for His plans for our lives, and it all begins with us taking one step. This is how we cross over from victory to victory.