Do you remember your mom ever saying, “I’m going to have to put by foot down on this one!” When my mom said those words, I knew she meant “no means no and don’t mention it again. I’m not budging.” With those words, I knew the battle was over. I had lost.
I was surprised to learn my mom’s declaration was very biblical! After Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt, that first generation of slaves-set-free were not allowed to enter the Promised Land. Their grumbling and unbelief caused God to put a big “Do Not Enter” sign at the entrance.
But after that generation died off and the next generation came along, they believed God would do what He said He would do. They moved forward to take hold of the promises and claim what their parents never would. What made the difference? Let’s see what God’s told Joshua just before they crossed the Jordan.
After the death of Moses, God said to Joshua, Moses’ aide,
“Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites. I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. (Joshua 1:2-3)
It’s that sentence “I will give you every place where you set your foot,” that stops me in my tracks every time. God had given the Israelites the land, but they still had to take hold of it. They had to put their foot down and take hold of the promise.
I just love miracles. Don’t you? I love reading about times when God mysteriously and supernaturally intervenes in someone’s life—times when what was impossible with man became a reality with God.
But almost every time, God performed a miracle in the Bible, He required men and women to participate—to put their foot down.
- Build an ark.
- Lift your staff.
- Fill your jug.
- Gather jars.
- Make a cake.
- Blow a trumpet.
- Give a shout.
Jesus echoed his Father’s cadence in the New Testament.
- Take up your mat.
- Cast your nets.
- Stretch out your hand.
- Wash off the mud.
- Look in the fish’s mouth.
- Roll away the stone.
- Stand up straight.
- Go and tell.
Yes, God does miracles, and He will do miracles in our lives. And He invites us to participate in the unveiling.
In every one of the above-mentioned moments, God’s power followed someone’s obedience. The key to experiencing the wonderworking power of God in our lives is tethered to obedience. It is the pathway to miracles and the paved-way marvels.
God’s promises are not automatic. We must move from knowing, to believing, to actually taking hold of the promises to make them a reality.
Oswald Chambers wrote, “Even the smallest bit of obedience opens heaven, and the deepest truths of God immediately become yours. Yet God will never reveal more truth about Himself to you, until you have obeyed what you know already.”
Here’s my declaration: I will not let human reasoning talk me out of my spiritual inheritance.
I will step into every promise God has given me.
Here’s my question for you: Where is God asking you to put your foot down?
A promise you’ve hesitated to believe?
A step you’ve been afraid to take?
A truth you’ve known—but haven’t lived?
Today, I’m putting my foot down and taking hold of God’s promises.
Heavenly Father, I have been so wishy-washy when it comes to taking hold of Your promises and making them mine. But today, I’m putting my foot down! I will not allow my human reason to talk me out of my spiritual inheritance. I will set my foot down on every promise that You have given me today. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Where do you need to take your next step of obedience? Leave a comment and let’s share.
Digging Deeper
I hope this devotion got you fired up! I’m fired up just writing it!!
If you’d like to learn more about how to take hold of every promise God has already given you, then Take Hold of the Faith You Long For is the book for you! It also includes a Bible study guide in the back…which is perfect for women’s study groups.
And if your women’s Bible study group does Take Hold of the Faith You Long For, and has 20 or more attendees, I’d love to pop in via zoom and say hello!
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Comments 16
Me ex DIL has denied me access to my granddaughter for close to a year and says I can never see or speak to her again. My husband and I have been extremely involved in the child’s life since she was born. We live in TX where grandparent rights are virtually nonexistent. I have prayed and prayed for God to tell me what I should do within His will. Wait on Him to handle it? Or try to handle it myself in whatever way I can? I’m not receiving any answer that I can discern. I do NOT want to make a mistake. The child is ten. We love each other so much. My heart is shattered. I’m sure hers is too. This is because her mother hates my son. She is violating the divorce decree by denying him access. He is so beaten down by failure after failure that I think he’s afraid to try anything. I can’t get him motivated to move forward legally even though he has cried many tears over this child. He has NO MONEY. Living at a friend’s and the slightest problem wrecks his meager budget. I have nightmares. I had to lave church after communion Sunday because I couldn’t start crying and I was so humiliated. I am clinging to my faith by my fingernails. I will never give up on Jesus, but if I’m being honest, intrusive thoughts are cropping up such as “why is a little girl being allowed to continue in this emotional HELL?” How much more hurt can I take before it literally kills ne? My health has deteriorated. I’ve lost so much weight, I look skeletal. Does anyone have any sage advice? Is there any help to be had?
Annie
I will be praying for you and your granddaughter. As a therapist, here is what I habe seen, as children get older, they get curious about truth. Your granddaughter will get curious and reach out. Keep doing the next right thing and get a good trauma therapist trained in Internal Family Systems..
Hugs
My son’s best friend is an alcoholic, he was trying to get clean. He started falling and one day he hit his head bad, laid in the bed no one could wake him. He was taken to the hospital. L.S.S…. I went to the Hospital was praying over him, I knew God wanted me to pray for him and tell him about Jesus. He didn’t wake up for a week. Every time I thought I was going to pray for him, something interrupted me. I felt so bad because I wasn’t obedient to God. After a month he is in a nursing home getting rehab. I was able to say a short prayer with him. But uneventful in making sure he knows Jesus. There has seemed like something was blocking me from praying for him specifically, I can pray for others with no problem even people I don’t even know, but praying for Bob was so difficult. I even asked God, why can’t I pray for him? And one day the answer came. God said “Satan doesn’t want Bob to know who I am”. That slapped me in the face!! I have not been to see Bob since I prayed for him, but I will go back and talk to him about Jesus! Thank you so much for this devotion,I needed to hear this.
Hi, Sharon:
I hear God saying that I need to take my next step of obedience in the area of relationships, referencing Amos 3:3-“How can two walk together unless they be agreed?”
I love miracles, too, and have seen a few. My Mom used to say the same thing but I never thought about it this way. I also love how God invites us to partner with Him… but to step into that, I have to “put my foot down!” It’s worth it every time. He is asking me to put my foot down in 2 areas and it’s my human reasoning that’s in the way. No more – I want the miracle! Thanks for this kick in the pants!
I need to “put my food down” on tithing. As bad as our financial situation is, it is important to rely on God’s promise to provide for us, and “give us our daily bread”, like he did for the Israelites, providing them with manna while they walked in the desert. It is important to return the gift of the income He has blessed us with.
I believe my art is what I am suppose to be doing. But I don’t know how (without money) to get it out there and make sales. Don’t know
How to
Do jpegs. I’m 75. Not a excuse actually, just not the techy generation.
So not even sure how to put my foot down
Help me Lord to put my foot down on having a difficult conversation with my husband…he claims to be a Christian but the walk doesn’t measure up..I pray everyday that God would open his eyes, but still waiting to see(and I may never)
I claim Matthew 5:9 everyday “Blessed are the peacemakers, they will be called sons(daughter’s) of God”..I’m 72, have loved the Lord for 60+ yrs. He has been so good to me! His mercy and grace is new to me each and every day 😇✝️
God Bless all my sisters in Christ!💖
I am so confused. I hear these words, but with every step taken for decades I feel the ground beneath me crumble. Pathways blocked, relationships destroyed, hopes dashed, promises broken. I’ve never felt so stuck or hopeless, tethered to a husband that now has a TBI who will never be able to improve. I want to step out, grow and break the chains around my neck but I don’t get very far until something else is destroyed.
Author
I’m so sorry Penni. Life this side of heaven can be hard. My husband also has an incurable but manageable disease. We look for the good every day. Have you read this devotion? https://sharonjaynes.com/beauty-in-the-broken-things/
I read this book & love it… ready to read again. Currently being counseled in grief and it has kept me moving forward with hope
Author
I’m so glad it was helpful!
I believe and hold on to God’s promise that He shall supply all I (and my family) need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus as I prepare to travel to Canada for a study period of 2 years (away from my home in Uganda)
I need to take a step of obedience in the area when it comes to not knowing what my calling is in life right now.
Hello Sharon,
I am fired up too with this message. Thank you, I needed this assurance we have protection, promises and provision with God!!
I believe it!!!
We are so LOVED and BLESSED!!!!! AMEN and AMEN!!!
I need to put my foot down on getting back into church and rebuilding my relationship with Christ. I was a church secretary for 14 years and was at church more than home. I got burned out and 4 years ago I quit. Not only did I quit my job, but I quit going to church. Partly because my husband’s job and partly because I was just so tired. The pastor I worked for was a wonderful pastor and his wife was very down to earth. Since then I have been to church a handful of times. We now have a new pastor and my husband and I have moved back home. He was raised in the same church but does not go. His feelings were hurt by some of the older members. I am praying he joins me in returning to church and also rebuilding his relationship with Jesus. I have been the “spiritual leader” in my family and now I want him to become that leader. Help me pray for him and myself.