Doing Laps

One of the interesting aspects of the wilderness is that you never fail a test, you just keep getting the same one until you finally pass it. Like the Israelites, you may do many laps around God’s "mountain of change", until you are finally ready to enter your promised land. This can seem like a very long and frustrating process, but it is actually a mercy that God doesn't allow us to go forward until we are truly ready.

You see; sin always keeps us stuck and opens the door for the enemy to attack. When we are purified in the wilderness, it destroys any open doors that the enemy may have to come in and thwart the work and blessing of God in your life. When you are really done with sin, you will go forward and not have to spend any more time by the roadside fixing spiritual flat tires. Sin stops you, but righteousness releases you to move forward.

When Achan sinned by keeping some of the gold from the spoils in his tent after they had been instructed not to (Joshua chapter 7), it not only caused his death, but also the death of those connected to him. Obviously, Achan did not have his greed and fear problems worked out in his heart before he entered his promised land. When we allow God to work out all these bugs beforehand in our wilderness time, it is actually a great benefit and blessing to us and protects our future in every way.

You may be slogging around many different mountains during this time of transformation. It may be the mountain of fear, addiction, smoking, profanity, drugs, alcohol, rebellion, greed, lying, eating disorders, sexual sin, unforgiveness, idolatry, need for control, bitterness, resentment, past hurt, past loss, spousal strife, anger, violence, or whatever particular mountain the Holy Spirit may have you dealing with right now. God will not stop until this mountain of sin is leveled completely, and can no longer harm you, or others.

So, if for some reason you blow it in some area today, and you end up "taking another lap" in that area, try to just smile and say "oh well", and start walking it out. And know this, that "He", is the Author and Finisher of your faith and that "He" knows exactly how to change you. There will come a day when you will be finished in that area, and your days of going around that particular mountain of change will be over. Your laps will end, and you will be free and ready to take the new land that God brings you into, hindrance-free.