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The Ice is Too Thick…

Walk with Jesus

That icy night the General (General G. Washington) knew that if he could surprise the German conglomerate under the command of Colonel Rahl across the Delaware River – this grand experiment called the United States would have a chance…What many do not know that in the amazing portrait of General Washington crossing the river, the group with him was very eclectic. Men of all ages, men of diverse backgrounds, men of color (they were not slaves but part of the Generals staff, and those two men are pictured in that famous work of art). The crossing is only 200 yards across at its farthest but the icy kinks, clinks, and chunks were so great that the crossing was nearly 4 hours behind the Generals schedule. He almost had to retreat, what would we be today if on that night the General thought the “ice is too thick?”

As you may have noticed, I have an elevated passion for the founding of this Nation, Under God particularly after facing the enemy in combat (winning some, and losing some as I glance over at my disability packet). The Lord, as He always does challenges me with His Word and its application(s) then, and now.

Reading about the crossing as I have several times along with where I happened to be in my “sharpening of the sword” (or getting hit with it across its breadth) the Lord convicted me with my “patience” (notice that’s in quotes….) as it relates to His schedule and how my schedule (tends not to) matches up. What are the “big rocks” in your way? What are rocks that aren’t as big as we make them in your way? If Jesus was on the other side of that river, how hard would you fight to get there? How many obstacles would it take to stop you? That is what convicted me…

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.
(Isaiah 43:2 ESV)
He answered and said, “But I see four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods.”…And the satraps, the prefects, the governors, and the king's counselors gathered together and saw that the fire had not had any power over the bodies of those men. The hair of their heads was not singed, their cloaks were not harmed, and no smell of fire had come upon them.
(Daniel 3:25, 27 ESV)
you let men ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water; yet you have brought us out to a place of abundance.
(Psalm 66:12 ESV)

Do you believe that when the Lord has you in the fire, when He has you in water that feels way to deep, and you feel like you are simply “punching waves” – what is your flinch? Is your first thought is that there is no way He can show me dry ground (did Israel?) Is your first flinch “I will burn up in His fire” or is it that I WILL BE REFINED TO HIS IMAGE?

I challenge you to beg God to give you, give the body a chance to glorify Him in such an amazing way that even the skeptic cannot deny it is the hand of the Almighty, no matter how thick the ice is, or how hot the fire gets.

Martyn-Lloyd Jones once wrote: “Prayer is beyond any question the highest activity of the human soul. Man is at his greatest and highest when upon his knees he comes face to face with God.” (Studies in the Sermon on the Mount, 2 vols, 1979)

Father God, King of Kings, I thank you and I pray that convict us of our sin, give us a warriors spirit for you and your glory. May we never grow weary but be strengthened by the very food you have prepared for us in your Word…convict us Father to do your will and not to conform and eat the Kings meat.
Amen

Adrian "AG" Green