Breaking Down the Walls

Day 20:


One morning I woke up with this inspiration of breaking down the walls that is holding me back, from a better relationship with Jesus. Yes I think long and hard about things, a lot. I can't help it. It is the way I was wired. Over these past few weeks God has been showing me things in my life and some of the reasons why I am not as close as I can be to him as I could be.


One of those reasons is that I build walls. Walls can be good and bad. They can keep things out, but also keep things in. They can keep things safe and they can protect, but they can also prevent growth. I have been trying to learn when walls are useful and when they are not. I want to be protected, but I also want to be with God. I have to learn that God is also my protector, and using walls with Him prevents Him from doing His job.


I want to add a story from the Bible, about Joshua and the walls of Jericho.

Now Jericho was shut up inside and outside because of the people of Israel. None went out, and none came in. And the LORD said to Joshua, “See, I have given Jericho into your hand, with its king and mighty men of valor. You shall march around the city, all the men of war going around the city once. Thus shall you do for six days. Seven priests shall bear seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark. On the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets. And when they make a long blast with the ram's horn, when you hear the sound of the trumpet, then all the people shall shout with a great shout, and the wall of the city will fall down flat, and the people shall go up, everyone straight before him.” So Joshua the son of Nun called the priests and said to them, “Take up the ark of the covenant and let seven priests bear seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the LORD.” And he said to the people, “Go forward. March around the city and let the armed men pass on before the ark of the LORD.”

  And just as Joshua had commanded the people, the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams' horns before the LORD went forward, blowing the trumpets, with the ark of the covenant of the LORD following them. The armed men were walking before the priests who were blowing the trumpets, and the rear guard was walking after the ark, while the trumpets blew continually. But Joshua commanded the people, “You shall not shout or make your voice heard, neither shall any word go out of your mouth, until the day I tell you to shout. Then you shall shout.” So he caused the ark of the LORD to circle the city, going about it once. And they came into the camp and spent the night in the camp.
   Then Joshua rose early in the morning, and the priests took up the ark of the LORD. And the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the LORD walked on, and they blew the trumpets continually. And the armed men were walking before them, and the rear guard was walking after the ark of the LORD, while the trumpets blew continually. And the second day they marched around the city once, and returned into the camp. So they did for six days.
   On the seventh day they rose early, at the dawn of day, and marched around the city in the same manner seven times. It was only on that day that they marched around the city seven times. And at the seventh time, when the priests had blown the trumpets, Joshua said to the people, “Shout, for the LORD has given you the city. And the city and all that is within it shall be devoted to the LORD for destruction. Only Rahab the prostitute and all who are with her in her house shall live, because she hid the messengers whom we sent. But you, keep yourselves from the things devoted to destruction, lest when you have devoted them you take any of the devoted things and make the camp of Israel a thing for destruction and bring trouble upon it. But all silver and gold, and every vessel of bronze and iron, are holy to the LORD; they shall go into the treasury of the LORD.” So the people shouted, and the trumpets were blown. As soon as the people heard the sound of the trumpet, the people shouted a great shout, and the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they captured the city.

 Joshua 6.1-20 (ESV)

 If the Lord can tell Joshua how to tear down the walls of Jericho by marching and playing instruments, I believe He will do the same for me. To Him be the glory. I am still working on breaking down the walls and making it easier to have a better relationship with Jesus. I believe it is easier to break down the walls when you stop fighting God's arms and embrace His truth, love and mercy for us. Even this past week, I obeyed the voice of God and just look at where I am now.


Lord,
I praise you for this day. I praise you for your protection and that my walls don't need to be put up. I am so happy that you are in my life. Please continue to strip my walls away like you had Joseph tear the walls of Jericho down. I love that you continue to shower me with grace, truth and mercy. I pray for my friends this weekend as they are going to renew their hope for God. I am so excited for them. I pray all these things in your name.


Amen.