Day 464 Small Victories

This morning I was reviewing the Book of Joshua.   After Moses' death, Joshua was appointed to lead the Israelites across the Jordan to take possession of the Promised Land.   God told them that, if they would be obedient,  He would guide them in victory.   Their first battle, Jericho, He fought for them.  All the Israelites had to do was walk around the walls of the city every day for six days and on the seventh day, walk around seven times, blow their horns and shout and the walls would come down.  And it happened just like that.   Then the humanity of the Israelites took over and disobedience came into play.   The result is that the army of God's chosen people was routed at the tiny defenseless town of Ai. 

What an incredible lesson God gives us in the telling of these events.   He is there to go into battle with us against the enemy every time.   We can't expect the defeat to be as easy as that of Jericho was but we can always have a victory of some sort in every battle ....... as long as we're obedient.  It is only when we turn our backs on God that defeat is inevitable.

I had cancer.   I am healed.   There is a victory in the healing, certainly.   But the greater victory is in a better, a closer, a more trusting and loving relationship with God, with Jesus, than I ever had before.
There is a victory in knowing that God wants me to take care of myself and eat the right foods and that I can do that.

"Bless the Lord, O my soul....who satisfies your mouth with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle."    Psalm 103:2-5

Good food, exercise, study, service, doing our part to be the best, strongest, healthiest we can be in order to better serve Him.   He honors that.   That is when He goes into battle with us.  And what a comfort it is to know that, in the words of my friend Lisa, "Either way, we win."  

We don't have to start big.  We can start with small victories.   My small victories for today are going to be...........1. Cook a new healthy dish made with only cancer fighting foods. 2. Exercise this morning to get my heart rate up.  3. Walk this evening to strengthen my bones.  4. Extra prayer time to thank God for all He has done for me so far and for all the good plans that He has in store for me.   So, those are mine.   What are your small victories going to be today?

Precious Lord, Jehovah Rapha,
Thank You for going into battle with us against the enemy, cancer.   Thank You for every new discovery and development to battle that hated destroyer.  Thank You for every victory, no matter how large or how small, that we have today as we strive to do Your will, to love and honor You and to be the best for You that we can be.
You are a good and loving God, a healing God and a forgiving God.  Thank You for showing us how to live, for giving us victories every day and for forgiving us when we fall back into the old harmful ways of our lives before cancer.   Thank You for the knowledge that there is a better way and for showing us that way.
We love You, Lord.   We love You.
We pray and give thanks in the precious name of Your Son and our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ,
Amen