A Journey of Faith – Dancing Shoes

A recent highlight for me was standing at the Western Wall in Jerusalem. Shabbat, or the Sabbath, was about to begin and the courtyard overflowed with people. The atmosphere was electric as people of all ages danced their hearts out to welcome in the day of rest. As they danced, they held nothing back as they praised God; it was almost as if their shoes were on fire.

I think the same thing happened as the children of Israel safely arrived on the other side of the Jordan! As they firmly placed their feet on the Promised Land, their feet skipped and danced as if on fire with genuine praise for the miracle they just encountered.

Have you ever danced over a miracle that God performed before your very eyes?

This past December I was praying Psalm 23 and got stuck on, “The Lord is my Shepherd, I lack nothing.” Yes, struggling with doubt, I had to claim this truth. About an hour later, after a brisk walk in the snow with my kids, I checked my email and the miracle jumped off the screen and filled my heart with overwhelming joy. The Good Shepherd provided in unexpected ways through one of his beloved sheep to help with Oceans Ministries.

I’m not ashamed to say I danced and cried before my Shepherd, my wife and kids. Immediately I grabbed my journal and wrote down the miracle! I knew I would need to remember this moment, for those days when my faith gets weak; indeed I follow a Rabbi who brings about miracles.

In Joshua 4, God instructs His children to record the miracle they had just experienced. Even thought they were weary from their travels, God instructed them to gather 12 stones from the Jordan (where the Ark was) and bring them to shore. The 12 stones were to stand as a record of the miracle. For generations, the stones would serve as a reminder of God’s love and faithfulness, and the miracles which He performed!

Notice how Joshua 4 ends: “In the future when your descendants ask their parents ‘what do these stones mean?’ tell them that the children of Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground’… He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the Lord is powerful and so that you might always fear (trust) the LORD your God,” (vs. 21-24).

In our faith journey, it is essential to share the miracles we’ve experienced with each other. So, why not pick up the phone, send a text, email a friend, or talk with your family. You will encourage others in their faith journey when you share the miracles in your life AND when those times of struggle come you will have others to help remind you of God’s great faithfulness! The goal of these Standing Stones is that your faith journey will show those around you “that the hand of the Lord is powerful and so that you might always fear (trust) the LORD your God” (vs. 24).

I challenge you on this journey to slip on your dancing shoes, offer God praise for the miracles He is performing in your life, and share it with someone else! Find your journal, pick up some stones from your Jordan and make a pile. You will be reminded of God’s supernatural surprises!