Life can be difficult. Yes, we know this all too well. For many Christians, making sense of our circumstances is hard enough without a relationship with God - so why make it harder? That is why we go to Him in our times of trouble. He is our helper. He is our comforter. He is our provider. He leads us to lie down in green pastures. He restores our souls. God is faithful and true and He desires that we believe in Him and take Him at His word. When God says that He will do something, rest assured that He will do it!

The Bible offers us many insights into the character of God. But the Bible goes beyond that. It offers us hope through the promises God gives us. These promises bring reassurance to our souls. It is good to know that God has promised to help us in difficult times. Did you know that there are more than 37,000 promises in the Bible? Yes, the Bible contains promises for salvation, promises for spiritual growth, promises for your personal needs, promises for your family, promises for various relationships in your life, promises about the triumph of good over evil, and promises about our eternal future.

This week I want to offer 5 tips on how you can claim God's promises for your life. And I'm going to get these tips straight from God's word! We're going to take a look at the Book of Joshua chapters 3 and 4. Here we will find the story of when Joshua led the Israelites across the Jordan River to possess the land God had promised them. We pick up the story as Joshua and his people are approaching the banks of the Jordan River. Here they made camp for three days. The leaders of the people gave orders that when the people saw the priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant they were to move from their positions and follow the Ark through the river. Joshua then tells them to consecrate themselves "for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you" (verse #5). Joshua told the people this because he was sure it was going to happen. So, the priests took up the Ark and walked ahead of the people towards the river. As this was happening, Joshua told the people that they were about to see proof that God was among them and that He would drive out their enemies from before them. When he had finished telling them this, it is recorded that he told them, "As soon as the priests who carry the Ark of the Lord - the Lord of all the earth - set foot in the Jordan, its waters flowing downstream will be cut off and stand up in a heap." Now, at that time the river had overflowed its banks because it was the time of the harvest. Despite this, it happened just like Joshua said. As soon as the priests carrying the Ark of the Lord stepped into the waters of the river the waters split in two and a path of dry ground was created so that the people were able to cross the river. After they crossed the river Joshua commanded that twelve stones from the river be placed in a heap on the side where they had just crossed as a memorial of what happened there that day.

This event was truly amazing and this is where we find our 5 tips for claiming God's promises. So, here we go!

Tip #1 - Read your Bible. You need to be aware of the promise. You cannot claim what you do not know.

In the story, the Israelites are about to cross the Jordan River. Why was Joshua so sure that they would succeed? Because he knew that God had promised them this land and if there is a big river in the way, God would find a way to defeat that obstacle. Joshua was familiar with what Moses had written down in the scrolls. He knew that God had told Moses, “It will come to pass when you come to the land which the Lord will give you, just as He promised, that you shall keep this service.” (Exodus 12:25). You can't claim what you do not know. So, unless you regularly read your Bible you will not be aware of the precious promises God has given you in His word. Make it a regular practice to read the scriptures so that you may know which promises to claim when you pray for deliverance.

Tip #2 - Walk in God’s presence.

The Ark of the Covenant represented the presence of God. In Exodus 25:22 we read, “And there I will meet with you, and I will speak with you from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which are on the ark of the Testimony…” Again, in Exodus 30:6 we read, “And you shall put it before the veil that is before the ark of the Testimony, before the mercy seat that is over the Testimony, where I will meet with you.” The Ark of the Covenant carried with it God’s presence. Wherever the Israelites went, the Ark went with them. You should do the same as you claim God’s promises. Make sure you are walking in God's presence. Take His presence with you wherever you go. Make God a part of your everyday life. Start the day with Him and end the day with Him. Commune with Him as often as possible. Don't hesitate to welcome His presence into your life.

Tip #3 - Don’t be overwhelmed by the circumstances you face.

Instead of cowering before the river Jordan, Joshua spoke to his people about the victory they would experience. He made no mention of the size of the river, how deep the waters were, how cold the waters were, or any risk of drowning. Instead, he reminded the people that God was with them. God would fight for them and remove the enemies from before them. When you face overwhelming circumstances, don't focus on what you think may go wrong. Rather, focus your attention on the promise God has made to you. Focus on the victory you are about to experience. Trust God to do for you what you cannot do for yourself. Remember the words of Luke 1:37, “For with God nothing is impossible.”

Tip #4 - Step out in faith!

Notice that the waters of the Jordan River didn’t start to part until the feet of the priests touched the water. They would never have seen the river part in two had they allowed fear to paralyze them in their steps. Instead, they took that step of faith and the miracle happened. You should do as the priests did. Keep walking in faith. Your miracle may come at the last possible moment. But if you stop walking in faith, you may never see it come to fruition. Remember, your feet may get wet before you see the river part!

Tip #5 - Write down the record of your victory as a memorial of what God did for you.

Joshua instructed the priests to collect 12 stones (symbolizing the 12 tribes) and to erect a monument to what had just happened with the river. This was so that the people could remember how God delivered them every time they looked upon that pile of stones. Today, we might not build a pile of stones, but we can certainly write down our experience so that we can review it from time to time and remember what wonderful things the Lord has done for us. This is an important step for you to take. It is important that you remember how God has delivered you in the past. Write it down so you don't forget!

Until next time my fellow pilgrims.