Mensa Otabil - Let Us Follow After the Lord (10/06/2025)
We are still preparing our hearts and minds and positioning ourselves for the new year as we cross over into it. The preparations of our hearts and the positioning of our thoughts are critical for how we enter the year. We’re looking at the scriptures in Joshua chapter three, focusing on verses two and three. After three days, the officers went through the camp and commanded the people, saying, «When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God and the priests, the Levites, bearing it, then you shall set out from your place and go after it.»
The people of Israel had been in the wilderness for 40 years. To reach the promised land, they needed to cross the Jordan River. At this time, the Jordan was flooded, and they had to cross it to get to the promised land. God instructed them that when they saw the ark of the covenant borne by the priests moving, they should set out. The people were prepared; they had been waiting, but they didn’t move on their own will. They didn’t decide how to cross over the Jordan; God said to follow the ark of the covenant.
Why did God say that? Because the ark of the covenant represented God’s presence among His people. It was not God’s presence but represented it. The ark did not replace God for Israel; it symbolized His presence and focused them on following the Lord when He was leading them. As a rule, the ark of the covenant was carried on the shoulders of the priests. The ark did not carry itself; the priests carried it, ensuring that it was not on the ground. They took deliberate steps and walked slowly while carrying the ark.
The priests were trained to discern the will of God as they carried the ark of the covenant. Sometimes they would stop because they sensed that was what God wanted them to do. Then they would go forward or turn left or right. Following the ark of the covenant was a spiritual art that the priests had learned. God said to the children of Israel that if they wanted to cross over, they had to follow the ark. In essence, they were following the leading of the Holy Spirit as it directed the priests carrying the ark. This is important for all of us as we consider the new year. How do we proceed? Yes, we pray, read the Bible, and gather information about new trends and events. It’s good to know all of that, but more than everything else, you must listen to what God is saying.
What is God saying to you? What does 2022 mean to you? You must take the time to read the Bible, pray, and pay attention to what God is saying primarily to you through the inward witness of the Holy Spirit. Spend some time thinking about what God is saying to you about 2022. You must follow the ark.
The second thing is you must watch what God is doing. As the children of Israel followed the ark, they kept their eyes on it, essentially saying, «Our eyes are on the Lord.» Identify the things that God is doing in your life. What miraculous events are happening? What people is God bringing into your life? Are you noticing a pattern in the last month or couple of weeks of something peculiar that God is orchestrating in your life? Perhaps you’ve realized you wake up at a certain time, like 2 a.m. to pray, or at some point you feel a certain sense, leading you to take specific spiritual steps. You must be discerning of all these things because they are part of following the Lord and understanding where He is leading you.
So, listen to what God is saying, watch what God is doing, and look for the doors of opportunity He is opening for you. Are you encountering various opportunities coming your way? Are people calling you with similar messages repeatedly? Could it be an indication of something God wants you to notice? Spend time praying about what is happening in your life and discerning God’s will in all of it, as these occurrences are critical for what will happen in the coming year.
So, follow the ark; follow the Lord. Let us pray. Say with me: «Heavenly Father, I surrender myself to Your will. Lead me by Your Holy Spirit and make Your way clear before me. In Jesus' name, amen and amen.» I’ll catch you again tomorrow. I’m Pastor Mensa Otabil. Shalom, peace, and life to you.