Where Are You In Your Spiritual Journey
One of our ministers prayed a prayer for me without knowing I was in the midst of storm. She said - The Lord will surely settle ytou in your Canaan land in Jesus name.
I was going to respond Amen o, let God settle me in my Goshen. But immediately the Holy Spirit said why Goshen. I said Goshen is the name you gave me for our cooperative society through which we give low interest loans to widows. God was silent after my rejoiner so I went to do research.
The time was 5.50AM and I was actively awake so I researched about Canaan then God led me to research the difference between Goshen, Canaan and Beulah.
I will share with you so you add understanding to your understanding when praying for shelter, stability, sustainance, peace and/or comfort.
Let us pray:
Heavenly Lord, thank you for your grace. Thank you for the spiritual journey we are on and for leading us towards your peace and your presence. In John we are reminded that in you is life and your life is the light for humanity. Open our minds beyond what I will share. Let y o ur name be glorified in our spiritual journey in Jesus majestic name.
I thank you for being part of our community. I pray your mind is blessed as you read. Be sure to subscribe and leave a message.
Goshen, Canaan or Beulah are incomparable in a straightforward sense but I will share each with you and you will decide what to pray for depending on where you are in the journey of life and your level of faith.
As I researched, I was reminded that the name God gave me for our cooperative society and store is Goshen. My discoveries almost made me decide to change the name but the Holy Spirit confirmed why Goshen was appropriate, we are a place of temporary refuge. Borrowing money is to get you through a phase which we never hope will be permanent. Shopping in a mid-level store is for a season... We have quality items but we do NOT claim they are gugh end. Our hope is that you can afford the Tumis and Feragamoss but always be in prayers for the high end stores you shop at, if you shot at any, because many of them have at their root abuse of the less privileged to maximise profit.
If you know a high end store that support missions without abusing the poor, and pay workers well, that is where you should shop. Or even quality stores that sell things at average rate to benefit those in rural areas, shop there to put a smile on someone's face.
So back to Goshen, Canaan and Beulah - They represent distinct biblical and theological concepts at different stages of the spiritual journey. They serve different purposes and symbolise different aspects of a believer's walk with God.
What does each represent. Let us begin with Goshen. Can you tell me what or where Goshen is in the Scriptures?
Goshen
Goshen is a place of temporary protection. In the Book of Genesis, Goshen was the fertile land in Egypt where the Pharaoh allowed Joseph's family to settle during a famine. A fierce king allowed a man scorned and enslaved by his own siblings to settle in a place that served peace. That may look like what you need right now.
Goshen will serve you:
Immunity amid worldly systems. During the plagues that God sent to Egypt, Goshen was divinely protected. The Israelites living there were spared from the devastation that fell upon the Egyptians. Some of you may need to temporarily withdraw to a Goshen God will lead you to. It could be a Christian retreat centre, a place in the village or out of the country where your body, soul and spirit will kick in the peace your mind needs.
Goshen
Good, but not the final destination. The land of Goshen was a temporary blessing and a transitional point. How many people are going through transition right now. Transitions is a workshop we did with Coach Pearl that was a blessing so much so I plan to publish a book on transitions... I trust she and I can do that together.
At some point God led me to live with someone; it was Goshen. When it was time to move the Holy Spirit alerted me but I rationalise how I could be a blessing by helping the owner but things turned sour. Goshen is a place of temporary respite...
In Goshen the Israelites grew comfortable but that was NOT the final destination. In Goshen Joseph settled his family while he was Prime Minister but that was not the final destination. In Goshen there was no famine but that was not God's final destination for His most loved children. God's ultimate plan was to move them to a better place; the Promised Land.
Canaanland
Let us talk about Canaan. Who can say something about Canaanland, not the one in Otta founded by Bishop Oyedepo but the one in the Bible.
Canaan is a region of significant biblical history associated with the promise by God.
Canaan
• The promised destination. Canaan, or Canaanland, is the "Promised Land" that God swore to give to Abraham and his descendants. What has God promised you? That He will give you a future and a hope - Jeremiah 29:11. What has God promised you? That you are NOT condemned. What has God promised you. That a thousand may fall by your left side and two thousand by your right side but no tragedy will come to you. Are you in your Canaanland physically or spiritually?
As beautiful as Canaan was, there was strife and contention so Canaan equates to:
• A life of spiritual warfare and blessing. Some theologians interpret Canaan as a symbol of the abundant Christian life, which, unlike heaven, requires continuous effort and spiritual battle against sin. The Israelites had to fight to conquer and claim their inheritance, illustrating that believers must also fight to experience some blessings in Christ.
Yes God is our peace but does that mean satan will let you be. When demons want to make you angry or stir up depression you must say get thee behind me satan (Matthew 16:23). When anyone wants to infect or inject your children with vices you stand and fight because our arms are strengthened for war to claim our inheritance. Or you can use the jeje approach by handing over the child to God for full coverage. Remember that the same Bible that says our arms are strengthened for war also says the battle is of the Lord. So spiritual discernment is important. My oga at TQC (The Quadrant Company) will always say, pick your battle!
Canaan was
• The fulfillment of God's promise. This land represents the inheritance and the purpose for which God saved His people to bring us to a good end - Jeremiah 29:11 and Philippians 1:6 which offers confidence that God who began a "good work" will complete it "until the day of Jesus Christ".
Canaan is a promised place of rest but Christian are caution to seek NOT yet repose
Hymn:
Christian, seek not yet repose
Hear thy gracious Savior say
Thou art in the midst of foes
Watch and pray
Kristian, ma ti ’wa ’simi
Gbo b’Angeli re ti n'wi
Ni aarin ota l’o wa
Maa sora
Beulah
Beulah (Hebrew: בְּעוּלָ֑ה, romanised: bə‘ulā) means "married" and applies to the land the Israelites will obtain or Israelites will be joined to.
Israel is a nation that has been at war yet in the Bible we are enjoined to pray for Israel. Some may already be tired due to the recurrent war.
• Psalm 122:6: "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: 'May they be secure who love you'".
• Psalm 122:7: "May there be peace within your walls and security within your towers.
These prayers are for everyone who wants to claim God's promises for His children.
The land of Beulah is referred to in various hymns and other works. It is
• A state of final peace. In John Bunyan's Christian allegory, The Pilgrim's Progress, Beulah is a land of peace and rest that pilgrims pass through just before entering the Celestial City (heaven).
• The bride of Christ. The name "Beulah" means "married" in Hebrew, and it is used in Isaiah 62:4 to signify the restored relationship between God and His people.
Are you at this destination where your restored relationship grants you peace and you can sing joyfully:
In your presence, I am content
In Your presence I am content
In Your presence I am content
In Your presence there is light
Expressions of Your life
Revelations of Your power and might
In Your presence I can bring
My love song offering
I'm in the presence of my King
Beulah is
• The ultimate destination. Beulah represents the final, intimate union with God. The question is, is this mentally, emotionally, socially, spiritually or physically.
Unlike Canaan, it is not a place of conflict but one of joyful union and peace, representing the final stage of the believer's journey.
Which of these 3 beautiful lands are you in, i your journey of life. How can we experience Goshen, Canaan or Beulah here on earth?
A 96 year old woman I had cause to care for said to me, do you say your prayers, I said yes. She said, pray to your God to take me! Before then she said, I think I am too good for hell and not good enough for heaven, so here I sit!
This woman is NOT a believer but I enter her home and I learn so much from the way she has simplified her life. One of these days I will preach on the power of a simplicitly, surrender etc.
I tried to give her variety but she is content with a breakfast of cornflakes, half banana (not full) and milk; no sugar, sacarine or honey. Lunch of toast plus cheese with or without mayonnaise or butter. A dinner of soup or salad. Whatever extra I give to her, she accepts with utmost contentment, zero complaint and gratitude.
During a storm of life, all I could wear were my pin earrings with or without simple bracelet. I also had just a set of underwear which I kept clean by washing at night, 2 pairs of shoes... I have cases and cases of clothes and jewelleries but in a state of storm what mattered was my focus on God and I had absolute clarity of mind.
Brethren, where are you in the spiritual journey of life?
I shared 2 projects we need to embark on - 1. Graceful Living where we trust God for provision and 2. Decluttering where we give out what we have no need of or have not used in years. I will share the third in one of our next meetings but today I want you to bow down and meditate over your life.
Are there things you would want no one to see if you die today. Are there things that would become a problem or burden to others. Are you owing people so much so it appears like the heaven is closed. Is there a secret that can cause you shame that you need to let go off to enter into Goshen, Canaan or Beulah.
Please talk to God about it and take action to clear out the junk that can derail or debar your blessings or snuff out your peace.
Let me conclude by saying that the sequence I used shows the progression of the believer's life in Christian theology:
• Goshen: The beginning of the spiritual journey, a place of safety and provision in the world. But know when to leave because it is a temporary location.
• Canaanland: The stage of experiencing spiritual blessings and battles as a result of faith. Your faith will make people contend with you so never label leaders who seems to be in constant battle as contentious. Abraham kept digging wells and Philistines kept causing strife and contention. He never ended the battle so Isaac faced the same until the final well that put a stop to strife; which he named Rehoboth in Genesis 26:22 after the Philistines no longer quarreled with him over it. As long as Philistines are around you, there will be contention.
• Beulah: The final state of rest, intimacy, and union with God, just before or in heaven.
Where are you in your spiritual journey.
Ask God to restore and upgrade your relationship with Him. Ask God to draw you closer to Himself...
Song:
Draw me close to you
Never let me go
I lay it all down again
To hear you say that I'm your friend
You are my desire
No one else will do
'Cause nothing else can take your place
To feel the warmth of your embrace
Help me find the way
Bring me back to you
Chorus
You're all I want
You're all I've ever needed
You're all I want
Help me know you are near
In Conclusion
One thing to remember is that whether we are walking towards or in Goshen, Canaan or Beulah, God is calling us to be at peace with His presence, Holy Spirit, in us.
Though the Bible warns against false ease founded on pride, carelessness and complacency, we are called to be at ease and peace in the journey of life as God the storm stiller takes us to the next destination. Proverbs 1:33, Psalm 25:13
Jesus was at ease during a visible storm. When he was called to wakefulness, He did NOT begin to pray or praise, He proclaimed. He commanded the storm to be still. Mark 4:35–41
As God's daughter or son, we can do the same to every storm we face and ensure that no one takes away the peace God has given us.
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