They are full of faith and excitement as a result of magnificent promise from their God, but anxious and uncertain about what lies ahead.

Then Joshua speaks with authority and conviction, having heard from Living God.

He tells God’s people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow Lord will do amazing things among you” (Joshua 4:5).

There comes an appointed time in life of every believer – who knows, you may be there today – when God leads you to edge of your Jordan River. On other side lies future God has promised to you. It could be stability, a healthy marriage, a jump in your career, a fresh anointing or a redeemed self-esteem. God has "amazing things" planned for your life!

Behind you is wilderness of your past…the wandering, grumbling, fear, bitterness, disappointment, sin. You stare across cold, rushing river to other side, which is obscured in distance.

Consecrate ourselves? My friend, journey to other side will most likely require something of us.

“Lord, you mean I can’t take this anger and bitterness to other side?”

“Lord, I only do it every once in a while, and no one else knows about it!”

“Jesus, it’s not gossip! It’s sharing in love!”

“Father, I know it's a little trashy, but it’s only television show like that I ever watch. I’m strong enough to resist temptation.”

Let's take a step into water and let him wash that stuff away, because none of it can cross over with us.

Memories can be one of most powerful instruments used to stir up our faith. Each of us can remember a time in our life when we felt painted in a corner by our circumstances, and only by fighting good fight of faith we saw what once seemed impossible to our carnal mind become a reality.

Maybe it was a sickness, or family member running from God, and Lord supernaturally came on scene to change what seemed unchangable.

Those powerful memories of God's faithfulness and supernatural ability give us strength and tenacity to keep believing for future breakthroughs.

The psalmist said it this way: "I will remember your miracles of long ago. I will meditate on all your works and consider all your mighty deeds" (Psalm 77:11,12).

After leading them from Egypt, God encouraged his people to keep memory of his faithfulness fresh as they embarked on daunting mission of taking promised land.

"But do not be afraid of them; remember well what Lord your God did to Pharaoh and to all Egypt. You saw with your own eyes great trials, miraculous signs and wonders, mighty hand and outstretched arm, with which Lord your God brought you out" (Deut. 7: 18,19). In essence, God was saying, "Don't sweat small stuff. I brought you out once before. I'll do it again. Nothing is too hard for me."

While meditating on great things he has done in past is important, we shouldn't let memory of past limit him in our lives today.

God's wonder-working power is not limited to box we often confine him to in our head.

Keep in mind, reason Jesus could perform no mighty acts in his own hometown was unbelief of people.

In other words, people of that town had tied God's hands. Their limited mindsets and inability to see beyond who Jesus had been to them in past kept them from receiving in "here and now."

For years, I prayed and prayed that members of my family would come to Christ. However, most of time I don't think I really brought my request to God in faith.

When I personally met Christ at age 14, several members of my family had responded negatively to my born-again experience and zeal for Lord. Until a couple years ago, I took memory of their resistance to gospel with me every time I approached Jesus in prayer.