GOD SPEAKS IN THE PAST TENSE

I was rereading the story of the Jericho miracle, and I noticed something I had never seen before.  During devotions one day, one phrase jumped off the page and into my spirit: “Now the gates of Jericho were securely barred because of the Israelites.  No one went out and no one came in.  Then the Lord said to Joshua, ‘See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands.’" (Joshua 6:1-2)

Did you catch the verb tense?  God speaks in the past tense, not the future tense.  He doesn't say, "I will deliver."  God says, "I have delivered."  The significance is this:  The battle was won before the battle even began.  God had already given them the city.  All they had to do was circle it.

As I read this story, I felt as though the Spirit of God said to my spirit, "Stop praying for it and start praising Me for it."  True faith doesn't just celebrate ex post facto, after the miracle has already happened; true faith celebrates before the miracle happens, as if the miracle has already happened, because you know that … God is going to deliver on His promise.

-- Mark Batterson in The Circle Maker

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