POINT #2 – DURATION = SPIRITUAL STAMINA
Read Joshua 14:9-11 ERV “So that day Moses made a promise to me. He said, ‘The land where you went will become your land. Your children will own that land forever. I will give you that land because you really believed in the Lord, my God.’ “Now the Lord has kept me alive for 45 more years – as he said he would. During that time we all wandered in the desert. Now, here I am, 85 years old. I am still as strong today as I was the day Moses sent me out. I am as ready to fight as I was then.”
Caleb is reminding Joshua about the promise from God that Moses gave to him 45 years ago. The promise that Caleb would get to take possession of the promised land. And that Caleb’s children would own the land forever. God promised Caleb this because Caleb chose to believe in the Lord with all of his heart. Remember, we talked about how Caleb had an abundance of God’s word in his heart? Caleb is telling Joshua that God has been faithful and true to his word, by keeping him alive for another 45 years so he could have the land that God promised him 45 years ago. Caleb is now 85 years old. He has been waiting, patiently, to take and possess this land for 45 years.
Discussion Questions
- Have you ever waited for something or someone for a really long time? What/who was it? How long did you wait? How did you feel while you were waiting?
- Did you feel like giving up? Like maybe it was going to happen or that person was never going to come?
- Did you complain or get upset or mad?
- How did you feel when it finally happened? Or when that person finally got to you?
Sometimes we have to patiently wait on God, just like Caleb did. What does it mean to PATIENTLY WAIT for someone or something? (allow your child to answer: to stay calm when dealing with a difficult situation, task or person) Is it hard to patiently wait? (allow your child to answer) Why do you think it is hard to stay calm and not be upset while waiting for something or someone? (allow your child to answer)
This is something God asks us to do. He asks us to wait for Him. Sometimes our promises from God don’t come right when we think they should or when we want them to come. Caleb had to wait 45 years. Think about how long that would be. You haven’t even been alive for 45 years yet! That is a really long time to wait for something. But, Caleb did it! And, you know what? If Caleb did it, so can we. When we are strong and do something for a really long time, this is called STAMINA. We need to have SPIRITUAL STAMINA when to overcome the enemy in our life. We need to have the power and strength to keep patiently waiting for God and His perfect timing.
Scripture Memory Verse
“We don’t want you to be lazy. We want you to be like those who, because of their faith and patience, will get what God has promised.” – Hebrews 6:12 ERV
Prayer
Jesus, thank you for the example we have in Caleb, to help us learn about patiently waiting for a promise. Thank you for this example to help us know that it is worth it to wait on you, even though it is hard sometimes. Holy Spirit, we ask you to help us increase in our spiritual stamina and patience. While we are waiting on you, Lord, help us to have a good attitude, and to not become tired of waiting, or become angry because we don’t have our promise yet. We want to have strong, powerful SPIRITUAL STAMINA in our life with you. It’s in your name that we pray, Jesus, amen.
Activities
Ideas to practice patience…
Play the silent “mouse” game
Play “I Spy” game
Bake
Work a puzzle
Grow a plant
Go fishing
Paint and wait for it to dry 🙂
Worship Song
“Dancing Through the Fire”