Into the promised land

Into the promised land

Into The Promised Land is a book by Jeanette Howard (author of Out of Egypt). This is a great resource for all who struggle with same sex attraction (men & women!) and for those who counsel them.

“Although any of the following is possible, our reward for a faithful walk away from homosexuality is not marriage and children, unambiguous heterosexuality or even a powerful life of ministry. Our reward is resting in God’s perfect plan for our life.”

Sounds tough, doesn’t it? Isn’t this what we all ultimately long for, to be content and at peace no matter our circumstances?

So we have come out of Egypt, decided to leave homosexuality behind us. But what now? The wilderness lies between us and the promised land of peace. In this book, Jeanette shares from her own painful experiences why we need to spend time in the wilderness, and what happens with us while we are there.

There are some questions we need to ask ourselves before proceeding into the “meat” of the book:

• Am I willing to admit my struggles and explore the freedom of being real in Christ?
• Where is my security really?
• Have I the courage to stand against popular opinion?
• Are there still some of the treasures of Egypt that I carry around from day to day, almost like a comfort blanket?

Are we willing to face the truth of these questions in our lives? If so, then jump into this book – it contains so many pearls of great value to us.

The wilderness is all about God teaching us to live in weakness, completely dependent upon His strength. It is about learning to surrender everything to Him, not just the parts we are happy with, but also the weakest parts of ourselves. It is here that we learn about the enemies we will face, and the boundaries we need to set. This is where we fight our internal battle, and learn to “be”, so that we are prepared and armed to fight the external battles when we claim the Promised Land. It is not something to rush through, but a time of simply being with God and learning to trust Him in everything.

Once we step into the Promised Land, the battle is not over. Now we need to practise everything we have learned. The resources that were available to Joshua are available to us today – the Bible, the voice of God, the leadership of Jesus and the freedom to obey. We need to maintain an eternal perspective, learn to be content, and find true joy in the presence of God. It is only in the presence of God that we will be able to discern the lies of the enemy, and the untruths in the “voice of reason” of public opinion.

For some, choosing this road will mean learning to live with loss – the loss of intimate companionship, the loss of never having children. It is only possible to overcome these losses when our love for God exceeds anything we might experience in a human relationship. We need to be “in love with God”, or we will never move on from our object of loss.

 “Maturing in Christ requires an ever-broadening vision that compels us to meet other people’s needs rather than seek our own comfort, to serve rather than be served, and to know that, as we daily pick up our cross, we are walking in the footsteps of our Lord.”

“As you make progress through the Promised Land, you will encounter strongholds and difficulties. There will be people who oppose you and others who tempt you to stray from your determined path. But there will be many fellow pilgrims pursuing a similar holy goal. Let their commitment and determination encourage you in your efforts so that you, too, may encourage those who follow.”

Copies are available from the TfT office, price £7.99 (including p&p). Please contact us if you would like a copy or order it from Amazon.