24 days of Joshua

I forgot I had this post written and saved…but never actually published it. I was reminded when I read Angela’s Daily Word post yesterday – it’s good, check it out.

There are 24 chapters in the book of Joshua. In the first chapter, the Lord commands Joshua, “Do not let his Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so you may be careful to do everything written in it.” When I read that first chapter on January 1st, I knew immediately I was to read a chapter every day – and night.

And so for the first 24 days of the year I have read each chapter twice, once in the morning, once at night. After my second time through each chapter, I journaled the most outstanding thought or concept I took away after the second reading.

Here are a few:

Joshua 1: Be strong & courageous. I am the Lord your God and WILL NEVER leave or forsake you.

Joshua 2: God can cause the hearts and courage of our enemies to MELT.

Joshua 3: The Lord of all the earth goes before us, piling up in a heap all of the things that could carry us away or destroy us.

Joshua 4: HE did this so that all the people of the earth might know that the hand of the Lord is powerful.

Joshua 5: After we see a move a God we are much more likely to accept with radical obedience, God’s instructions.

Joshua 7: Joshua was confident, fearless, and courageous when God was doing the work…when God steps back, fear and discouragement  take over.

Joshua 10: When you are OBEDIENT to what God is telling you do do – specifically – you can ask for help and He will help you achieve it!

Joshua 11: Our enemies/obstacles can be as numerous as the sands on a seashore….God promised to deliver us from each and every one.

Joshua 13: There are somethings you can do and other things that GOD HIMSELF will take care of.

Joshua 14: Follow the Lord and obey wholeheartedly – it make take years but God will sustain you and give you strength until you reap your inheritance.

Joshua 15: How long will you wait to take possession of the land your God has promised you?

Joshua 24: It is HE, the Lord, who has gone before me. He has watched over me, fought for me, protected me, and carved a path for me.  If I obey (irrationally) he will work out the details so that I can conquer it.

When I look at the book as a whole, I am overwhelmed with Joshua’s lifelong obedience to God’s commands. He did crazy stuff and succeeded constantly. God revealed himself to Joshua in amazing ways. He showed up and did the impossible while Joshua did the possible.

The conclusion of this journey gave me SO MUCH PEACE. Peace knowing He is constantly fighting for me (and has been all my life), and peace knowing that when I obey he will go before me and work it out.