Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room
March 12, 2023
Read Joshua 3:7-17
7 The LORD said to Joshua, “Today I will begin to make you great in the opinion of all Israel. Then they will know that I will be with you in the same way that I was with Moses. 8 You are to command the priests who carry the covenant chest, ‘As soon as you come to the bank of the Jordan, stand still in the Jordan.’” 9 Joshua said to the Israelites, “Come close. Listen to the words of the LORD your God.” 10 Then Joshua said, “This is how you will know that the living God is among you and will completely remove the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites, and Jebusites before you. 11 Look! The covenant chest of the ruler of the entire earth is going to cross over in front of you in the Jordan. 12 Now pick twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one per tribe. 13 The soles of the priests’ feet, who are carrying the chest of the LORD, ruler of the whole earth, will come to rest in the water of the Jordan. At that moment, the water of the Jordan will be cut off. The water flowing downstream will stand still in a single heap.” 14 The people marched out from their tents to cross over the Jordan. The priests carrying the covenant chest were in front of the people. 15 When the priests who were carrying the chest came to the Jordan, their feet touched the edge of the water. The Jordan had overflowed its banks completely, the way it does during the entire harvest season. 16 But at that moment the water of the Jordan coming downstream stood still. It rose up as a single heap very far off, just below Adam, which is the city next to Zarethan. The water going down to the desert sea (that is, the Dead Sea) was cut off completely. The people crossed opposite Jericho. 17 So the priests carrying the LORD’s covenant chest stood firmly on dry land in the middle of the Jordan. Meanwhile, all Israel crossed over on dry land, until the entire nation finished crossing over the Jordan.
Good Morning, What a mighty God we serve!
What fears do you have? Most humans have some type of fear. These fears often manifest themselves as an inability to move forward. Some of our fears are rooted in some trauma that we have faced directly in our own life or indirectly in a loved one’s life. Over our lifetime, some fears, like the common childhood fear of the dark, fade away while others, like those connected to medical issues, may intensify.
I held a piano recital for my students each year as a piano teacher. Some fearlessly and effortlessly came up and played their piece. Others fidgeted nervously as they awaited their turn to play. I suffered many years at my own recitals, not over being able to play in front of people but over wanting to play my piece perfectly. This perfectionism trait caused me much angst over many years. I set very high expectations for myself, and was (and am) my worst critic.
I love sharing the gift of music with which God blessed me. I have told many people that playing the piano is like breathing. As I matured as a Christian, I developed a more realistic approach to playing “perfectly.” I adopted a new attitude to let go of the perfectionism ideals and let God work through me as I play. This doesn’t mean that I don’t prepare and practice (and I do because I want to do my best), but when I feel the butterflies building, I take a moment and pray to God. “Creator God, may the music within me flow through me so that others may be blessed.”
For the priests who stepped into that water, they were carrying the Ark of the Covenant, and they were being entrusted with keeping it from harm. They were also being asked to have faith in front of the whole nation of Israel to step into the raging waters and believe the words that God had given to Joshua. There was no practice run. They had to step out in faith, and through their faith, Israel would occupy their promised land.
Knowing God, Thank You for being with us. Thank you! You give us many examples of faith! Help us to stand strong as we face our fears. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen
Thought for the day: What fears do I need God to help me conquer today?
Believe in God! Pastor Liz
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