Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room
July 4, 2022
Read Joshua 1:1-9
1 After Moses the LORD’s servant died, the LORD spoke to Joshua, Nun’s son. He had been Moses’ helper. 2 “My servant Moses is dead. Now get ready to cross over the Jordan with this entire people to the land that I am going to give to the Israelites. 3 I am giving you every place where you set foot, exactly as I promised Moses. 4 Your territory will stretch from the desert and the Lebanon as far as the great Euphrates River, including all Hittite land, up to the Mediterranean Sea on the west. 5 No one will be able to stand up against you during your lifetime. I will be with you in the same way I was with Moses. I won’t desert you or leave you. 6 Be brave and strong, because you are the one who will help this people take possession of the land, which I pledged to give to their ancestors. 7 “Be very brave and strong as you carefully obey all of the Instruction that Moses my servant commanded you. Don’t deviate even a bit from it, either to the right or left. Then you will have success wherever you go. 8 Never stop speaking about this Instruction scroll. Recite it day and night so you can carefully obey everything written in it. Then you will accomplish your objectives and you will succeed. 9 I’ve commanded you to be brave and strong, haven’t I? Don’t be alarmed or terrified, because the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
Good morning! God is with us wherever we go!
Happy 4th of July! I pray that our country will be a safe haven for us today! Let us focus on celebrating the hope and possibilities of what we might be as a nation under God. We must be the light on the hill so that all God’s children may find their way home.
Today’s passage from Joshua reminds us that God is with us always. Most of us experience seasons of change within our lives. Whether the change is large or small, change implies that something will be different. We can be stubborn and resist it, or we can embrace it as we look for what is good versus focusing on what we fear. Joshua was suddenly thrust into the role of leading the Israelites across the Jordan River and into the promised land.
For Joshua, I imagine this seems like a daunting task because he is to follow Moses as the new leader of God’s children. Moses, who had gained their freedom from the Pharoah and led them out of Egypt has died, and now Joshua has been handed great responsibility. With God by his side, Joshua stepped up and took his first step of faith towards this new land.
What rivers, valleys, or mountains does God call us to cross? Remember the first time that you left home. Maybe it was for a sleepover or a week at camp. Were you scared, anxious, or excited? Sometimes we have to go back home before we planned, but we must always be ready to try again.
God will give us as many opportunities as are required so that we may follow our calling. We are called to risk the failure that sometimes accompanies change because without change we become stagnant and mired in the mud. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
I can hear my Savior calling,
I can hear my Savior calling,
I can hear my Savior calling,
"Take thy cross and follow, follow Me."
Refrain:
Where He leads me I will follow,
Where He leads me I will follow,
Where He leads me I will follow,
I'll go with Him, with Him all the way.
Loving and Gracious God, Thank You for loving us. We are often scared of change. Help us trust in Your plan and follow You. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen
Thought for the day: I will let God be my guide, this day and every day.
Embrace God’s changes in your life! Pastor Liz
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