This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
Joshua 1:8 NKJV
When I realized God truly wants us to prosper, I was stunned. The so-called “prosperity gospel” has tainted the idea of success for Christians. John prayed for his readers to prosper (3 John 1:1). Paul made a connection between giving and prospering (1 Cor. 16:2).
God gave Joshua (and us) the key to prosperity in our focal verse. Stay tethered to the Word of God. God told Joshua to do three things in this verse.
First, the Word had to be on his lips. We forfeit much power when we fail to speak the Word. Jesus quoted Scripture to the devil when He was tempted (Matt. 4:1-11). When Satan whispers in our ears to lure us from God’s law, we can quote the Word. When he plants thoughts of discouragement, disillusionment, and disappointment, we should quote the Word. As we pray, we can remind God of His promises and pray through the Word. Keep the Word on our lips.
Next, God told Joshua to meditate on the Word. Choose a verse and roll it around in your mind throughout the day. Filling our minds with Scripture will keep our minds renewed (Rom. 12:1-2).
Then God told Joshua to observe the law. Be obedient. Joshua and the Israelites were about to enter Canaan, which was inhabited with pagan people. God knew how easily His people could slip into the ungodly ways of that culture. My friend, we aren’t immune to aligning with the world today. It slips in so gradually. What worldly reasons do we offer for missing church or Bible study? We’ll throw modesty out the window and dress like the world. The culture’s music and methods have even slipped into the church.
Speak the Word. Think the Word. Do the Word. And we will make our way prosperous and have good success.
Do you know how we can do this when we set our minds to it? Each one of us has at least one Bible. Joshua was the only one with the copy of the law, the first five books of the Bible. Joshua wasn’t just a military leader. He was a spiritual leader too. Imagine the enormous responsibility upon his shoulders teaching the Israelites the Word.
God wants us to be prosperous with His recipe for success in this verse. We just can’t confuse our idea of prosperity with God’s desires.
Prosperity isn’t controlling your world. Prosperity is your world being controlled by God.
Commit with me today to stay in close proximity to the Word. Speak it. Think it. Do it.
Lord God, thank You for the Holy Bible. Help us crave it, absorb it, and live it. Enable our minds to remember it. Lord Your Word never goes forth void. Amen.
DIG DEEPER
Read Joshua 1:1-9.
HIKING THE TRAIL
I have referenced many Scriptures in this devotional. Turn in your Bible to the ones you feel led to study. A devotional is never a replacement for the Word.
OVERCOMING THE OVERWHELMING: WALKING IN VICTORIOUS FAITH WHEN YOU DON’T FEEL VICTORIOUS…a 30-day devotional by Carolyn Dale Newell
Each day, as you traverse life’s trials, Overcoming the Overwhelming will inspire you to keep pressing forward. It will be your light in the midst of darkness. As you read you will:
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Originally posted on January 10, 2020 @ 3:11 am