"Then Joshua told the people, “Purify yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do great wonders among you.” (Joshua 3:5)
This verse has became extremely important to me last year when the Lord told me to turn off a certain television show that I was watching at 10:00 once a week. It was a show that, well let just say did not promote godly values. I spend time with the Lord every morning and have for over 10 years now so I did could understand why I could not watch what I wanted to watch at night.
The Lord, through this verse and an incredible book I now count as the most influentical books I have ever read other than His the Word of God, taught me that God has something planned for tomorrow. Allow me to quote from i am not but i know I AM: Welcome to the story of God by Louie Giglio. Louie writes that we are "i am nots" playing the part of supporting roles beside the star of the story, God, the great I AM.
"And God said, "Let there be light, and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and He separated the light from the darkness. God called the light day and darkness night. And there was evening and morning the first day....It was evening and morning, the first day. In other words night comes first, where darkness reigns, morning in the middle, and then daytime, which fades into night where a new day begins again. That seems a little odd to us, and maybe even backward, but it makes perfect sense in the economy of God...We go to sleep and God goes to work. And we wake up to see what God has done."
This excerpt supports Joshua's command to the Israelites. God was going to do something amazing among them the next day in His story. He wanted them to a part of it and needed them to prepare. Purify, sanctify in the NKJ version, meant to wash, deal with your sin, and perhaps even make a sacrifice.
We serve the same God as Joshua. This same God wants to do something amazing among us each new day. Are we ready to wake up and join the story of God? Are we purifying ourselves each night or filling up with things that are not pure? Mediatating on the "Book of Instruction day and night" (Joshua 1:8) will prepare us for our supporting role each day in the story of God.
P.S. I highly recommend i am not but i know I AM. It is truly one of the greatest books I have ever read. Please visit ShopP31 at www.proverbs31.org to see and purchase the book. I wanted to provide a direct link today but our site must be having problems, our home page will not load. I promise, it is a book you will be glad you read.
P.S. I highly recommend i am not but i know I AM. It is truly one of the greatest books I have ever read. Please visit ShopP31 at www.proverbs31.org to see and purchase the book. I wanted to provide a direct link today but our site must be having problems, our home page will not load. I promise, it is a book you will be glad you read.
15 Comments:
Glad you are home safe and had a good time.
Today's reading was good.
Lynn
WOW- what an interesting thought. "We go to sleep and God goes to work. And we wake up to see what God has done." Have to ponder that one longer.
I would love to claim that verse in Joshua for our family situation right now...especially with no end in sight..."tomorrow the Lord will do great wonders among you". Further down, in verse 10, we read, "Today you will know that the living God is among you". I'd take that one too!
Just as the Levitical priests carried the Ark and led the way for the Israelites, I am looking to the Lord to give direction in my circumstances right now, "Since you have never traveled this way before..." Joshua 3:4.
I love how God remembered Rahab and rescued her. I know God remembers me to, and will provide a way through my "Jordan River". He will provide as I stand in the "middle" of my "Jordan", and He'll keep the waters of disappointment, despair and doubt from overflowing and drowning me. I will come through this with precious stones of remembrance.
Removing my sandals, for the place where I am standing is holy ground,
Joy
Good Morning Gals,
Moses dying was sad; I really wanted him to enter the promised land; however, a new faithful servant comes into the picture. Oh, if my faith was like Joshua's!
Back in Exodus, Moses had commanded Joshua to fight the army of Amalek's...and he did what Moses cammanded. Then, in today's reading, Joshua had his fighting army ready...God explained to him how Jericho was going to be taken. Joshua did everything that was commanded to him, without any questioning! He reminded the army,"To not shout; do not even talk,...not a single word from any of you until I tell you to shout, Then shout!" I'm sure they MUST have been thinking, we are ready to fight, I thought we were going to fight, physically...but, Joshua's faith in God allowed him to lead this group...This battle was won by their FAITH! If my eyes could look with eyes of faith, like Joshua's did! Our insecurities tend to overwhelm us; if we could live our life day to day, having the faith to believe we are in God's hands. God caused the walls to fall down! His ways are never the way we think our situation will pan out! His ways are better-always! If we could only trust in Him.
Phil. $:13 "For I can do everything through Christ, who give me strength." O.T. or N.T., the denominator in any victory remains consistent.
The faith of our ancestors, beginning with this one special nation has been passed down to our generation! Over and over the Word impresses upon us to pass down what we know to our children. It is our responsibility to let them "know that the LORD's hand is powerfull."
Twice in the 3rd chapter, it stated, the "Lord of the whole earth..." Our God is mighty, there is nothing He can not do. Reading about the miracles performed strengthens my faith in God.
"So the LORD was with Joshua, and his reputation spread throughout the land." I want to be known by my faith. I want to walk with faith like Joshua did.
On a different note now, :) Do you ever write something, and then later on, reread it and think, Oh, I did not mean it to sound like that...well, I want to clarify something that I wrote yesterday...when I said my "husband was knowledgable" I meant, biblically knowlegable, I did not mean to be bragging about how smart he is...Because he went to a religious school, they took religion classes. But, after talking to him more about this, I realized they only studied the O.T. Can you imagine?????? But, they did take the O.T. and study it verse by verse in all translations...I love the wisdom God is so graciously granting me with all of you! Never, have I been able to stick with it, and read the O.T. book by book. It excites me to flip through the pages we've been through together! Pretty soon, it'll be the whole book! Together we will meet this goal!
Lastly, :) I loved the verse you mentioned yesterday, Kristen--- and added it the one I pray over before reading each time. My verse: Luke 24:45 "Then he opened their minds so they could understand the scriptures."
Lord, I pray that you open each one of our minds today to get a little nugget from you. The enemy will do his best to turn each of us from you. I pray today that each one of us is blessed by your precious Word. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Happy Monday girls...you will each be in my prayers today.
Hugs & blessings,
Lori - Mesa, AZ
And it wasn't until day 4, that God created the sun, moon and stars, the very things that we receive earthly light from. So on day one, it was all about HIM, he was the light that separated the darkness. He was the light that shone to begin the creation process. He is such an amazing God. And it will be his light that begins the transformation in our lives, nothing more could ever.
I look forward to the great wonders HE will do in my life... thanks Wendy
Dear sweet sister's I'm having this light-bulb moment and I do hope it's ok to share again...as I was showering this morning, I kept thinking about those walls just falling down. I thought back to Joshua again...being the leader of the army and all...Exodus 17: 10 "So Joshua did what Moses had commanded and fought the army of Amalek...(verse 14) After the victory, the LORD instucted Moses, "Write this down on a scroll as a permanent reminder and read it aloud to Joshua: I will erase the memory of Amalek from under heaven."
I'm guessing that since Joshua had previous war experience that he believed there would be "fighting" involved. God had his own idea. A completely different approach; one that you and I would never think of! And, it just became so very clear to me that, that is how God is. He is all-knowing. He knows the future, which we do not. He knows better ways, ways that we wouldn't even dream of. Looking back over my life, I can see so many things he orchestrated. Things I would never think possible. What got me thinking about this actually was Joy's father...we want him healed. We want the best for him, just like we want the best for our own children...God wants what is best for His children too...He already has it figured out! He knows the outcome. His ways are always the best...now, do we walk in faith? I never have seen this picture before...the light bulb (with me) finally went off! We walk in faith, believing God knows best and HE will take care of Joy's father. We lay it before him. Oh, to be like Abraham. "he did not waver through unbelief...but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised." This is why it was credited to him as righteousness. The words "it was credited to him were written not for him alone, but also for us, to who God will credit righteousness--for us who believe in him..."
Romans 4:16-24
I so want to be remembered by my faith. I finally get it. This has been such an eye-opening morning to me. I've read these scriptures over and over, but just really did not fully grasp the deeper meaning. We are Abraham's offspring too! I don't want to be remembered by my deeds, I want to be remembered by my faith. Oh dear Lord, increase my faith to believe YOU can do what You say you can do! Your Words are alive and active in me! Praise YOU, LORD! I love you all...
I just had to share again...God is so good...I'm praying he touches each one of you today...
Lori - Mesa, AZ
Thank you Jesus for all of these precious ladies. We give you all the praise, honor and glory!
Karen in OR
Sweet Ladies, I was so excited to read today's reading because we covered these exact passages in our Bible study at church yesterday. I wanted to share some of the nuggets I gleaned from our pastor.
He pointed out how the Levites carried the Ark of the Covenant in front of the Israelites, as they were getting ready for battle at Jericho. Not only did the Ark hold the ten commandments, the jar of manna, and Aaron's staff, it served as the place where God came to sit. It was His throne. Just as a king leads a charge into battle, God, the King, was leading the Israelites into their battle.
We also discussed the crossing of the Jordan. Unlike what the History Channel attempts to convince us (that the Jordan was just a trickle), Joshua 3:15 (NIV) says it was at "flood stage." Because of this, when the Levites stepped into the water, a huge wall of water was formed where the Jordan quit flowing. (Sound familiar!) This was the same way the Israelites entered the desert. Now they were exiting in the same way. This new generation of Israelites were being in a sense baptized, and recommitting to the covenant with God through circumcision, too.
Finally, notice in Joshua 4:19 that it says this occurred "on the tenth day of the first month." This is the exact calendar day that the Israelites readied the Passover lamb for Passover (only it is 40 years later.) What timing!
I love the richness of God's details. Isn't He awesome!
Good Afternoon Ladies,
Wendy, I am so glad you are back and had a wonderful time with the ladies talking about the Lord. Yes, girlfriend I think we did have church; it was an amazing weekend on the blog.
Here’s my nugget for the day:
I spoke not too long ago on “The Season of Waiting”, how God takes us through different stages of our lives. Sometimes it isn’t what we want to happen and we quickly want out of the situation, but it is God’s timing not ours. Along the same lines that Lori was saying. I am really careful when I pray specifically for something, because I don’t know if it is God’s will. I pray for God to be in the situation and for him to work it out according to His will. (hope that makes sense)
Back to Joshua, he could have gone into Jericho with horse blazing and swords drawn and defied God. He didn’t he simply marched around a wall and shouted. He listened and waited on God. I love that God remembered Rahab and her family as well, letting them escape. He does have a well orchestrated plan. There is a “Season of Waiting” I think for all of us, different things for different people. But He knows when the seasons need to change, not us.
It is a lovely spring day here in VA. I found it very odd that when I drove up to an appointment today to find a large pile of snow still here from the large snow fall we got back at the beginning of March. Is that crazy or what?
See ya,
Diane
Wendy, Glad to hear you had a wonderful weekend and a safe trip.
Joy, I look forward to reading an update on your dad.
Very interesting and thought provoking entries today! How the day really begins at dusk...really love pondering on this one. Lori's comment was beautiful...wanting to be known by our faith rather than our deeds. This comes full circle with your second comment; be ready for God's approach not our approach (which ultimately is deeds). Wow!!!
After today's reading, I was really drawn to Joshua 5:13 - 15 "The Commander of the LORDS Army". I was wondering if this was indicating spiritual warfare or something else. Searching on-line commentaries such as Bible Gateway, they say this is the Son of God. Regardless, God took control of this situation and this war was fought like none before it. What an ahh-haa day!
Lori - I could fee the fire the Holy Spirit lit in you today! It is infectious!
thanks for sharing all...
Morgen - MN
Loved all the comments ladies!
My Nugget:
Father, help me to arise every morning with great expectations of your work while I was asleep.
Miracles are birthed out of great expectations.
Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.
Eph 3:20
Blessings!
Debbie - North Carolina
Nancy,
After reading your thought on verse 13, I looked it up in my study Bible...comments stated:
"The experience is taken by many to be an encounter with God in human form, or with Christ. But angels also were sent on missions of this kind (Judges 6:11; 13:3)
God has sent the commander of his heavenly armies to take charge of the battle on earth... Joshua must take orders from him...my Lord, a term of respect for a superior."
What my thought keeps going back to is when that "permanent reminder on the scroll was shown to him by Moses." [Exodus 17:14]I'm guessing he had an idea that they were going to wipe them out, because it was told to him by Moses...but, I'm sure he thought it would be done in a different manner. And, even, in my experiences when God has told me something, it's like I want to believe, but until it actually happens, my faith has not always been totally there like Joshua's is in today's reading. When he was told what to do, can you imagine what he might have been thinking...to have the faith like he did! He truly walked in faith. Gives me goosebumbs just thinking about it!
Yes, this had been an ahh-haa day!
:) Lori - Mesa, AZ
PS Lovin' all your comments gals!!!
So much to ponder on today...I'm having a hard time getting anything done today! :)
Good reading today. Thanks to everyone who cleared up the the verses on The Lord's commander.
Debbie-I love your prayer:
Father, help me to arise every morning with great expectations of your work while I was asleep. I pray that also.
Debra
Hey Lori,
Thanks for the added research. This further implements the importance of walking by faith...knowing that God is living amongst us. Wow, what a day. It's been a joy to read everyone's comments.
Nancy
I can hardly wait every morning till there is time to sit down and read my Bible, then come here and read Wendy's words of wisdom,then what the rest of you are writing. I love it, love it. For the first time I am enjoying reading the OT....and I have read the whole Bible a number of times, but not with the understanding all you girlfriends are adding to it. You all are amazing me. This is just what I needed this year!
Jan TN
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