Text: Joshua 13:1-6 Theme: The Promised Land still had many challenges Key verses: “When Joshua was old and well advanced in years, the Lord said to him, ‘You are very old, and there are still large areas of land to be taken over.” (v. 1) “As for all the inhabitants of the mountain regions…I myself will drive them out before the Israelites. Be sure to allocate this land to Israel for an inheritance, as I have instructed you, and divide it as an inheritance among the nine tribes…” (v. 6-7) What God said to me: Notice that even after Joshua had invested his entire adult life in combating tribes within the promised land, there were still more enemies and problems to confront. As long as you are on this earth, there will be times and seasons of battle. There will be people and groups who reject your message, even persecute you for your faith and your stand for me. You should expect this until your dying day. From this you will never retire. Of course, I will never place on you or expect more of you than you can bear or deliver. I told Joshua I myself would drive out certain hard to reach areas. Dwayne, I will always be there to pick up your slack, to handle what you physically and spiritually cannot. Just be sure you do what I have commanded and instructed you. “Be sure,” I told Joshua. “Be sure” I am telling you today. Don’t miss your God-given responsibilities. Don’t use excuses like you’re busy or tired or overwhelmed. Finish the tasks I have placed on you. The work will never be done, but your work can be completed. That is what I will hold you accountable for. What I said to God: Lord, praise You and thank You for speaking clearly to my spirit and my heart this morning. I have noticed myself becoming more lazy and not wanting to make time for you as much lately. My zeal and passion for the lost has waned. My enthusiasm for our ministry to worship leaders and churches has suffered too. Please forgive me for losing sight of what You have called me to do. I accept that my work will continue for as long as I am on this earth. I love You. But I must love You more…
Text: Joshua 12 Theme: Joshua lists all the kings of the lands the Israelites had conquered. Key verses: “These are the kings of the land whom the Isralelites had defeated and whose territory they took over east of the Jordan…” (v. 1a) “Moses, the servant of the Lord, and the Israelistes conquered them. And Moses…gave their land to the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manesseh to be theri possession. These are the kings of the land that Joshua and the Israelites conquered on the west side of the Jordan…” (v. 6-7) “thirty-one kings in all.” (v. 24) What God said to me: Dwayne, first of all, welcome back. This is the place I want you to be the most - sitting at my feet, listening and meditating on my words, writing down what I show you and your response. Dwayne, you must be careful to beat your body and bring it into submission, lest after you have preached to and taught others you yourself should become a castaway of the faith. Stay with this journaling. No matter how tired or busy or uninterested or distracted or lazy you may feel, don’t let your written, ample time with me slide. Remember Matthew 6:33! Seek me in private and I will reward you in public. The principle is simple and unchanging. I will multiply your production time if you prioritize quality, expectant time with me… Now, regarding this chapter. It was important for Joshua to put in writing every single victory over every king and land. People forget quickly. Facts and details become blurred over time. For their children and their grandchildren, for both themselves and for all of us to come, Joshua knew he had to take time to get the facts straight and down on scroll. He was accurate, specific and to the point. Where is the lesson for you, my son? From time to time, it a good and healthy practice for you to write down your victories and revisit them occasionally. There would be more fearful and doubting times for the Israelites in the years to come. Imagine the encouragement they could draw from reading about these great victories of their past. So it is with you. I have brought many good days of victory to you. Write them down. Tuck them away, and pull them out on those rainy days when it seems I have forgotten you or you are feeling defeated or discouraged. What I said to God: Thank you, Father, for meeting with me this morning. Thank you for never giving up on me. Forgive me for not prioritizing my journaling. Also, I know I must deliberately witness for You every day and every week. Grant me an open door today.
It has been over two months since I last entered a journal post from my quiet times. Mind you, I’ve had some strong and connsistent times alone in God’s Word over these past several weeks. Nonetheless, there is nothing that can replace the discipline of journaling what God is teaching me. It galvanizes my mind and requires me to listen closer and think deeper. My excuse for being absent from this website visitation? My laptop, which I use when I journal, has been on the blink. Yea, I know. That isn’t much of a reason. But there it is. The inconvenience and distraction of using my work computer should not have hindered me from remaining faithful to my journaling. Yet, I allowed that very thing to happen. Well, now the laptop’s fixed and I’m back to journaling in Joshua again! Thanks to all my readers who have gently prayed and encouraged me during my absense!