Necessary Ingredients for Success

Text: Joshua 1:6-9 Theme: God gave Joshua 5 directives necessary for him to prosper. Key verses: “Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land…” (v. 6) “Be careful to obey all the law…do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Do not let this Book…depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night…” (v. 7-8) “…Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord you God will be with you wherever you go.” What God said to me: Dwayne, life is not complicated. My instructions are rather simple on how to live successfully in this life. I gave to Joshua the vision of how I planned to use him and to bless my people through him. Then in this passage, the “ball” was put in Joshua’s court. I had my role down pat. I wasn’t about to budge on my responsibilities and my part in this grand plan. However, Joshua had some things he had to do as well. He wasn’t expected to walk on water or move mountains with his bare hands. Rather I gave him five simple and very doable directions. They are: 1) Be strong, 2) Be courageous, 3) Be careful to obey, 4) Do meditate constantly on my Word, 5) Don’t be afraid or discouraged. These are the 5 elements you, too, must apply and live by if you are to accomplish my will in your life. If you are to live out your potential and experience true success and prosperity in me, then you must decide from this day forward to the be’s, do’s, and don’t’s of this profoundly clear and promising passage. What I said to God: Dear Lord, dear Father, holy and powerful God, I praise You for being the wise God and loving Shepherd You are. Thank You for giving us Your Word. Thank You that Your concise instructions still apply, not just to Joshua and great men of old, but also to Your children today. I choose to be strong in You. No wimpy thinking or acting from me. I choose to be courageous, moving in the forward direction right toward the enemy’s camp and territory. I choose to obey, most carefully and articulately reading and doing Your every command and desire. I choose to meditate on Your revealed and written Word continually and not turn away from it for anything or anyone. I choose not to be afraid of the terror by night or the arrow that flies by day. I will not wallow in discouragement; recognizing instead that You have not given us such spirits. You have given us Your Spirit of love and power and a sound mind. Thank You for making these directives simple and easy to understand. By Your power and grace I will live these out in my life. How success ultimately looks in my life and in my family’s lives is up to You. But, how it is defined is already clearly known: We will succeed when and if we fulfill your will for us on this earth.