Topic: Joshua Prepares for Success (Joshua 1:1-9)
Preparation is a crucial step in our walk with God. It's about more than just reading the Bible or going to church. We must immerse ourselves in God's Word, allow it to shape our thoughts, our actions and our attitudes. It re-aligns our hearts with God's, allowing His desires to become our desires. It's about equipping ourselves with the tools we need to fulfill the purpose God has for us.
God didn't just tell Joshua to prepare, He told him exactly how to prepare. He told him to meditate on the Book of the Law day and night. Meditation is not just about reading the Word. It's about reflecting on it, pondering it, allowing it to sink deep into our hearts. It's about allowing the Word to shape our thoughts and our actions.
Meditation is a powerful tool for preparation. It allows us to internalize the Word, to make it a part of who we are. It allows us to align our hearts with God's, to understand His desires and His will. It equips us with the wisdom and understanding we need to step into the purpose God has for us. In verse 8, God tells Joshua to keep the Book of the Law always on his lips and to meditate on it day and night. This is not an optional activity. It's a vital practice. The pursuit of God's promise is not a mindless, thoughtless pursuit. It's a pursuit that is fueled by meditation on His Word.
Preparation also means positioning ourselves. God told Joshua to get ready to cross the Jordan River. This was a physical act of preparation, a positioning of himself and the Israelites to step into the Promised Land.
God's promise to Joshua was contingent on his obedience. God told Joshua to be careful to obey all the law Moses had given him. Obedience is a crucial aspect of preparation. It's about aligning our actions with God's commands, about living in a way that honors and pleases Him.
Obedience requires sacrifice, self-discipline and humility. Through obedience, we demonstrate our love for God, our trust in His promises and our commitment to His purpose for us. It's through obedience that we prepare ourselves to step into the purpose of God.
Positioning is about stepping forward and taking hold of God’s path of success. The Israelites didn't just sit back and wait for the land to become theirs. They had to step out, they had to fight, they had to claim the land that God had promised them.
Are you prepared for the abundant life (John 10:10) that Jesus promised to give?
Are you meditating on His Word? Are you positioning yourself in an active manner to be used by God?
See you Sunday!
Dr. Scott Kallem