Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.
1 Corinthians 9:24
An Everyday Prayer
Father, I am available today. Help me add value to others.
Guard my heart, guide my steps, and give me the courage to obey.
• The evidence of surrender is
After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide: 2 “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites. 3 I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. 4 Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Mediterranean Sea in the west. 5 No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. 6 Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them. 7 “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.8 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
Joshua 1:1-9
“Joshua was a soldier. He was a brilliant soldier, one of the most extraordinary military commanders of all time. But he was not an exciting person, as far as we can tell. He was probably just a bit of a plugger, a rather straightforward man who was chiefly concerned with carrying out his divine commission to the letter. He had no great sins and made very few mistakes. In short, he was not the kind of person who would make a good hero for a novel. Yet Joshua was eminently God’s man.” —James Boice
• Obedience can be
“Be strong and courageous…”
Joshua 1:6
“Be strong and very courageous…”
Joshua 1:7
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous.”
Joshua 1:8
“Lord, give me the wisdom to know what’s right, and the courage to do what’s right, even when it’s difficult.” —Andy Stanley, Pastor
1 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. 2 Therefore, we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, 3 though its water roar… 11 The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.
Psalm 46:1-3,11
• Obedience
3 I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses… 5 No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.
Joshua 1:3,5
7…“Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.”
Joshua 1:7b,8
• Obedience is our
“Obey God and leave all the consequences to Him.” —Dr. Charles Stanley, Pastor
And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
Romans 8:28
15 “If you love me, obey my commandments… 21 Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them.”
John 14:15,21
• Our obedience
“It is only the man who is looking for him that God reveals himself; and it is only to the man who, in spite of failure, is reaching up that God reaches down. Fellowship with God and the revelation of God are dependent on love; and love is dependent on obedience. The more we obey God, the more we understand him; and the man who walks in his way inevitably walks with him.” —William Barclay, NT Theologian
This has been my practice: I obey your precepts.
Psalm 119:56