
Monday, January 16, 2023
YOUR DIRECTION IS FORWARD
1 After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, the LORD said to Joshua: 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 —Joshua 1:1-2 (TMB)
KEY: FREE FROM THE PAST
Have you ever done something amazing that you could hardly believe? I remember when I first became an insurance agent, I was so excited I defied all odds to becoming the top leading performer in my first year. I would have Senior agents pass my desk congratulating me and colleagues looking at me in awe. I remember I did so well that the International trainer wanted to have dinner with me. I was in my glory and so was my manager. A few weeks turned into months of still celebrating, then my manager called me in and said to me “Don’t let your past successes hinder your future earnings.” That’s all he needed to say. I heard him loud and clear.
In Today’s bible verse God announces the death of Moses to Joshua letting him know that in case you weren’t sure Moses’s time as leader of the people of Israel and as my servant here on earth is done. Then he says to Joshua:
You Joshua who have been mentored by Moses the Leader of the past and developed into the leader of the future. You get ready to cross the Jordan River
Then Joshua, get the people ready because they were probably in their sackcloths and ashes mourning the death of Moses. You Joshua have to rally them, you have to influence them, you have to motivate them, you have to lead them in one direction and one direction only and that is forward crossing over the Jordan River.
Just as I was still celebrating months after my achieving that goal and I needed my manager to give me the reality check that it was time to move forward so it was that Joshua had to GET THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL READY to cross the Jordan River because they could not get themselves ready, they were still stuck in the past of Moses as their leader.
Remember this: The great enemy to future conquest is past victories.
NEXT STEPS:
- Your direction is forward. Journal what your emerging future will look like.
- Spend time in prayer asking God to strengthen you to leave the past behind
- On an index card write a bible verse to keep with you daily that lets you know God is not holding your past against you.
- Share the devotional.