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Trust The Father

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“[The Israelites] set out…to cross over the Jordan, with the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before [them].” — Joshua 3:14
As the Israelites had to cross over the River Jordan, they had to engage in a test of faith. Exercising their faith allowed them to see that God was with them. He was still directing Joshua, and He will help them settle in Canaan (v.7,10,17).

If you are facing a test of faith, you can move forward based on God’s character and His unfailing promises. Relying on Him will help you move from where you are to where He wants you to be.

Fear fades when we trust our Father.

God Our Shepherd

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Isaiah explained that we are all like sheep (Isa53:6). We tend to go our own way, yet we desperately need the sure direction of a shepherd. Psalms 23 describes the trustworthiness of our Good Shepherd. He cares for us (v.1); He provides for our physical needs (v.2); He shows us how to live holy lives (v.3); He restores us, comforts us, heals us and bountifully blesses us (v.3-5); and He will not abandon us (v.6).
What a comfort to know that God gently but firmly leads us! He does so through the urging of the Holy Spirit, the reading of His Word and through prayer. God is the reliable leader we need.
The Lamb who died to save us, is the Shepherd who lives to guide us.

Have Faith, Wait On God

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It was natural for Martha and Mary to send for Jesus when Lazarus became seriously ill (John 11:1-3). Perhaps they looked anxiously along the road for signs of His arrival, but Jesus didn’t come. The funeral service had been over for four (4) days when Jesus finally walked into town (v.17). Martha was blunt: ”if you had been here” she said ”my brother would not have died” (v.21). Then her faith flickered into certainty, ”even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You” (v.22).
Lazarus was dead, and she was wary about opening the tomb. And yet at a word from Jesus, Lazarus’ spirit returned to his decaying body (v.41-44). Jesus had bypassed simply healing His sick friend, in order to perform the far greater miracle of bringing him back to life. Waiting for God’s timing may also give us a greater miracle than we had hoped for.
Time spent waiting on God is never wasted.

God, The source of Our Strength

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“but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength…” — Isa40:31
In His time and ways, God can renew our strength. By His Spirit, He can enable us to rise up on “wings like eagles” or to “run and not grow weary, (to) walk and not be faint”.
Lord, forgive us for the many times that we rely on our short-lived strength. Help us see that all good gifts come from You, and that You are the never-failing source of our strength, hope and joy.
When we draw near to God, our minds are refreshed and our strength is renewed.

Seek God's Wisdom

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Throughout scripture, wisdom is celebrated as a treasure that is worth seeking. It is better than riches (Prov3:13-18). It’s source is God, who alone is perfectly wise (Rom16:27). And it is found in the actions and attitude of Jesus, in whom “all the treasures of wisdom” are found (Col2:3). Wisdom comes from reading and applying scripture.
Lord, strengthen my resolve to live by the wisdom that comes only from You. Give me the discernment to live all of life from Your point of view that I might know the blessings of a life lived wisely.
Blessing comes from seeking wisdom and living by it.