WEEK 14, Day 4, Thursday, 1 April 2021

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Observations from today’s readings and today’s S-WOD, Thursday, 1 April 21:

Joshua 1:5-9 — “No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you. Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

The Israelites were preparing to enter a foreign land and face mighty adversaries. Remember how the spies described the land and its inhabitants — “The land, through which we have gone to spy it out, is a land that devours its inhabitants, and all the people that we saw in it are of great height. And there we saw the Nephilim (the sons of Anak, who come from the Nephilim), and we seemed to ourselves like grasshoppers, and so we seemed to them.” (Numbers 13:22-23) God told Joshua to be “strong and courageous,” but not in battle, rather in obedience to His word – “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.”

What is your success plan? Where does Bible study and application fit into your plan? On what are you meditating day and night? What are you using to decide your course? When you are particularly challenged, do you spend more time with the Lord or less? “I have so much to do that I shall spend the first three hours in prayer.” (Martin Luther)

• Psalm 20:7 — Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.
• Psalm 56:4 — In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?
• Jeremiah 17:5 — Thus says the Lord: “Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the Lord.”
• Isaiah 40:31 — But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.
• Isaiah 26:3-4 — You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.
• Isaiah 43:2 — When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.
• Proverbs 16:20 — Whoever gives thought to the word will discover good, and blessed is he who trusts in the Lord.
• Psalm 119:165 — Great peace have those who love your law; nothing can make them stumble.
• 2 Corinthians 5:7 — For we walk by faith, not by sight.
• Galatians 6:9 — And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.
• Psalm 9:10 — And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you.
• Psalm 28:7 — The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.
• Psalm 112:7 — He is not afraid of bad news; his heart is firm, trusting in the Lord.
• Psalm 37:5 — Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act.
• Hebrews 11:6 — And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
• Isaiah 41:10 — Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
• Jeremiah 17:7-8 — “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.”
• Psalm 91:1-16 — He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler. You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, …
• Proverbs 16:3 — Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.

“Cross” Fit S-WOD (Spiritual Workout of the Day) – 1 Apr 21: When you have challenges today, rather than simply jumping into perceived solutions, spend extra time with God first, turning to His word in prayer. Before any problems arise, prioritize your time with God, so when problems do arise, you are already prepared. Trust in Him, and obey His word without deviating from it. “Therefore, do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matthew 6:31-33)