Scripture: Joshua 1:8 "Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do."
Observe: God was speaking through Joshua in saying that there are simple keys to success in life. All he commanded at this time was meditation (thinking about deeply) on God's word, SO THAT you would they would obey God. There is a connection between really thinking deeply about God's word and obedience.
Apply: If I meditate, I will obey. If I obey then I will be successful. What Christian doesn't want to be obedient to God and successful? Surrounding this command to meditate Joshua says, "be strong and courageous". Again, the key to being obedient living including being courageous, is meditating on His word.
Prayer: Jesus, we live in a raging river of our culture that says to not meditate on your Word. It is noisy out there, blogging, twitter, facebook, emails, text messaging......and yet you say just meditate on my words, think deeply about them, then will have success. Help me to be a chewer, ruminator, digestor, deep thinker of your word today. IJN, Amen
S: Psalm 37:7 "Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him"
O: David says... don't be anxious, God will answer, you will receive your reward, Hope in the Lord, trust in the Lord, still your heart, still your mind, STOP.
A: To wait is hard but, to wait patiently... WOW that is nearly impossible for me. I struggle with the discipline of silence. I must, I must, I MUST learn to be still. I need to slow down my mind, my plans, my thinking, my desires, my life. I need to be still. I DESIRE to just STOP... to stop and be still in YOUR presence.
P: Father God, I so desire to be patient. I desire to be patient for my husband, my children, my friends, and most of all my purpose. I need your help. Help me to be still. Help me to relish in quietness. Help me to STOP.
Scripture: Joshua 1:9 "This is what I am commanding you today. Be strong and brave. Do not be terrified, do not lose hope. I am the Lord your God. I will be with you everywhere you go."
Observe: Joshia is not to be afraid and be brave because God is with him.
Apply: I need to be brave when sparring in Taekwondo.
Prayer: Dear God, help me in my tournament to be brave in sparring because you are with me.
SCRIPTURE "If any one of you thinks he is wise by the standards of this age, he should become a "fool" so that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God's sight." (1 Corinthians 3:19)
OBSERVATION It was a piece of advice an old preacher gave me once... He said, "When you come to Jesus, come to Him stupid" ... And that still holds true today!
We often think that we have got it pretty much together, and when we come to Jesus, it is just for Him to "add" more to what we already have or to increase what we've already gained.
APPLICATION I have so much to learn! I can't believe what a novice I am in so many things. I guess it's not too hard for me to think of myself as a fool, because it is so true. But my greatest challenge is that I am also a rabid practitioner, and I love to roll up my sleeves and jump into things. So then, I must cordon off my time to study and establish time to learn.
But this verse prompts me to study more instead of just doing more. I never want "busyness" to overshadow everything. Being busy does not necessarily equal advance. It can be a subtle form of laziness ... in that my mind can think that if I am busy doing insignificant tasks, then I don't have to do the important activities that are harder to do.
PRAYER Lord Jesus, thank you for reminding me about my need to learn. That is an important item on my list today. I cry out for more of Your wisdom from on high.
I have sooooo much to learn. And there are so many categories that I haven't even started to explore! I am so glad we have an eternity in heaven so I can take the time to learn.
Title: "Only One Key to Success"
ReplyDeleteMentor: Joshua
Scripture: Joshua 1:8 "Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do."
Observe: God was speaking through Joshua in saying that there are simple keys to success in life. All he commanded at this time was meditation (thinking about deeply) on God's word, SO THAT you would they would obey God. There is a connection between really thinking deeply about God's word and obedience.
Apply: If I meditate, I will obey. If I obey then I will be successful. What Christian doesn't want to be obedient to God and successful? Surrounding this command to meditate Joshua says, "be strong and courageous". Again, the key to being obedient living including being courageous, is meditating on His word.
Prayer: Jesus, we live in a raging river of our culture that says to not meditate on your Word. It is noisy out there, blogging, twitter, facebook, emails, text messaging......and yet you say just meditate on my words, think deeply about them, then will have success. Help me to be a chewer, ruminator, digestor, deep thinker of your word today. IJN, Amen
Title: STOP
ReplyDeleteMentor: David
S: Psalm 37:7 "Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him"
O: David says... don't be anxious, God will answer, you will receive your reward, Hope in the Lord, trust in the Lord, still your heart, still your mind, STOP.
A: To wait is hard but, to wait patiently... WOW that is nearly impossible for me. I struggle with the discipline of silence. I must, I must, I MUST learn to be still. I need to slow down my mind, my plans, my thinking, my desires, my life. I need to be still. I DESIRE to just STOP... to stop and be still in YOUR presence.
P: Father God, I so desire to be patient. I desire to be patient for my husband, my children, my friends, and most of all my purpose. I need your help. Help me to be still. Help me to relish in quietness. Help me to STOP.
Title: "Be Courageous"
ReplyDeleteMentor: Joshua
Scripture: Joshua 1:9 "This is what I am commanding you today. Be strong and brave. Do not be terrified, do not lose hope. I am the Lord your God. I will be with you everywhere you go."
Observe: Joshia is not to be afraid and be brave because God is with him.
Apply: I need to be brave when sparring in Taekwondo.
Prayer: Dear God, help me in my tournament to be brave in sparring because you are with me.
SCRIPTURE
ReplyDelete"If any one of you thinks he is wise by the standards of this age, he should become a "fool" so that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God's sight." (1 Corinthians 3:19)
OBSERVATION
It was a piece of advice an old preacher gave me once... He said, "When you come to Jesus, come to Him stupid" ... And that still holds true today!
We often think that we have got it pretty much together, and when we come to Jesus, it is just for Him to "add" more to what we already have or to increase what we've already gained.
APPLICATION
I have so much to learn! I can't believe what a novice I am in so many things. I guess it's not too hard for me to think of myself as a fool, because it is so true. But my greatest challenge is that I am also a rabid practitioner, and I love to roll up my sleeves and jump into things. So then, I must cordon off my time to study and establish time to learn.
But this verse prompts me to study more instead of just doing more. I never want "busyness" to overshadow everything. Being busy does not necessarily equal advance. It can be a subtle form of laziness ... in that my mind can think that if I am busy doing insignificant tasks, then I don't have to do the important activities that are harder to do.
PRAYER
Lord Jesus, thank you for reminding me about my need to learn. That is an important item on my list today. I cry out for more of Your wisdom from on high.
I have sooooo much to learn. And there are so many categories that I haven't even started to explore! I am so glad we have an eternity in heaven so I can take the time to learn.