Scripture: Joshua 4:21 "Then Joshua said to the Israelites, “In the future your children will ask, ‘What do these stones mean?’ 22 Then you can tell them, ‘This is where the Israelites crossed the Jordan on dry ground.’ 23 For the Lord your God dried up the river right before your eyes, and he kept it dry until you were all across, just as he did at the Red Sea[c] when he dried it up until we had all crossed over. 24 He did this so all the nations of the earth might know that the Lord’s hand is powerful, and so you might fear the Lord your God forever.”
Observe: Joshua was saying to the Israelites that He didn't want them to forget the power of God. This event of crossing the Jordan river put God's power on display to all generations because people would ask what that pile of rocks were for. This would be for people to talk about God's power and so they would fear him throughout all generations.
Apply: What stones do I have in my life for people to remember how powerful God is and that He does still perform miracles?
Prayer: God, help me today to start talking about your faithfulness. Give me creative ideas as to how to build stones in my life or in my house, to pass on stories of your faithfulness to generations in my family. IJN, Amen
Scripture: "Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him. He alone is my rock & my salvation, my fortress where I will not be shaken." - Psalm 62:5-6
Observation: David is looking to (waiting for) God alone for protection from his enemies' attacks. He has put his hope in God & trusts that God will deliver/protect him.
Application: "wait quietly" is not something I do well. I tend to have my own opinion/idea of how a situation should play out, instead of just waiting for God to reveal His will. God is sovereign - He has a perfect plan for my life & I need to learn to wait quietly before Him. I need to trust in His sovereignty & the safety He promises, instead of trusting my own thoughts. If I listen to Him & seek His will I will find safety in the fortress that is God & I my faith will not be shaken.
Prayer: Father God, enable me to BE QUIET!! Enable me to listen for your voice - your guideance & direction - instead of listening to my own. I pray that you'll forgive me for my opinions/having my own idea of how things should go & that you'll show me how to wait & listen for you. Thank you that you are sovereign & that you have a perfect plan for my life. Thank you that you provide salvation & safety in obeying your will. Thank you that Jesus is the Rock of my Salvation! I ask this all in His name - Amen
"Let this be a sign among you, so that when your children ask later, saying, ‘What do these stones mean to you?' then you shall say to them, ‘Because the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD; when it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off.' So these stones shall become a memorial to the sons of Israel forever." (Joshua 4:6-7)
OBSERVATION
It was a critical moment for Joshua and for the children of Israel. Historically, they were moving from a land which they had grown accustomed to, into a land that presented new frontiers, filled with new challenges, new mountains to climb and valleys to cross, and battles yet to be won. Spiritually, the Lord was moving them from their past and into their Promise. They were crossing over from who they were, into who they were to become. And to remember the significance of that moment, they set memorial stones at the place where God showed up. It was a "crossover" moment - a moment in time orchestrated, undeniably, by the hand of God, when we stood right in the midst of His presence.
We will all experience these moments to some degree or another. Perhaps it was the moment we came to Christ, or the day of our baptism, or the day when we sensed God's clear call into ministry. It was when old things passed away and all things became new. Perhaps it was a time when we experienced a degree of forgiveness we never thought was possible, or received the gift of grace that was so undeserved. It may have been a time when we were humbled under the mighty hand of God, yet restored and blessed with a second chance.
APPLICATION
We've all have experienced "Crossover" moments to some degree. But, have we remembered the significance of that moment, or has it simply washed away with the tide? We may have rejoiced in the moment, but how often do we quickly forget? What preserves our memory: "memorial stones." Just as Lord commanded Joshua, we also must be willing to set "memorial stones" that we will help us to remember, lest we drift away. It's not necessarily having to pile stones in the center of our living room (which would make quite a conversational piece), but to set anniversary dates to help us to remember. We do it for birthdays and anniversaries; we even have holidays to remember significant people and events in history. Why not do the same with our "crossover" moments - when God moved us from our past and into His Promise.
There are moments in my life that God, undeniably, showed up; moments I cannot afford to forget. When He brought me to the point of salvation, the day of my baptism, the day I was granted His grace and forgiveness, the day I was blessed with a loving wife and two sons, the day I was humbled by His hand. They were mile markers that moved me past my past and into His promise. Just as it was important for me to celebrate that moment, I must make it a point to set "memorial stones" as a reminder to continually rejoice, lest I forget and drift away.
PRAYER
Father, thank you for your grace that flows so freely from your heart and your throne. You have led me over many troubled waters in my past and have always opened a new future for me. Thank you for loving me as you do. Father, may I never forget. In Jesus Name.
Title: Free at Last Topic: Freedom in Christ Mentor: Joshua
Scripture: Then the LORD said to Joshua, "Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you." So the place has been called Gilgal to this day. (Joshua 5:9)
Observation: God lifted the shame and stench of being in slavery from the Israelites. It was a new day...a new start.
Application: How often do I live under the shame or "if only" of past circumstances or sins that God has forgiven but I continue to wear. I need to daily remember who I belong to: the Most High God, the Creator of heaven and earth. God has wiped my slate clean and I am no longer changed to or defined by my past.
Prayer: Father God, thank you for not only rescuing me from my sin but removing the guilt and shame of it. Continue to remind me that I no longer belong there. It is no longer my home.
Title: "Remember My Faithfulness"
ReplyDeleteMentor: Joshua
Scripture: Joshua 4:21 "Then Joshua said to the Israelites, “In the future your children will ask, ‘What do these stones mean?’ 22 Then you can tell them, ‘This is where the Israelites crossed the Jordan on dry ground.’ 23 For the Lord your God dried up the river right before your eyes, and he kept it dry until you were all across, just as he did at the Red Sea[c] when he dried it up until we had all crossed over. 24 He did this so all the nations of the earth might know that the Lord’s hand is powerful, and so you might fear the Lord your God forever.”
Observe: Joshua was saying to the Israelites that He didn't want them to forget the power of God. This event of crossing the Jordan river put God's power on display to all generations because people would ask what that pile of rocks were for. This would be for people to talk about God's power and so they would fear him throughout all generations.
Apply: What stones do I have in my life for people to remember how powerful God is and that He does still perform miracles?
Prayer: God, help me today to start talking about your faithfulness. Give me creative ideas as to how to build stones in my life or in my house, to pass on stories of your faithfulness to generations in my family. IJN, Amen
Title: "Wait & Listen"
ReplyDeleteMentor: David
Scripture: "Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him. He alone is my rock & my salvation, my fortress where I will not be shaken." - Psalm 62:5-6
Observation: David is looking to (waiting for) God alone for protection from his enemies' attacks. He has put his hope in God & trusts that God will deliver/protect him.
Application: "wait quietly" is not something I do well. I tend to have my own opinion/idea of how a situation should play out, instead of just waiting for God to reveal His will. God is sovereign - He has a perfect plan for my life & I need to learn to wait quietly before Him. I need to trust in His sovereignty & the safety He promises, instead of trusting my own thoughts. If I listen to Him & seek His will I will find safety in the fortress that is God & I my faith will not be shaken.
Prayer: Father God, enable me to BE QUIET!! Enable me to listen for your voice - your guideance & direction - instead of listening to my own. I pray that you'll forgive me for my opinions/having my own idea of how things should go & that you'll show me how to wait & listen for you. Thank you that you are sovereign & that you have a perfect plan for my life. Thank you that you provide salvation & safety in obeying your will. Thank you that Jesus is the Rock of my Salvation! I ask this all in His name - Amen
Dani
TITLE: Crossover Moments
ReplyDeleteSCRIPTURE
"Let this be a sign among you, so that when your children ask later, saying, ‘What do these stones mean to you?' then you shall say to them, ‘Because the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD; when it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off.' So these stones shall become a memorial to the sons of Israel forever." (Joshua 4:6-7)
OBSERVATION
It was a critical moment for Joshua and for the children of Israel. Historically, they were moving from a land which they had grown accustomed to, into a land that presented new frontiers, filled with new challenges, new mountains to climb and valleys to cross, and battles yet to be won. Spiritually, the Lord was moving them from their past and into their Promise. They were crossing over from who they were, into who they were to become. And to remember the significance of that moment, they set memorial stones at the place where God showed up. It was a "crossover" moment - a moment in time orchestrated, undeniably, by the hand of God, when we stood right in the midst of His presence.
We will all experience these moments to some degree or another. Perhaps it was the moment we came to Christ, or the day of our baptism, or the day when we sensed God's clear call into ministry. It was when old things passed away and all things became new. Perhaps it was a time when we experienced a degree of forgiveness we never thought was possible, or received the gift of grace that was so undeserved. It may have been a time when we were humbled under the mighty hand of God, yet restored and blessed with a second chance.
APPLICATION
We've all have experienced "Crossover" moments to some degree. But, have we remembered the significance of that moment, or has it simply washed away with the tide? We may have rejoiced in the moment, but how often do we quickly forget? What preserves our memory: "memorial stones." Just as Lord commanded Joshua, we also must be willing to set "memorial stones" that we will help us to remember, lest we drift away. It's not necessarily having to pile stones in the center of our living room (which would make quite a conversational piece), but to set anniversary dates to help us to remember. We do it for birthdays and anniversaries; we even have holidays to remember significant people and events in history. Why not do the same with our "crossover" moments - when God moved us from our past and into His Promise.
There are moments in my life that God, undeniably, showed up; moments I cannot afford to forget. When He brought me to the point of salvation, the day of my baptism, the day I was granted His grace and forgiveness, the day I was blessed with a loving wife and two sons, the day I was humbled by His hand. They were mile markers that moved me past my past and into His promise. Just as it was important for me to celebrate that moment, I must make it a point to set "memorial stones" as a reminder to continually rejoice, lest I forget and drift away.
PRAYER
Father, thank you for your grace that flows so freely from your heart and your throne. You have led me over many troubled waters in my past and have always opened a new future for me. Thank you for loving me as you do. Father, may I never forget. In Jesus Name.
Title: Free at Last
ReplyDeleteTopic: Freedom in Christ
Mentor: Joshua
Scripture:
Then the LORD said to Joshua, "Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you." So the place has been called Gilgal to this day. (Joshua 5:9)
Observation:
God lifted the shame and stench of being in slavery from the Israelites. It was a new day...a new start.
Application:
How often do I live under the shame or "if only" of past circumstances or sins that God has forgiven but I continue to wear. I need to daily remember who I belong to: the Most High God, the Creator of heaven and earth. God has wiped my slate clean and I am no longer changed to or defined by my past.
Prayer:
Father God, thank you for not only rescuing me from my sin but removing the guilt and shame of it. Continue to remind me that I no longer belong there. It is no longer my home.