#walkinginvictory

[tdowning79]

In these last chapters of the book of Joshua, we see a leader concerned by his people and their relationship with the Lord. God made a covenant with Israel at Mount Sinai. Moses ratified that covenant in the plains of Moab. When Joshua and the people of Israel crossed the Jordan river, they confirmed the covenant once again at Mount Ebal and Gerizim.  The Israelites were in Canaan, possessing the land God had given them. But there were still enemies that they had to defeat. Joshua knew that their problem was not a military confrontation. He knew that the harder war was in their hearts because they were going to live among pagan nations. The biggest risk was that Israel left God aside and started to live like these nations – which, eventually, happened!  They needed to be strong in guarding God ́s Word, in obeying His commandments and living a godly life. Sounds familiar? Isn't it one of our main struggles today? Joshua and the people of Israel had great victories in Canaan because, after that affair of Achan in Jericho, they had remained faithful to God and obedient to every word that came from Him.  We have everything we need to walk in victory! And we need to do exactly the same as Joshua – be with God, obey His commands, meditate on His Word and hide it in our hearts.  Dear Father, please help me stay true to You. I want to love You and please You with my life. I want to obey You and follow Your lead. Please, help me be in Your Word every day and hide it in my heart. In Jesus name. Amen.  #morningdevotional #youversion #walkinginvictory https://www.instagram.com/p/CbKZbTdOZJY/?utm_medium=tumblr

[tdowning79]

The conquest of Canaan had ended. For more than seven years, Israel had been fighting bravely. Joshua reunites the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh. These tribes chose to stay on the other side of the Jordan River. He tells them that they can go back to their families, but that they have a responsibility to fulfill.  Joshua, as a leader, was concerned about their spiritual lives. He told them that God had made His part. He had given them the land that He promised to their fathers. Now, they had the spiritual responsibility of loving God and keeping His commandments.  Jesus mentioned this relationship between loving Him and obeying His Word in John 14:15 – if you love me, you will keep my commandments. It is through our love and our obedience that other people can see to whom you serve. We obey God because we love Him. We serve God because we love Him. We serve others because we love God. Love is the trademark of a child of God. Obedience is putting our love in action.  Oh Lord, please, have my heart. I love You. Please, help me show my love through my obedience and my service to others. In Jesus name. Amen.  #morningdevotional #youversion #walkinginvictory https://www.instagram.com/p/CbH1Bf-Od_9/?utm_medium=tumblr

[tdowning79]

We are reaching the end of the book of Joshua. And it finishes is a very beautiful way – reminding us that we have a God who fulfills all His promises. God gave to Israel the entire land that He had sworn to their ancestors. In this final part of the book, we see that Israel took possession of the land and made themselves a home in it. All and every single promise God had made to Israel failed. He was faithful to each of His promises. No matter what the circumstances may be, God ́s promises can be trusted. He will keep all and every promise He has made to your life through His Word. Psalm 89:34 says that He will not violate His covenant or alter the word that went forth from His lips. 2 Corinthians 1:20 reminds us that all the promises of God find their yes in Him. Hebrews 10:23 says that He who promises is faithful. Everything may change in your life. You can change jobs, move to another house, city or country. People come and go. Situations change. We evolve and live in different seasons in our lives. But there is something that is immutable – God ́s Word. His promises never fail. I pray this truth may give you peace and encourages you in your situation today. Abba, thank You for Your promises. Thank You for the encouragement we find in Your Word. When everything falls apart in our life, we can cling to You. In Jesus name. Amen. #morningdevotional #youversion #walkinginvictory https://www.instagram.com/p/CbFPf5BOK3l/?utm_medium=tumblr

[tdowning79]

Chapter 21 tells us the division of the cities for the Levites from among the territory of the other tribes. The Levites were scattered throughout the land to teach the people the law and be a godly influence to the rest of the tribes. The Levitical priesthood began with Aaron, the older brother of Moses (Exodus 28:1–3). Aaron’s descendants served as the priests in Israel, ministering in the tabernacle and, later, the temple, primarily as mediators between man and God. The Levitical priests bore the responsibility of offering the sacrifices required by the Mosaic Law.  The responsibility of the Levites of teaching the law to the rest of tribes has passed from the Levite to the believers in Jesus Christ. We are called to be of godly influence to the world around us. 1 Peter 2:9 says that we are a royal priesthood and that we are called to proclaim the excellences of Jesus. Christians have today the responsibility Levites had and we have to fulfill that duty.  But only if we understand the Word of God, if we meditate on it and live it, we will be able to be a godly influence to those around us. We need to meditate in the Word of God every day and look for ways to apply it to our lives. That ́s how the light of Jesus brights through us.  Heavenly Father, You have called us to be different. You have called us to spread the Word and be a holy influence to others. Help me be in Your Word every day and meditate on it. But overall, Lord, help me live it so others can see Your light through my life. In Jesus name. Amen.  #morningdevotional #youversion #walkinginvictory https://www.instagram.com/p/Ca9pOJ_OQY4/?utm_medium=tumblr

[tdowning79]

The Levites were the only tribe that didn't inherit a portion of land. They were scattered among the people in different cities to serve as teachers of the Law of God to the people. Six of these cities were also cities of refuge. The Mosaic Law stated that anyone who committed a murder was to be put to death. But, in the case of unintentional deaths, God set aside these cities to which the murderer could flee for refuge (Exodus 21:13). He would be safe from the avenger—the family member charged with avenging the victim’s death (Numbers 35:19)—until the case could go to trial.  Nowadays these cities don ́t exist anymore, but we, as believers, have our own refuge – God. When we were condemned to eternal death because of our sins, we run to Jesus seeking refuge and cleansing of our wrongdoings. Now that we are part of His family, we run into Him to find comfort, peace, strength, joy.  God is our rock and our refuge. When other people, circumstances or the enemy of our soul are against us and try to tear us down, we can go to God and find asylum in Him. We are safe when we are close to Him.  Oh God, You are my rock, my salvation, my refuge. You are my fortress and my high tower. Take me closer and closer to You so I shall not be greatly shaken. In Jesus name. Amen.  #morningdevotional #youversion #walkinginvictory https://www.instagram.com/p/Ca7CvK_u0mb/?utm_medium=tumblr

[tdowning79]

When Joshua moved the camp from Gilgal to Shiloh, only five of the twelve tribes had claimed their land. Seven tribes still needed to portion their inheritance. And apparently, they didn't feel like taking the first step. “Unlike Caleb and the daughters of Zelophehad, these tribes didn’t have faith and spiritual zeal. These tribes had helped fight battles and defeat the enemy, but now they hesitated to claim their inheritance and enjoy the land God had given them.” Wiersbe, Warren. Be Strong  Proverbs 10:4 remind us that a slack hand causes poverty. We use to apply this verse to material things. If you don ́t work, you don ́t have enough to live. But we can apply it also to our spiritual life.  Sometimes we are Spiritual sloths. We neglect the things we need for our spiritual wellbeing. There are five spiritual disciplines we need to be trained in - Prayer, Bible Reading and meditation, Memorization, Church Attendance, and Service. These are the five basic principles we need to grow in our spiritual lives. We need to make time for all these and avoid spiritual idleness.  Dear Father, forgive me for all the times when I ́ve neglected my time with You. I want You to be the priority in my life. Fill my heart with zeal for You. In Jesus' name. Amen.  #morningdevotional #youversion #walkinginvictory https://www.instagram.com/p/Ca4df4cOD9s/?utm_medium=tumblr

[tdowning79]

The people of Joseph, the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh, complained to Joshua about their inheritance. They said they were given only one, solitary allotment and argued that they were many people and greatly blessed by God. They weren't blessed with humility!  James reminds us that boasting in our arrogance is evil. When arrogance and pride fill our hearts, we think too highly of ourselves. Pride makes us think we can rely on what we are, what we do or what we possess instead of relying on God. Boasting makes us think we don ́t need God and we can live our lives separated from Him. We start to think that we deserve certain things and we claim for rights. We see the things we conquer, we accomplish, we earn. And we forget that everything comes from God.  The tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh thought that they were too important to be confined to a land that wasn't big enough. When Joshua told them to go to the forest and clear ground by themselves, they found excuses. They were full of pride.  Pride is not a small thing. Pride is sin. We need to get rid of pride and follow the example of Jesus, who “humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death” (Philippians 2:8).  Heavenly Father, help me see that my pride keeps me away from You. Don ́t allow me to fill my heart with arrogance and boast in who I am or what I have. Everything in my life depends on You. In Jesus name. Amen.  #morningdevotional #youversion #walkinginvictory https://www.instagram.com/p/Ca160YLOmGP/?utm_medium=tumblr

[tdowning79]

Now that Joshua had conquered many cities, he had to divide the land between the tribes so that each tribe would claim their inheritance and enjoy what God had given them.  The tribe of Reuben, Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh made a wrong choice that would define their future. They decided not to live within the land God had promised them, but across the Jordan, on the east side.  Why was it a bad choice? First, and most important, because they were out of the will of God. And there ́s no place more dangerous than that. Their position in between the land and the enemies of God like Moab made them vulnerable military speaking. And, finally, they would be exposed to ungodly influence. They decided to stay in the border, seeing everything from afar. When we become Christians, we have to choose our seat. Like in a theater, the sits closer to the scene are more expensive. But it ́s from those seats that we can see the whole action and become participants. These tribes were not willing to pay that price and they chose the chairs with an obstructed or limited vision, which are cheaper but block us from entering the inheritance we have from God.  Heavenly Father, help me take good decisions. I want to choose the things You have for me, all what You ́ve planned for my life. I want to choose the chair closer to the scene. In Jesus name. Amen.  #morningdevotional #youversion #walkinginvictory https://www.instagram.com/p/Car5VCCumBc/?utm_medium=tumblr