1 00:00:38,001 --> 00:00:41,440 Speaker 1: Hey friends, it's Kelly from Life Audio. We just launched 2 00:00:41,501 --> 00:00:45,181 Speaker 1: something new. It's called The Good Word, our free weekly 3 00:00:45,241 --> 00:00:48,120 Speaker 1: newsletter built for people who want to go a little 4 00:00:48,161 --> 00:00:54,011 Speaker 1: deeper in their faith. Think devotionals, guided prayers, curated podcast recommendations, 5 00:00:54,191 --> 00:00:57,311 Speaker 1: and a little community all in one place. No ads, 6 00:00:57,651 --> 00:00:58,651 Speaker 1: just good content. 7 00:00:58,871 --> 00:01:00,091 Speaker 2: This one means a lot to us. 8 00:01:00,491 --> 00:01:03,271 Speaker 1: We built The Good Word based on the audience survey 9 00:01:03,491 --> 00:01:05,671 Speaker 1: so many of you filled out a few months back. 10 00:01:05,991 --> 00:01:08,571 Speaker 1: You told us what you wanted, and we listened. So 11 00:01:08,611 --> 00:01:11,550 Speaker 1: thank you truly for helping us shape this. Head to 12 00:01:11,580 --> 00:01:14,161 Speaker 1: the link in the show notes and join our community today. 13 00:01:14,481 --> 00:01:23,401 Speaker 1: We'd love to have you. Life Audio. 14 00:01:27,041 --> 00:01:29,661 Speaker 2: Hello. Thank you for listening to your daily Bible verse, 15 00:01:29,860 --> 00:01:32,901 Speaker 2: the podcast that examines one verse each day to learn 16 00:01:32,920 --> 00:01:35,751 Speaker 2: more about God and His will for us. I'm your host, 17 00:01:35,801 --> 00:01:38,590 Speaker 2: Jennifer Slattery, and after this short word from our sponsors, 18 00:01:38,670 --> 00:01:41,931 Speaker 2: we'll continue with our series, Courage for the Journey, Trusting 19 00:01:41,950 --> 00:01:44,371 Speaker 2: God One Step at a Time, with a discussion on 20 00:01:44,411 --> 00:02:00,221 Speaker 2: today's Bible verses, Joshua 1, 16 and 17. Today's Bible 21 00:02:00,261 --> 00:02:04,611 Speaker 2: verses are Joshua 1, 16 and 17. Then they answered Joshua, 22 00:02:04,811 --> 00:02:07,971 Speaker 2: whatever you have commanded us, we will do. And wherever 23 00:02:08,031 --> 00:02:11,031 Speaker 2: you send us, we will go. Just as we fully 24 00:02:11,091 --> 00:02:14,271 Speaker 2: obeyed Moses, so we will obey you. Only may the 25 00:02:14,321 --> 00:02:17,300 Speaker 2: Lord your God be with you as he was with Moses. 26 00:02:18,701 --> 00:02:22,101 Speaker 2: In 2006, my husband's future boss asked him to accept 27 00:02:22,141 --> 00:02:25,941 Speaker 2: a position over a railroad repair shop riddled with problems, 28 00:02:25,981 --> 00:02:28,381 Speaker 2: stating that he'd be coming in under the current director, 29 00:02:28,421 --> 00:02:32,321 Speaker 2: but also that he'd hold equivalent authority. meaning he knew 30 00:02:32,381 --> 00:02:36,681 Speaker 2: going in this would be a messy, stressful, and complicated situation. 31 00:02:36,701 --> 00:02:39,780 Speaker 2: Although he didn't know what to expect, he accepted, trusting 32 00:02:39,981 --> 00:02:42,981 Speaker 2: the Lord to give him everything he'd need to perform 33 00:02:43,021 --> 00:02:46,081 Speaker 2: his role with integrity. And while the situation became more 34 00:02:46,181 --> 00:02:50,060 Speaker 2: challenging than he anticipated, God remained with him and used 35 00:02:50,141 --> 00:02:53,281 Speaker 2: the situation and its challenges to grow him and reveal 36 00:02:53,300 --> 00:02:57,131 Speaker 2: the power of the gospel lived out by a yielded soul. 37 00:02:57,311 --> 00:03:00,810 Speaker 2: This was the challenge Joshua faced as well. After decades 38 00:03:00,871 --> 00:03:04,331 Speaker 2: of following Moses, Israel's previous leader, through the wilderness with 39 00:03:04,371 --> 00:03:07,481 Speaker 2: a ragtag and often faithless group of men and women, 40 00:03:07,681 --> 00:03:09,661 Speaker 2: it was time for him to take over as the 41 00:03:09,701 --> 00:03:13,861 Speaker 2: nation's leader. In Deuteronomy 31, shortly before Moses' death, the 42 00:03:13,881 --> 00:03:18,311 Speaker 2: Lord stated clearly that his people would rebel. This highlights 43 00:03:18,631 --> 00:03:20,951 Speaker 2: a bit of irony in today's passage. The people said 44 00:03:20,990 --> 00:03:24,631 Speaker 2: they would obey Joshua, quote, just as they'd obeyed Moses. 45 00:03:24,990 --> 00:03:27,901 Speaker 2: If you listen to any of our Moses series, you 46 00:03:28,041 --> 00:03:30,761 Speaker 2: know they didn't do that so well. In fact, they 47 00:03:30,821 --> 00:03:35,281 Speaker 2: caused Moses considerable frustration and angst. It seems, then, that 48 00:03:35,441 --> 00:03:39,771 Speaker 2: the people's words wouldn't have provided much encouragement. But as 49 00:03:39,851 --> 00:03:44,531 Speaker 2: Joy discussed yesterday, the Lord would fulfill his promises despite 50 00:03:44,871 --> 00:03:49,371 Speaker 2: his people's unfaithfulness. Yes, Joshua would face real challenges, but 51 00:03:49,411 --> 00:03:53,801 Speaker 2: he also received promises spoken by God himself. And as 52 00:03:53,861 --> 00:03:56,681 Speaker 2: he prepared to take that first step into the unknown, 53 00:03:56,941 --> 00:04:00,581 Speaker 2: he needed to choose. Focus on what was hard and uncertain, 54 00:04:00,981 --> 00:04:04,131 Speaker 2: or the God who'd proven himself faithful time and again. 55 00:04:04,931 --> 00:04:07,411 Speaker 2: Had I been in Joshua's place, I fear I would 56 00:04:07,451 --> 00:04:11,141 Speaker 2: have ruminated on all the uncertainties and what-if scenarios until 57 00:04:11,181 --> 00:04:15,041 Speaker 2: my anxiety spiked to overwhelm. But that's also why I 58 00:04:15,081 --> 00:04:19,961 Speaker 2: find Joshua 1 so beautiful when I consider how directly 59 00:04:20,041 --> 00:04:23,731 Speaker 2: God spoke to his fear. In Joshua 1-2, he stated 60 00:04:23,911 --> 00:04:26,551 Speaker 2: that he was giving the land to Israel, meaning their 61 00:04:26,591 --> 00:04:30,411 Speaker 2: possession was as good as done. God was about to 62 00:04:30,471 --> 00:04:34,901 Speaker 2: fulfill his promise because he's a promise keeper. His Plans 63 00:04:35,301 --> 00:04:39,461 Speaker 2: would come to pass regardless of the challenges Joshua would 64 00:04:39,501 --> 00:04:43,331 Speaker 2: soon face. That's a key truth we see throughout scripture 65 00:04:43,371 --> 00:04:50,390 Speaker 2: from Genesis to Revelation. God's plans always prevail. In verse 5, 66 00:04:50,390 --> 00:04:54,071 Speaker 2: the Lord promised Joshua victory, stating, No man will be 67 00:04:54,111 --> 00:04:57,630 Speaker 2: able to stand before you all the days of your life, adding, 68 00:04:58,011 --> 00:05:00,541 Speaker 2: Just as I have been with Moses, I will be 69 00:05:00,601 --> 00:05:03,361 Speaker 2: with you. I will not fail you or forsake you. 70 00:05:04,301 --> 00:05:08,020 Speaker 2: This echoes the people's assurance or maybe prayer in today's 71 00:05:08,061 --> 00:05:11,441 Speaker 2: passage when they stated, Only may the Lord your God 72 00:05:11,481 --> 00:05:14,901 Speaker 2: be with you as he was with Moses. And according 73 00:05:14,940 --> 00:05:19,531 Speaker 2: to scripture, God remained intimately close with Moses and spoke 74 00:05:19,591 --> 00:05:23,331 Speaker 2: to him face to face as one does a friend. 75 00:05:23,651 --> 00:05:27,171 Speaker 2: Joshua would be entering this new land, embracing this new assignment, 76 00:05:27,721 --> 00:05:31,101 Speaker 2: With Almighty God by his side, the God able to 77 00:05:31,121 --> 00:05:34,001 Speaker 2: part seas, rain food from the sky, and cause water 78 00:05:34,241 --> 00:05:37,791 Speaker 2: to gush from desert rocks, would remain with Joshua for 79 00:05:37,921 --> 00:05:40,751 Speaker 2: every battle. And while he didn't know what all lay ahead, 80 00:05:41,271 --> 00:05:44,811 Speaker 2: he knew the power, faithfulness, and heart of his God. 81 00:05:45,611 --> 00:05:49,471 Speaker 2: That's where Joshua needed to anchor his faith. The same 82 00:05:49,511 --> 00:05:52,451 Speaker 2: is true for us. Each day we face numerous challenges, 83 00:05:52,591 --> 00:05:55,641 Speaker 2: most we never anticipated. And many of us are also 84 00:05:55,671 --> 00:05:59,621 Speaker 2: facing difficult assignments we might not feel ready for. But 85 00:05:59,661 --> 00:06:02,581 Speaker 2: God never asks us to accept difficult tasks alone, or 86 00:06:02,621 --> 00:06:05,340 Speaker 2: in our own power and strength for that matter. Rather, 87 00:06:05,440 --> 00:06:08,361 Speaker 2: he invites us to walk in step with him, trusting 88 00:06:08,401 --> 00:06:11,991 Speaker 2: him to do what he's promised, which is to lovingly, 89 00:06:12,291 --> 00:06:17,570 Speaker 2: faithfully care for us, for you. his beloved child. More simply, 90 00:06:17,731 --> 00:06:20,971 Speaker 2: we can confidently embrace the unknown when we fix our 91 00:06:21,021 --> 00:06:26,401 Speaker 2: gaze not on all life's potential what-ifs, but rather our ever-faithful, ever-present, 92 00:06:26,741 --> 00:06:32,101 Speaker 2: always powerful, miracle-working God. As we close, I wonder where 93 00:06:32,121 --> 00:06:35,291 Speaker 2: you might find your thoughts drifting into an anxious spiral. 94 00:06:35,831 --> 00:06:39,231 Speaker 2: If that's where you presently find yourself, consider, how might 95 00:06:39,251 --> 00:06:43,710 Speaker 2: your confidence and faith grow if you intentionally reflect on 96 00:06:43,731 --> 00:06:46,450 Speaker 2: the promises of God? Maybe do a Google search and 97 00:06:46,491 --> 00:06:49,231 Speaker 2: pick a different promise to reflect on each day this week. 98 00:06:49,431 --> 00:06:52,700 Speaker 2: And may every moment of your reflection draw you closer 99 00:06:52,721 --> 00:06:55,661 Speaker 2: to Christ and deepen your faith in him because he 100 00:06:55,701 --> 00:07:01,941 Speaker 2: will never leave you or forsake you. Let's pray. Holy Father, 101 00:07:01,961 --> 00:07:05,151 Speaker 2: we are so grateful for your faithfulness, for your character, 102 00:07:05,211 --> 00:07:09,751 Speaker 2: for your heart. You never leave us. You never will leave. 103 00:07:10,051 --> 00:07:13,341 Speaker 2: leave us. You remain by our side. You go before us. 104 00:07:13,581 --> 00:07:17,021 Speaker 2: You walk beside us. You stand behind us. You surround 105 00:07:17,101 --> 00:07:20,901 Speaker 2: us in your love. And sometimes you ask us to 106 00:07:20,941 --> 00:07:23,941 Speaker 2: step into the unknown, but it's never unknown to you. 107 00:07:24,021 --> 00:07:28,761 Speaker 2: You see our entire journey from start to finish, and 108 00:07:28,781 --> 00:07:32,501 Speaker 2: you'll never forsake us. When we feel frightened or insecure, 109 00:07:32,921 --> 00:07:38,551 Speaker 2: may we take time to intentionally reflect on who you are, 110 00:07:39,431 --> 00:07:43,211 Speaker 2: on the promises you have so faithfully recorded in Scripture, 111 00:07:43,291 --> 00:07:46,201 Speaker 2: on all the ways you have proven yourself faithful to 112 00:07:46,351 --> 00:07:51,061 Speaker 2: us in the past. Increase our faith, Lord. And if 113 00:07:51,141 --> 00:07:55,441 Speaker 2: we need to move forward afraid, may we do so afraid, 114 00:07:55,761 --> 00:07:59,461 Speaker 2: knowing that you are right there with us. And as 115 00:07:59,641 --> 00:08:06,101 Speaker 2: we do, flood our souls with faith-affirming truth. We love 116 00:08:06,161 --> 00:08:08,121 Speaker 2: you and we praise you. And it is in the 117 00:08:08,161 --> 00:08:12,351 Speaker 2: name of your Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ, that we pray. Amen.