1 00:00:02,720 --> 00:00:09,600 Speaker 1: Life Audio. 2 00:00:11,360 --> 00:00:14,280 Speaker 2: Hello, thank you for listening to your Daily Bible Verse, 3 00:00:14,440 --> 00:00:18,239 Speaker 2: the podcast that examines one verse each day to learn 4 00:00:18,280 --> 00:00:21,520 Speaker 2: more about God and his will for us. I'm your host, 5 00:00:21,640 --> 00:00:24,759 Speaker 2: Jennifer Slattery, and after this shirtword from our sponsors, we'll 6 00:00:24,840 --> 00:00:39,240 Speaker 2: dive into today's Bible verse Joshua four to three. Today's 7 00:00:39,240 --> 00:00:42,280 Speaker 2: Bible verses Joshua four to three, and tell them to 8 00:00:42,320 --> 00:00:44,640 Speaker 2: take up twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan, 9 00:00:44,760 --> 00:00:47,400 Speaker 2: from right where the priests are standing, and carry them 10 00:00:47,400 --> 00:00:50,000 Speaker 2: over with you and put them down at the place 11 00:00:50,159 --> 00:00:54,200 Speaker 2: where you stay tonight. When my daughter was young, we 12 00:00:54,280 --> 00:00:56,960 Speaker 2: started a tradition to grow her faith that ended up 13 00:00:57,000 --> 00:01:00,720 Speaker 2: strengthening mine. During a hard season, I got the idea 14 00:01:00,840 --> 00:01:04,320 Speaker 2: from today's verse. Whenever God answered a prayer or spoke 15 00:01:04,400 --> 00:01:07,240 Speaker 2: to us in some way, we gathered smooth stones as 16 00:01:07,280 --> 00:01:10,319 Speaker 2: a family. Once home, we painted symbols on them to 17 00:01:10,360 --> 00:01:14,640 Speaker 2: remind us of God's faithful care. Over time, those stones 18 00:01:14,680 --> 00:01:18,119 Speaker 2: filled the basket that moved with us from home to home. 19 00:01:18,680 --> 00:01:21,240 Speaker 2: About four years later, we entered a painful season that 20 00:01:21,280 --> 00:01:25,399 Speaker 2: stirred some of my deepest fears. Financial chaos hit. We 21 00:01:25,480 --> 00:01:28,319 Speaker 2: had to saill our house quickly, unsure where we'd land, 22 00:01:28,560 --> 00:01:33,600 Speaker 2: or how long our unemployment would last. But when anxiety rose, 23 00:01:33,800 --> 00:01:37,240 Speaker 2: I turned to those stones, reflecting on the ways God 24 00:01:37,240 --> 00:01:41,360 Speaker 2: had cared for us before. And as I remembered, my 25 00:01:41,560 --> 00:01:44,560 Speaker 2: confidence grew that He would care for us again, no 26 00:01:44,640 --> 00:01:47,440 Speaker 2: matter where we landed or what we face. And the 27 00:01:47,480 --> 00:01:53,280 Speaker 2: Lord taught me, when fear rises, remember his faithfulness. God 28 00:01:53,320 --> 00:01:57,160 Speaker 2: knows we're prone to fear and forgetfulness. That's why throughout 29 00:01:57,200 --> 00:02:01,560 Speaker 2: scripture he calls us to remember how He's proven himself faithful. 30 00:02:02,240 --> 00:02:05,720 Speaker 2: Presumably this is why he instructed Joshua and his men 31 00:02:05,800 --> 00:02:09,400 Speaker 2: to build a monument of stones to remember the miracle 32 00:02:09,480 --> 00:02:14,239 Speaker 2: he performed and the promise he fulfilled. If you're familiar 33 00:02:14,440 --> 00:02:17,800 Speaker 2: with the Old Testament, you might remember this moment in history. 34 00:02:18,040 --> 00:02:21,440 Speaker 2: After forty years of wandering because of their parents refusal 35 00:02:21,560 --> 00:02:25,200 Speaker 2: to trust God, the Israelites finally reached the edge of 36 00:02:25,240 --> 00:02:27,760 Speaker 2: the promised land. It was time to step into what 37 00:02:27,840 --> 00:02:33,120 Speaker 2: God had promised for generations. But one obstacle stood in 38 00:02:33,160 --> 00:02:36,920 Speaker 2: their way, the Jordan River, and it was flood season, 39 00:02:37,040 --> 00:02:40,600 Speaker 2: meaning that water was deep and the currents were strong 40 00:02:40,880 --> 00:02:43,960 Speaker 2: and fast, and the Lord wanted them to cross it. 41 00:02:44,280 --> 00:02:47,320 Speaker 2: If you've ever watched a river gush over its banks. 42 00:02:47,360 --> 00:02:51,720 Speaker 2: You can imagine how intimidating that must have felt. Yet 43 00:02:51,720 --> 00:02:56,840 Speaker 2: that was also precisely why this was such a powerful event. 44 00:02:57,400 --> 00:03:00,720 Speaker 2: The Lord used it for much more than simply a 45 00:03:00,760 --> 00:03:05,120 Speaker 2: border crossing. He was about to overcome a seemingly impossible barrier, 46 00:03:05,600 --> 00:03:09,320 Speaker 2: something the people could never do on their own. But 47 00:03:09,400 --> 00:03:12,200 Speaker 2: here's where the story gains weight. The priests were to 48 00:03:12,400 --> 00:03:17,360 Speaker 2: step into the rushing water before the Lord stopped it. 49 00:03:18,120 --> 00:03:21,720 Speaker 2: They had to trust and obey before they saw the miracle, 50 00:03:22,440 --> 00:03:25,760 Speaker 2: and they had to lead the way to show the 51 00:03:25,840 --> 00:03:29,119 Speaker 2: others what it looked like to walk by faith. When 52 00:03:29,160 --> 00:03:33,880 Speaker 2: their sight screamed run the other way, they courageously did 53 00:03:34,280 --> 00:03:39,400 Speaker 2: as God commanded, presumably because they remembered the power, presence, 54 00:03:39,520 --> 00:03:43,680 Speaker 2: and provision the Lord had displayed in their past. When 55 00:03:43,680 --> 00:03:51,480 Speaker 2: fear rises, remember God's faithfulness. The ancient Israelites obeyed the miracle, 56 00:03:51,800 --> 00:03:56,080 Speaker 2: followed Joshua three verses fifteen to seventeen states now the 57 00:03:56,160 --> 00:04:00,320 Speaker 2: Jordan is at flood stage all during harvest. When is 58 00:04:00,360 --> 00:04:02,480 Speaker 2: the priests who carry the arc reached the Jordan and 59 00:04:02,520 --> 00:04:05,720 Speaker 2: their feet touched the water's edge. The water from upstream 60 00:04:05,880 --> 00:04:09,200 Speaker 2: stopped flowing. It piled up in a heap a great 61 00:04:09,240 --> 00:04:12,520 Speaker 2: distance away at a town called Adam in the vicinity 62 00:04:12,560 --> 00:04:16,000 Speaker 2: of Zarathon, while the water flowing down to the Sea 63 00:04:16,120 --> 00:04:19,160 Speaker 2: of the Araba, that is, the Dead Sea, was completely 64 00:04:19,200 --> 00:04:23,000 Speaker 2: cut off. So the people crossed over opposite Jericho. The 65 00:04:23,040 --> 00:04:25,080 Speaker 2: priests who carried the ark of the Covenant of the 66 00:04:25,160 --> 00:04:27,640 Speaker 2: Lord stopped in the middle of the Jordan and stood 67 00:04:27,760 --> 00:04:31,120 Speaker 2: on dry ground, while all Israel passed by until the 68 00:04:31,160 --> 00:04:36,880 Speaker 2: whole nation had completed the crossing on dry ground. This 69 00:04:37,040 --> 00:04:39,320 Speaker 2: must have reminded them of the day back when they 70 00:04:39,360 --> 00:04:42,480 Speaker 2: were idy biddy, that He parted the Red Sea so 71 00:04:42,560 --> 00:04:46,039 Speaker 2: that they could escape their attackers. God had used that 72 00:04:46,080 --> 00:04:49,480 Speaker 2: event to build their faith and also as a pre 73 00:04:49,640 --> 00:04:55,480 Speaker 2: wilderness display of their ever present protector and defender. Only 74 00:04:55,839 --> 00:04:58,479 Speaker 2: when it came time for their parents to cross into 75 00:04:58,480 --> 00:05:02,279 Speaker 2: the promised land, they forgot God. They forgot about the power, 76 00:05:02,400 --> 00:05:05,640 Speaker 2: promises and presence of God. They forgot how faithfully He 77 00:05:05,839 --> 00:05:09,360 Speaker 2: led them through the wilderness and provided for them, raining 78 00:05:09,400 --> 00:05:12,760 Speaker 2: food down from the sky and causing water to gush 79 00:05:12,839 --> 00:05:17,719 Speaker 2: from rocks. And because they forgot, they remain stuck in 80 00:05:17,760 --> 00:05:22,960 Speaker 2: their fear. But not the next generation. They built memorial 81 00:05:23,000 --> 00:05:26,560 Speaker 2: stones to cement the miracle in their hearts and create 82 00:05:26,560 --> 00:05:29,119 Speaker 2: an object lesson to tell their children and the children 83 00:05:29,200 --> 00:05:33,880 Speaker 2: after them of the faithful and oh so powerful deeds 84 00:05:33,880 --> 00:05:36,719 Speaker 2: of the Lord. God invites us to do the same. 85 00:05:37,640 --> 00:05:43,479 Speaker 2: When fear rises, remember God's faithfulness. Do you have any 86 00:05:43,520 --> 00:05:47,960 Speaker 2: memorials of faith strengthening moments you can reflect on when 87 00:05:47,960 --> 00:05:51,520 Speaker 2: you feel anxious and afraid? If not, maybe develop a 88 00:05:51,560 --> 00:05:55,280 Speaker 2: practice that serves the same purpose as those twelve stones 89 00:05:55,320 --> 00:05:58,799 Speaker 2: the Lord told the Israelites to stack. Maybe a prayer journal, 90 00:05:59,240 --> 00:06:02,800 Speaker 2: a necklace or bracelet with meaningful charms, or a vision 91 00:06:02,839 --> 00:06:05,760 Speaker 2: board you can keep within view, and maybe take time 92 00:06:05,800 --> 00:06:09,839 Speaker 2: this weekend to remember and reflect on times when God 93 00:06:09,880 --> 00:06:13,839 Speaker 2: has cared for you, particularly in situations that felt beyond 94 00:06:13,920 --> 00:06:19,240 Speaker 2: your ability or control. May each instance increase your faith 95 00:06:19,760 --> 00:06:25,839 Speaker 2: and quiet your fear. When fear rises, remember God's faithfulness. 96 00:06:26,000 --> 00:06:30,280 Speaker 2: Let's pray. Holy Father, thank you for all the times 97 00:06:30,279 --> 00:06:34,279 Speaker 2: you have displayed your power, your love, your purposes, your heart, 98 00:06:34,680 --> 00:06:40,279 Speaker 2: your faithfulness. You are our ever present, always faithful, always 99 00:06:40,320 --> 00:06:42,479 Speaker 2: loving God. You are always with us, and you are 100 00:06:42,560 --> 00:06:47,800 Speaker 2: always going before us, paving a path specifically for us, 101 00:06:48,000 --> 00:06:54,080 Speaker 2: leading us toward thriving life. And you are constantly rebuilding 102 00:06:54,200 --> 00:06:57,479 Speaker 2: us into the men and women you envision when you 103 00:06:57,600 --> 00:07:01,239 Speaker 2: first breathe life into our souls. Help us to trust 104 00:07:01,480 --> 00:07:05,760 Speaker 2: that you are building our faith every step. Thank you 105 00:07:05,800 --> 00:07:09,200 Speaker 2: that you understand and have compassion for our weakness, for 106 00:07:09,240 --> 00:07:14,040 Speaker 2: our frailties, for our fears and anxieties. You meet us 107 00:07:14,160 --> 00:07:17,560 Speaker 2: in them, and you provide truth that gives us the 108 00:07:17,640 --> 00:07:22,560 Speaker 2: courage to step forward. When you plant those truths in 109 00:07:22,640 --> 00:07:25,200 Speaker 2: our soul, when you present them to us throughout the day, 110 00:07:25,200 --> 00:07:27,880 Speaker 2: whether that's through a sermon, through this podcast, through our 111 00:07:27,920 --> 00:07:33,280 Speaker 2: Bible reading, through prayer, however, you are actively strengthening our 112 00:07:33,360 --> 00:07:37,040 Speaker 2: faith today in this moment. Help us to grab hold 113 00:07:37,240 --> 00:07:41,200 Speaker 2: of those truths. May they sink deep. May we reflect 114 00:07:41,560 --> 00:07:44,320 Speaker 2: on them when we are frightened. May we turn to 115 00:07:44,400 --> 00:07:48,320 Speaker 2: you and in your presence, remind us of all the 116 00:07:48,440 --> 00:07:51,520 Speaker 2: ways you've cared for us. Help us to know you 117 00:07:51,600 --> 00:07:55,800 Speaker 2: better who you truly are. Help us to know your heart, 118 00:07:55,920 --> 00:07:59,920 Speaker 2: because your perfect love has the power to cast out fear. 119 00:08:00,720 --> 00:08:04,440 Speaker 2: When we recognize that Almighty God, the one who created 120 00:08:04,440 --> 00:08:09,400 Speaker 2: the entire universe, is with us, is for us, is 121 00:08:09,560 --> 00:08:13,800 Speaker 2: guiding us, and is defending and protecting us, and is 122 00:08:14,160 --> 00:08:18,720 Speaker 2: lavishing us with grace at every moment. We are favored 123 00:08:19,000 --> 00:08:23,200 Speaker 2: by you. We have your favor because of Jesus Christ, 124 00:08:23,600 --> 00:08:25,520 Speaker 2: and we thank you for that. Remind us of our 125 00:08:25,560 --> 00:08:29,440 Speaker 2: secure standing in your grace. Remind us that we are 126 00:08:30,040 --> 00:08:36,920 Speaker 2: your beloved, your cherished children, and you are our gentle, strong, tender, 127 00:08:37,200 --> 00:08:41,760 Speaker 2: and protective father. Thank you for who you are. Thank 128 00:08:41,800 --> 00:08:45,520 Speaker 2: you for Jesus Christ, your son who died so that 129 00:08:45,640 --> 00:08:50,839 Speaker 2: we might have this deep connection with you. Increase our 130 00:08:50,840 --> 00:08:54,720 Speaker 2: connection with you, Deepen our relationship, Lord, and it is 131 00:08:54,760 --> 00:08:57,760 Speaker 2: in Jesus's name that we pray. Amen. 132 00:09:03,040 --> 00:09:05,840 Speaker 1: Hey listeners, it's Kelly from the Life Audio team with 133 00:09:05,920 --> 00:09:09,000 Speaker 1: a quick favor to ask. We're working on a newsletter 134 00:09:09,160 --> 00:09:12,600 Speaker 1: and honestly, we'd rather ask you what you want than guess. 135 00:09:13,040 --> 00:09:15,120 Speaker 1: There's a two minute survey linked in the show notes. 136 00:09:15,440 --> 00:09:18,040 Speaker 1: Fill it out and shape what we make. Thanks.