“Be very courageous.”
Have you ever tried to meditate on God’s Word in the morning and then again in the evening?
I have tried. For years, I have tried.
Morning. No problem. My routine is set, and I have time each morning to pray, praise, worship, listen, meditate, and spend time in the Word. While I rarely touch on all these daily, I do consistently pray and am in God’s Word.
Evening is another story.
I have diligently attempted to incorporate time in God’s Word every night but have never found a rhythm. I have added reminders and worked on different routines. I have tried various methods, from reading a book of the Bible to using varying devotional books.
Why is evening so tricky for me?
Evening patterns are inconsistent, continually throwing roadblocks in my best attempts.
Why do I keep trying?
The Bible challenges us to create this habit in a couple of places. One of my favorites is tucked in Joshua’s commission to lead.
“Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then, you will be successful in everything you do.
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.
This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1: 7-9, NLT)
We are naturally drawn to the words prosper and succeed. The Hebrew word for “prosper” is saleah (saw-lay-akh). Saleah can mean economic gain, but the word is richer. Saleah means we will be made to progress; we will experience advancement.
Progress is attractive, but we crave success.
The Hebrew word in Joshua 1:8 for “succeed” is sakal (sa-kale). The meaning of sakal also reaches beyond economic gain. In God’s economy, we will have insight beyond our own capabilities. We will become wise and have a deeper understanding.
Progress and success are abundant words when applied to aspects of our lives, like relationships and what we can offer in the workplace and the world.
But with every good deal, there is a catch! Right?
“Only then,” when we are continually in His Word, studying, meditating on it day and night, then, will we prosper and succeed in all we do.
The promise of prosperity and success is a conditional type of promise. God’s fulfillment is tethered to action on our part.
We are called to be strong and courageous, and to be in God’s Word day and night.
“Never stop reciting these teachings. You must think about them night and day so that you will faithfully do everything written in them. Only then will you prosper and succeed.” (Joshua 1:8, GWT, bold added for emphasis)
The GWT flips the order from day and night (NLT) to night and day. Placing night before day gives a sense of priority.
Did the GWT scholars intuitively know there would be people like me who struggled with continuing to meditate on God’s Word through the evening hours?
But wait, there is more!
We are also challenged to be strong and courageous.
Being in God’s Word night and day and simultaneously being strong and courageous?
These actions may seem overwhelmingly impossible, but they are not.
These actions work together. We choose to be strong and not succumb to the temptation to put off being in God’s Word. Each time we immerse ourselves in scripture, our courage will build.
But wait, there is more!
God wants us to succeed. This is good news: If you are like me and struggle with maintaining your part of the agreement.
Therefore the LORD waits [expectantly] and longs to be gracious to you, And therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you. For the LORD is a God of justice; Blessed (happy, fortunate) are all those who long for Him [since He will never fail them]. (Isaiah 30:18, AMP)
God’s benevolent heart meets our heart’s desire to fulfill our part. He will walk with us and help us begin rhythms to prioritize God’s Word in our lives both night and day. Through His Spirit and the power of His Word, God will strengthen us to keep trying and not give up.
Are you ready to prosper and be successful?
I pray your life will cultivate time in God’s Word both in evening hours and in daylight. May you experience the abundant blessings of God being poured out. May you make supernatural progress in places you never dreamed of, be surprised by the Spirit-filled wisdom you can offer, and see success in areas most impactful to God’s Kingdom. So be it, in Jesus’ name.
Meditate: God, grow my desire to be in Your Word.
Reflect: Write down or think through all the ways the world defines progress and success, then write down or think through all the ways progress and success are defined in God’s kingdom. Which list do you tend to gravitate to? Why do you think being in God’s Word more than once daily was part of God’s conditional promise to Joshua? Is there anything new you want to try in how you spend time in God’s Word?
Deeper: (As you read these additional verses, ask the Spirit to give you wisdom and teach you more about how being in God’s Word continually plays a critical role in our receiving God-style prosperity and success). Joshua 1: 1-9; Psalm 1: 1-3; Numbers 6: 22-26; Ephesians 1:3-8
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(Bible References: NLT – New Living Translation, AMP – Amplified Version, GWT – Good Word Translation)
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