Then Joshua secretly sent out two spies from the Israelite camp at Acacia Grove. He instructed them, “Scout out the land on the other side of the Jordan River, especially around Jericho.” So the two men set out and came to the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed there that night. (Joshua 2:1 NLT)
Reconnaissance, intelligence gathering, espionage or other forms of "spying" were not invented by the Pentagon, the CIA or the M15. James Bond was not the first spy. Many entities have used spying to gather useful information about their competitor or enemy for thousands of years. Spying involves infiltration of an enemy's camp and then gathering information about their strength, weaknesses or plans. Other forms of information gathering such as industrial espionage involve companies gathering information about their competitor in order to stay ahead in innovation and market share. Although much of the spying that goes on currently involve many dark practices, spying can be put to good uses as our text illustrates.
Joshua, as Moses has done earlier, sent spies to scout the land around Jordan and Jericho. He had received the promise from God that Jericho was theirs to conquer and possess. Although the promise was sure, having a promise was one thing but having the right strategy to actualize the promise was another. It is possible to possess a promise from God and at the same time lack the vision, strategy or wisdom to actualize it. Joshua was in search of wisdom-based strategy. He needed vital information about the strengths and vulnerability of the land. When the spies returned later, they informed him that Jericho was ready for possession because everyone was terrified of Joshua's army. A terrified people is a defeated people.
Here's the lesson in this. Learn to spy out your own promised land. Your promised land might be a new location you are moving to, a new industry you intend to start a business in, a new city to begin a ministry, the marriage institution you plan to enter, a career path you want to enter, a relationship you are contemplating , a just cause you intend to advocate for etc. Pastors should gather information about their neighborhoods. Ministries should analyze their contexts. Couples without children should spy out parenting. Even Jesus, asked, " Who do people say the son of man is? " He spent time with the doctors and lawyers learning about their practices and beliefs. These were people he would confront later. You confront better when you know how your subject thinks and you can anticipate his or her responses.
Begin spying out your promises. It is usually the easiest step to take in the faith process of possessing your promises. Take a dream trip into your future. Visit where you intend to inhabit. Interact with those you hope to influence. Let not your next step be completely uncharted. Don't stay in willful ignorance of the contextual realities of your dreams. Get practical information. Window shop your dream destiny. Research that career area. You may not have the money yet but information is power. Faith is an action. Begin your own reconnaissance mission today. Take a faith lesson from the spies.
Decision of the Day
I chose to spy out my promises from today. I know information is power. I will window shop my destination. I will research my field.
Friday, May 31, 2013
Thursday, May 30, 2013
When You Get There, Help Others Get There. When You Stand Out, Stand in the Gap
“Remember the command that Moses the servant of the Lord gave you after he said, ‘The Lord your God will give you rest by giving you this land.’ Your wives, your children and your livestock may stay in the land that Moses gave you east of the Jordan, but all your fighting men, ready for battle, must cross over ahead of your fellow Israelites. You are to help them until the Lord gives them rest, as he has done for you, and until they too have taken possession of the land the Lord your God is giving them. After that, you may go back and occupy your own land, which Moses the servant of the Lord gave you east of the Jordan toward the sunrise.” (Joshua 1:13-15 NIV)
A pastor moved into a town and planted a church. After struggling for several years, God began to bless this pastor's work. The church grew to thousands of people, with majority being conversion growth. The church also developed several initiatives and ministries that were very effective and influential for good in the town. God also blessed the church financially. Soon, God began to bring to this pastor's notice that there were several struggling churches and ministries in the same town, some of which had started before him, some at right about the same time and others that were just starting out. He began to pray about this. In one of his prayer times, he read the following passage:
But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers.” (Luke 22:32 NLT)
As the pastor recalled the story, he said the statement, "strengthen your brothers" jumped at him from the passage. God then told him that he had blessed his church for a reason : to serve as a model to the other churches in town of what he (God) could do and for the church to be a source of inspiration and support for the other churches in town. God told him he had given him victory in his struggles do that he could help other pastors who were suffering. The pastor immediately informed his staff about the word from God and they embarked on an initiative to join in partnership with other churches in town. They began by praying for the other churches regularly. They met with the pastors, donated finances anonymously to the other churches and also began sharing their building and properties with other churches. As a result a fresh spirit of revival swept the town and the body of Christ prospered there.
As seen in this example and in our text, sometimes God allows you to be first in possessing a promise. He may orchestrate it that you are the first one to receive Christ in your family. You might be the first to get married among your peers or the first graduate from college in your family. Your business or ministry might be somehow extraordinarily blessed in a place where others are struggling. God might give you a working idea or a solution to an issue that is prevalent around you. There is a reason for this. That you are one of the first to receive a blessing places a responsibility on you. As God told Abraham,.
I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. (Genesis 12:2 NLT).
God blesses you and gives you rest not so that you can indulge and forget about others around you but so that you can be an example and a helper to others. You are blessed to be a blessing. Your victory is to make others victors. He gives you rest so others can find rest in your rest. He comforts you so that through your comfort, others can receive the same comfort ( 2 Cor 1:4). God makes you stand out so you can stand in the gap. Today, look around you. Where do you stand out? What battle have you won that others are still fighting? What have you received that others around you lack? Become a redistributor of your blessing. You will then be walking in God's purpose for blessing you in the first place.
Decision of the Day
I understand that I am blessed to be a blessing. I am not to indulge in my blessing forgetting those still struggling. Wherever I stand out, I will stand in the gap.
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
Can Your Leader Depend on You?
They answered Joshua, “We will do whatever you command us, and we will go wherever you send us. We will obey you just as we obeyed Moses. And may the Lord your God be with you as he was with Moses. Anyone who rebels against your orders and does not obey your words and everything you command will be put to death. So be strong and courageous!” (Joshua 1: 16-18 NLT)
In his book, Discovering Followership: Learn The Secrets to Walking Behind and Still Staying Ahead, Omokhai Imoukhuede writes about the power of being a good follower showing how followers are as important to leaders as leaders are to followers. Using several examples, from Jesus to contemporary leaders in business, the nonprofit world, church, sports, the U.S military and other organizations, he shows how leaders depend on good followers and how good followers always become the best of leaders. He defines followership as the "willingness or capacity to be influenced or to follow " encouraging everyone who desires to lead to become great followers. In one of the chapters, he outlined several characteristics of a good follower like Readiness, Participation and Critical thinking, Positive attitude, Reliability and Faithfulness, Submissive Initiative, Teachability etc.
Also, in our text, we see the demonstration of these characteristics of true followership by the leaders of Israel. When Joshua informed them of what God had told him, commanding them to immediately commence the possession of the lands, they responded as true followers with the following resolves:
1. To be available to their leader ( We will do and go..)
2. To obey every instruction that Joshua would give them ( We will obey...)
3. To pray and to work for the success of their leader (The Lord God be with you...)
4. To extend and enforce the influence of their leader to others( Anyone who rebels...)
5. To encourage their leader (So be strong and courageous)
This amazing team eventually went on to conquer lands and receive the long-promised inheritance for the benefit of all (both leader and follower), testifying to the effectiveness of the correct leader-follower dynamic. Good leaders plus good followers achieve great things.
How good of a follower are you? Do you demonstrate these characteristics where God has placed you? Can your leader depend on your availability, obedience, prayer, reliability and support or are you one of those "followers" who make the burden of the leader extra heavy because of your attitudes and actions? Are you an absentee follower? Are you submissive or rebellious? Do you extend the influence of your God-appointed leader or do you undercut it at every opportunity? Are you a source of encouragement to your leader or do you discourage him?
Think carefully on these questions and adjust appropriately. God dealt very severely with bad followers (as well as bad leaders) in the bible. Remember Miriam and Aaron( Numbers 12:1-16), Korah, Datham, and Abiram ( Numbers 16) or Judas , Ananias and Sapphira in the New Testament. Conversely, God also blessed good followers and promoted them. Examples like David with Saul, Elisha with Elijah, Ruth with Naomi, Esther with Mordecai, Joshua with Moses, and the 12 Apostles with Jesus illustrate this. Choose to be a good follower. Repent of bad followership and begin to pray for and help your leaders. Make yourself available to them. God will reward you.
Decision of the Day
I choose to be a good follower. I will be available, support, encourage, pray for and obey my leaders. I will be a reliable follower.
In his book, Discovering Followership: Learn The Secrets to Walking Behind and Still Staying Ahead, Omokhai Imoukhuede writes about the power of being a good follower showing how followers are as important to leaders as leaders are to followers. Using several examples, from Jesus to contemporary leaders in business, the nonprofit world, church, sports, the U.S military and other organizations, he shows how leaders depend on good followers and how good followers always become the best of leaders. He defines followership as the "willingness or capacity to be influenced or to follow " encouraging everyone who desires to lead to become great followers. In one of the chapters, he outlined several characteristics of a good follower like Readiness, Participation and Critical thinking, Positive attitude, Reliability and Faithfulness, Submissive Initiative, Teachability etc.
Also, in our text, we see the demonstration of these characteristics of true followership by the leaders of Israel. When Joshua informed them of what God had told him, commanding them to immediately commence the possession of the lands, they responded as true followers with the following resolves:
1. To be available to their leader ( We will do and go..)
2. To obey every instruction that Joshua would give them ( We will obey...)
3. To pray and to work for the success of their leader (The Lord God be with you...)
4. To extend and enforce the influence of their leader to others( Anyone who rebels...)
5. To encourage their leader (So be strong and courageous)
This amazing team eventually went on to conquer lands and receive the long-promised inheritance for the benefit of all (both leader and follower), testifying to the effectiveness of the correct leader-follower dynamic. Good leaders plus good followers achieve great things.
How good of a follower are you? Do you demonstrate these characteristics where God has placed you? Can your leader depend on your availability, obedience, prayer, reliability and support or are you one of those "followers" who make the burden of the leader extra heavy because of your attitudes and actions? Are you an absentee follower? Are you submissive or rebellious? Do you extend the influence of your God-appointed leader or do you undercut it at every opportunity? Are you a source of encouragement to your leader or do you discourage him?
Think carefully on these questions and adjust appropriately. God dealt very severely with bad followers (as well as bad leaders) in the bible. Remember Miriam and Aaron( Numbers 12:1-16), Korah, Datham, and Abiram ( Numbers 16) or Judas , Ananias and Sapphira in the New Testament. Conversely, God also blessed good followers and promoted them. Examples like David with Saul, Elisha with Elijah, Ruth with Naomi, Esther with Mordecai, Joshua with Moses, and the 12 Apostles with Jesus illustrate this. Choose to be a good follower. Repent of bad followership and begin to pray for and help your leaders. Make yourself available to them. God will reward you.
Decision of the Day
I choose to be a good follower. I will be available, support, encourage, pray for and obey my leaders. I will be a reliable follower.
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
You are Doubly Guaranteed
“Be strong and courageous, for you are the one who will lead these people to possess all the land I swore to their ancestors I would give them. (Joshua 1:6 NLT)
Imagine a honest wealthy businessman, who is known to always keep his word making a promise to an individual seeking his aid that he would give them a million dollars in a few days. And then in order to ensure that they knew the promise was guaranteed, he calls in his lawyer, signs an affidavit, and swears in writing to fulfill his promise or face dire consequences. You know what would happen to the confidence of the beneficiary. It would become rock solid. Why? Because he now has double guarantee. He has a honest and faithful man's promise plus an oath as second guarantee. The wealthy man could have only given his promise and that was enough but he went further for the sake of the confidence of his beneficiary to swear an oath. This is an illustration of what God did as mentioned in our text. He promised The ancestors of the Israelite the possession of the land and doubly guaranteed his promise by swearing an oath in blood.
In several places in scriptures, over forty, we see God making use of oaths for the benefit of mankind. Because an oath is only powerful when it is made using a higher authority as the enforcer, God having no one higher than him uses his own throne and existence as collaterals for his promises making statements like, " As I live" or " I have sworn by myself." As the writer of Hebrews says:
"For example, there was God’s promise to Abraham. Since there was no one greater to swear by, God took an oath in his own name, saying: “I will certainly bless you, and I will multiply your descendants beyond number.” Now when people take an oath, they call on someone greater than themselves to hold them to it. And without any question that oath is binding. God also bound himself with an oath, so that those who received the promise could be perfectly sure that he would never change his mind. So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary. " (Hebrews 6:13, 14, 16-19 NLT)
This is powerful when understood. God has given us promises which in themselves are enough but in order to ensure that we who receive the promises can be perfectly sure that he would keep them, he confirms them by an oath. God wanted us to have absolute confidence in his words to us and he went to the fullest extent, he made them blood-soaked words of covenant. If any of them fail, God would cease to exist but since he can never cease to exist, his promises can never fail. You can trust them absolutely. You can wrap your life around them and be secure. They can never fail. So, today, hold on to whatever word God has given to you. They are speeding toward fulfillment. They are backed by an oath- doubly guaranteed.
Decision of the Day
I understand that God's promises are doubly guaranteed by an oath. I am confident that his word to me will never fail.
Imagine a honest wealthy businessman, who is known to always keep his word making a promise to an individual seeking his aid that he would give them a million dollars in a few days. And then in order to ensure that they knew the promise was guaranteed, he calls in his lawyer, signs an affidavit, and swears in writing to fulfill his promise or face dire consequences. You know what would happen to the confidence of the beneficiary. It would become rock solid. Why? Because he now has double guarantee. He has a honest and faithful man's promise plus an oath as second guarantee. The wealthy man could have only given his promise and that was enough but he went further for the sake of the confidence of his beneficiary to swear an oath. This is an illustration of what God did as mentioned in our text. He promised The ancestors of the Israelite the possession of the land and doubly guaranteed his promise by swearing an oath in blood.
In several places in scriptures, over forty, we see God making use of oaths for the benefit of mankind. Because an oath is only powerful when it is made using a higher authority as the enforcer, God having no one higher than him uses his own throne and existence as collaterals for his promises making statements like, " As I live" or " I have sworn by myself." As the writer of Hebrews says:
"For example, there was God’s promise to Abraham. Since there was no one greater to swear by, God took an oath in his own name, saying: “I will certainly bless you, and I will multiply your descendants beyond number.” Now when people take an oath, they call on someone greater than themselves to hold them to it. And without any question that oath is binding. God also bound himself with an oath, so that those who received the promise could be perfectly sure that he would never change his mind. So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary. " (Hebrews 6:13, 14, 16-19 NLT)
This is powerful when understood. God has given us promises which in themselves are enough but in order to ensure that we who receive the promises can be perfectly sure that he would keep them, he confirms them by an oath. God wanted us to have absolute confidence in his words to us and he went to the fullest extent, he made them blood-soaked words of covenant. If any of them fail, God would cease to exist but since he can never cease to exist, his promises can never fail. You can trust them absolutely. You can wrap your life around them and be secure. They can never fail. So, today, hold on to whatever word God has given to you. They are speeding toward fulfillment. They are backed by an oath- doubly guaranteed.
Decision of the Day
I understand that God's promises are doubly guaranteed by an oath. I am confident that his word to me will never fail.
Friday, May 24, 2013
You Are Not Alone
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 1:9 NLT)
Michael Jackson's last number one hit song before he died (composed by R. Kelly) is the inspiration for today's title because, though it was written with a different subject in mind, it captures the spirit of what God told Joshua in our text. God wanted to assure Joshua that no matter what he faced and where he went, he would never have to be alone. God's presence would always go with him.
Oftentimes, all we need to be bold and courageous is to know that we are not alone and that someone with power and authority is with us and on our side. A little child is suddenly able to defy a bully because daddy is present. Friends become bolder when in a company. Even animals stay in packs for added security. There is comfort in knowing that you have powerful company.
Yet despite the comfort that human company can provide it still has a limitation. There are places no one can go with you. No matter how much comfort you can derive from humans there would be times when no one is around. There will be times in life when no friend, pastor, spouse or family members are around. You will have to face that interview alone or fight that court battle alone. There will be times when you are the only one in battle with your thoughts and challenges, facing temptations with no human help in sight.
However, while human assistance and company are limited by space and time, God's is not. He told Joshua he would be with him WHEREVER he went. No exception.
The psalmist captures this boldness that comes from God's presence when he said, "Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me." (Psalms 23:4 NLT)
The Lord Jesus, while commissioning us to continue is work on earth added the comforting clause of presence. "...And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20 NLT)
God is present with you. He has promised never to leave you or abandon you. There is no depth or height that his presence does not reach. He is there at your lowest point and there when you face towering obstacles. There is no required task of yours that his strength is not available for. Today, choose to be conscious of his ever-abiding presence. Ever be reminded that he is always there with you-that you are not alone.
Decision of the Day
I choose to be aware of God's ever abiding presence in my life. I live with boldness always and confront life's challenges knowing that he is always with me to put me over. Greater is he that is in me that he that is in the world.
Michael Jackson's last number one hit song before he died (composed by R. Kelly) is the inspiration for today's title because, though it was written with a different subject in mind, it captures the spirit of what God told Joshua in our text. God wanted to assure Joshua that no matter what he faced and where he went, he would never have to be alone. God's presence would always go with him.
Oftentimes, all we need to be bold and courageous is to know that we are not alone and that someone with power and authority is with us and on our side. A little child is suddenly able to defy a bully because daddy is present. Friends become bolder when in a company. Even animals stay in packs for added security. There is comfort in knowing that you have powerful company.
Yet despite the comfort that human company can provide it still has a limitation. There are places no one can go with you. No matter how much comfort you can derive from humans there would be times when no one is around. There will be times in life when no friend, pastor, spouse or family members are around. You will have to face that interview alone or fight that court battle alone. There will be times when you are the only one in battle with your thoughts and challenges, facing temptations with no human help in sight.
However, while human assistance and company are limited by space and time, God's is not. He told Joshua he would be with him WHEREVER he went. No exception.
The psalmist captures this boldness that comes from God's presence when he said, "Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me." (Psalms 23:4 NLT)
The Lord Jesus, while commissioning us to continue is work on earth added the comforting clause of presence. "...And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20 NLT)
God is present with you. He has promised never to leave you or abandon you. There is no depth or height that his presence does not reach. He is there at your lowest point and there when you face towering obstacles. There is no required task of yours that his strength is not available for. Today, choose to be conscious of his ever-abiding presence. Ever be reminded that he is always there with you-that you are not alone.
Decision of the Day
I choose to be aware of God's ever abiding presence in my life. I live with boldness always and confront life's challenges knowing that he is always with me to put me over. Greater is he that is in me that he that is in the world.
Thursday, May 23, 2013
Living With Laser-Like Focus
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. (Joshua 1:7 NLT)
The farmer that chases two mice at the same time will kill nada.
- An African proverb (abridged)
You are probably familiar with this experiment. A magnifying glass is used to direct the sun's ray onto a small point and then used to set a piece of paper or char word on fire. Without the magnifying glass that focuses the suns ray, you could put the same paper in the same sun but it never catches fire because ordinarily the sun's rays are scattered in various directions and are not focused enough to generate enough heat to start a fire. This is a great illustration of the power of focus.
Focus is tamed and concentrated energy. It is like the sharpened edge of a knife. It is effective for cutting because energy is focused at the blade. The more the energy is focused at the blade, the sharper the knife is. The dull knife scatters energy, hence it is not effective in cutting.
In our text, God admonishes Joshua to have laser-like focus on his commandment. He commands him to be single-minded, never deviating to the right or left. He promised him that the result would be success in all he did. Other saints practiced focus too. David said "one thing have I desired of the Lord and that I will seek after"( Psalm 27:4). Paul said "this one thing I do, forgetting the past and reaching out to what is ahead (Philippians 3:13)." Jesus set his face on Jerusalem to be crucified and refused to be crowned a king or meddle in affairs not related to his assignment. He even told his disciples to focus on the tribes of Israel when he sent them out because the time of the Gentiles would come later. He practiced focus.
Everyone in pursuit of God's purpose faces the temptation of distraction, which is another name for broken focus. The bible calls it double-mindedness and says those who yield to it are unstable in their ways and cannot receive anything from God (James 1:8). It expresses itself in several ways.
1. Trying to do too much at the same time
2. Trying to move forward, yet keeping your attention on the past
3. Keeping your attention on where others are in their God-given race rather than on your own assignment
4. Choosing leisure over work.
These are just a few examples of how focus is broken. Those who try to do everything get nothing significant done. Remember that no matter how much energy you have(and through the power of the Spirit, we have access to much abilities), until it is focused, much is not accomplished. Rather than trying to accomplish all your goals all at once, why not focus on them one at a time letting the success of one snowball into the next? Why not let go of living, looking constantly at the rear-view mirror and instead focus on creating a better future? Why not take your eyes of other people's progress or failures and focus on your assignment from God? Also, avoid those who would distract you. As you learn to live with laser-like focus, you will live a life of impact and continually make progress in God's purpose for your life.
Decision of the Day
I understand the power of focus. Rather than scatter my energy trying to do too much, focusing on the past, on others or frivolities, I choose to address my tasks one at a time until success snowballs in my life. I will be single-minded.
The farmer that chases two mice at the same time will kill nada.
- An African proverb (abridged)
You are probably familiar with this experiment. A magnifying glass is used to direct the sun's ray onto a small point and then used to set a piece of paper or char word on fire. Without the magnifying glass that focuses the suns ray, you could put the same paper in the same sun but it never catches fire because ordinarily the sun's rays are scattered in various directions and are not focused enough to generate enough heat to start a fire. This is a great illustration of the power of focus.
Focus is tamed and concentrated energy. It is like the sharpened edge of a knife. It is effective for cutting because energy is focused at the blade. The more the energy is focused at the blade, the sharper the knife is. The dull knife scatters energy, hence it is not effective in cutting.
In our text, God admonishes Joshua to have laser-like focus on his commandment. He commands him to be single-minded, never deviating to the right or left. He promised him that the result would be success in all he did. Other saints practiced focus too. David said "one thing have I desired of the Lord and that I will seek after"( Psalm 27:4). Paul said "this one thing I do, forgetting the past and reaching out to what is ahead (Philippians 3:13)." Jesus set his face on Jerusalem to be crucified and refused to be crowned a king or meddle in affairs not related to his assignment. He even told his disciples to focus on the tribes of Israel when he sent them out because the time of the Gentiles would come later. He practiced focus.
Everyone in pursuit of God's purpose faces the temptation of distraction, which is another name for broken focus. The bible calls it double-mindedness and says those who yield to it are unstable in their ways and cannot receive anything from God (James 1:8). It expresses itself in several ways.
1. Trying to do too much at the same time
2. Trying to move forward, yet keeping your attention on the past
3. Keeping your attention on where others are in their God-given race rather than on your own assignment
4. Choosing leisure over work.
These are just a few examples of how focus is broken. Those who try to do everything get nothing significant done. Remember that no matter how much energy you have(and through the power of the Spirit, we have access to much abilities), until it is focused, much is not accomplished. Rather than trying to accomplish all your goals all at once, why not focus on them one at a time letting the success of one snowball into the next? Why not let go of living, looking constantly at the rear-view mirror and instead focus on creating a better future? Why not take your eyes of other people's progress or failures and focus on your assignment from God? Also, avoid those who would distract you. As you learn to live with laser-like focus, you will live a life of impact and continually make progress in God's purpose for your life.
Decision of the Day
I understand the power of focus. Rather than scatter my energy trying to do too much, focusing on the past, on others or frivolities, I choose to address my tasks one at a time until success snowballs in my life. I will be single-minded.
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
How to Practice Greatness Daily
Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. (Joshua 1:8 NIV)
Persistence brought the Cat in the Hat and the Grinch that Stole Christmas into our living rooms. Most people especially those with young children are familiar with Dr Seuss (real name: Theodor Seuss Geisel), the author of many children's books, with some turned into blockbuster children's movies. When Dr. Seuss wrote his first children's book , And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street, 27 publishers rejected it. He never gave up through all the rejections. He kept on writing and seeking a publisher. A friend of his finally helped him to publish his work in 1937. By the time he died in 1991, his books had sold over 200 million copies in 15 languages. His books continue to sell in millions to new generations of children. What a great illustration of the power of consistency and persistence.
Another writer, Stephen King, who has multiple bestselling books that have been turned into Hollywood movies also tells of the fact that he writes everyday. It does not matter whether he feels like it or not. It was a demand of consistency he had placed on himself. Being persistent is one of the secrets of his success.
In our text today, the phrase "day and night" brings to mind a similar theme. Joshua was to keep at meditating on the word continually without quitting, everyday and night. That required being consistent and persistent. Persistence is where power lies in life. Doing something once may feel good but it is doing it over and over without quitting that brings results. This is how tiny drops of water wears out a rock over time. It is how empty clouds fill up with water through evaporation and then pour heavy rains on the earth. Consistency and persistence is how great things are accomplished. The secret of your future is in your daily routine. Consistency is practicing greatness daily.
Solomon, in the book of Ecclesiastes speaks of being consistent :
"Send your grain across the seas, and in time, profits will flow back to you. But divide your investments among many places, for you do not know what risks might lie ahead. When clouds are heavy, the rains come down. Whether a tree falls north or south, it stays where it falls. Farmers who wait for perfect weather never plant. If they watch every cloud, they never harvest. Plant your seed in the morning and keep busy all afternoon, for you don’t know if profit will come from one activity or another—or maybe both. (Ecclesiastes 11:1-4, 6 NLT)
So the admonition to you today is to stay consistent and persistent in what ever you have been given to do. Stick to meditating, praying, loving, serving, giving, encouraging, working hard and using your talents. Keep at this day and night. Refuse to quit or to be inconsistent. Your rewards will soon show up like grains from across the seas.
Decision of the Day
I will be consistent and persistent. I will not quit. Day after day I will stick to my dreams. I will practice greatness daily. I will be rewarded.
Persistence brought the Cat in the Hat and the Grinch that Stole Christmas into our living rooms. Most people especially those with young children are familiar with Dr Seuss (real name: Theodor Seuss Geisel), the author of many children's books, with some turned into blockbuster children's movies. When Dr. Seuss wrote his first children's book , And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street, 27 publishers rejected it. He never gave up through all the rejections. He kept on writing and seeking a publisher. A friend of his finally helped him to publish his work in 1937. By the time he died in 1991, his books had sold over 200 million copies in 15 languages. His books continue to sell in millions to new generations of children. What a great illustration of the power of consistency and persistence.
Another writer, Stephen King, who has multiple bestselling books that have been turned into Hollywood movies also tells of the fact that he writes everyday. It does not matter whether he feels like it or not. It was a demand of consistency he had placed on himself. Being persistent is one of the secrets of his success.
In our text today, the phrase "day and night" brings to mind a similar theme. Joshua was to keep at meditating on the word continually without quitting, everyday and night. That required being consistent and persistent. Persistence is where power lies in life. Doing something once may feel good but it is doing it over and over without quitting that brings results. This is how tiny drops of water wears out a rock over time. It is how empty clouds fill up with water through evaporation and then pour heavy rains on the earth. Consistency and persistence is how great things are accomplished. The secret of your future is in your daily routine. Consistency is practicing greatness daily.
Solomon, in the book of Ecclesiastes speaks of being consistent :
"Send your grain across the seas, and in time, profits will flow back to you. But divide your investments among many places, for you do not know what risks might lie ahead. When clouds are heavy, the rains come down. Whether a tree falls north or south, it stays where it falls. Farmers who wait for perfect weather never plant. If they watch every cloud, they never harvest. Plant your seed in the morning and keep busy all afternoon, for you don’t know if profit will come from one activity or another—or maybe both. (Ecclesiastes 11:1-4, 6 NLT)
So the admonition to you today is to stay consistent and persistent in what ever you have been given to do. Stick to meditating, praying, loving, serving, giving, encouraging, working hard and using your talents. Keep at this day and night. Refuse to quit or to be inconsistent. Your rewards will soon show up like grains from across the seas.
Decision of the Day
I will be consistent and persistent. I will not quit. Day after day I will stick to my dreams. I will practice greatness daily. I will be rewarded.
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