As Joshua led God’s people into the Promised Land, he commanded their army in battle against the inhabitants, 31 in all. They didn’t roll over and die before them. Each enemy required conquest to bring victory … except at Ai the first time when they did not inquire of the Lord.

God has given us mighty weapons such as prayer, fasting, His Word, His name, faith, and truth. (Eph. 6:10-18) Through prayer, God gives us His strategy to defeat our enemies. We use spiritual weapons to fight spiritual battles. (2 Cor. 10:3,4)

DAILY PRAYER: Lord, You are the Captain of the Armies of Heaven. In Your name we come against the enemies of our spiritual life. Thank You Jesus. You always cause us to triumph.

DAILY READING: Josh. 11-13

When Israel asked the Lord for instructions, He blessed them and gave their enemies into their hands. However, the Gibeonites deceived them because they had not inquired of the Lord. The Israelite leaders, including Joshua, believed a deceptive lie told to them by the inhabitants of Gibeon.

Life presents us with many choices and challenges. We are wise to prayerfully ask the Lord for His guidance on issues on consequence. He is anxious to hear our prayer and lead us in paths of righteousness. Just pray.

DAILY PRAYER:  Father in Heaven, forgive us for thinking we can make it without You. We will trust You for every decision we make today. You are good.

DAILY READING: Josh. 8-10

During the conquest of Jericho, the soldiers were strictly instructed to bring ALL the spoils to the Lord. In disobedience, Achan kept back for himself a striking Babylonish robe and some gold and silver. These items had been devoted to another god and were thereby accursed.  This act of self-indulgent disobedience caused the forces of Israel to be defeated at Ai.

Our self-indulgent rationalizations can bring the same consequence upon our families. For instance, many withhold God’s tithe and thereby incur besetting circumstances they can’t understand.

It’s a simple matter of disobedience.

DAILY PRAYER:  Lord, we want to honor You with every aspect of our lives. Grace us to be obedient to You in the smallest detail.

DAILY READING:  Josh. 4-7

When the Children of Israel were about to enter the promised land, they were confronted with the Jordan River in flood stage. Joshua instructed the priests to carry the Ark of the Covenant down into the water. ZAP! The water flow stopped upstream miraculously. They walked to Jericho through the river bed.

God’s presence, when brought to bear on your circumstances, will make a way. A prayer, some trust, and a step of faith can cause your Jordan rivers to allow you to cross over to your promised land. Ask in Jesus’ name.

DAILY PRAYER:  Lord, life gets testy to me at times. In Your name, I will walk with faith and trust You for Your favor.

DAILY READING: Deut. 34, Josh. 1-3

Moses lived to see some of the most impressive miracles mentioned in the Bible … burning bush, plagues on Egypt, Red Sea parting, water coming out of a rock in the desert etc. When he was near his death, he spoke a song of God’s faithfulness and interactions with the children of Israel.

We can likewise experience God’s daily miraculous power and faithfulness in providing for us, keeping us safe, and leading us with divine direction and purpose that will affect eternity.

Don’t chase after the meaningless pleasures of this world and miss it!

DAILY PRAYER:  God of faithfulness and salvation, keep us close to the Cross of Christ as we earnestly depend upon Your Spirit to lead us and empower us to live for You.

DAILY READING:  Deut. 32,33

Every decision in our daily lives presents a choice … will we act in accordance with God’s Word or do what seems to be in our best interest. Following our own way is a trap. It may appear to be our best option, but it almost always treads on those around us.

Jesus came not to be served, but to serve. He humbled Himself and became a servant. God exalted Him above all.

In every decision today, honor the Lord first and watch His blessing follow.

DAILY PRAYER;  Lord, Your Ways are higher than mine. Grant me forgiveness for those who offend me, and let me graciously serve them to honor You.

DAILY READING: Deut. 29-31

Deuteronomy 28 clarifies the blessings rewarded for obedience to the Lord’s commands. It also exposes an EXHAUSTIVE description of the punitive devastation incurred by rejecting God’s ways.

Jesus is The Way. He lovingly instructed us to keep His commandments to return our devotion to Him. The resulting blessing is an encompassing relationship with Him. It yields the hope of eternal life with God in heaven and a meaningful journey here on earth, a pathway to the hereafter.

By God’s grace, this is the path Trinity Christian School chooses to take.

DAILY PRAYER: Lord, Your favor is great, but relationship with You is what I really want.

DAILY READING:  Deut. 26-28

The value of honesty is amplified when we consider how much the Lord detests dishonesty. In the law given to the children of Israel, a stern warning is issued against those who would cheat in their business dealings.

God observes every transaction and smiles upon honesty and integrity, but is opposed to any form of giving yourself undue advantage at anyone else’s expense.

Honesty is a valuable character quality to teach to children.

DAILY PRAYER:  Lord, let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you.

DAILY READING:  Deut. 22-25

The Levitical Priesthood had the responsibility of attending to the functions of the tabernacle such as offering sacrifices. A prophet or a leader would speak to the people in God’s behalf.

In the New Testament, all are called to minister to the Lord as priests, but God still gives leadership gifts to His people in the form of … “the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God.”  Eph. 4:11-13

DAILY PRAYER:  Lord, we take our place in Your body as those who offer sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving to you daily as the Old Testament priests did.

DAILY READING:  Deut. 18-21

As a leader, I have experienced that God will bring to my attention issues He wants me to deal with. As in this passage in Deut. 17:4, God causes focus to be given to something He wants you to follow through on.  He is faithful.

As a parent, employer, employee, student, teacher, the Holy Spirit will bring to your attention items worthy of your focus. Through trial and error, you will discern His leading in your life, and come to greatly depend upon it.

DAILY PRAYER:  Lord, with all the things of life pulling on us, trying to steal our time and energy, we ask You to guide our focus and efforts in directions of Your choosing.

DAILY READING:  Deut. 14-17