Two Important Truths from Joshua 1:1-9

 Joshua 1:1-9

“Two truths that have guided me”

 

 

This morning my devotion was from Joshua 1:1-9.  It is a wonderful passage that I have turned to many times.  Today, Dr. Stanley two powerful truths that have guided me during some very difficult days these last few months.  

 

1. God travels with us.

 

During some dark days and lonely times in and out of the hospital.  I have found this to be so true.  He traveled with me during nights of not being able to lay in the bed because I could not breath.  He traveled with me during lonely nights in the hospital.  

 

He was present through the prayers of others when I was too weak to pray.

 

He was present through my wife and Tony giving me words of encouragement when I was desperate and in distress, could not breath.

 

He was present through the wonderful care I received each time I was in the hospital.

 

He was present by sending a nurse one night that truly was an angel of mercy.  She came into my room at around midnight.  I was exhausted trying to sleep in chair.  She said, “I think I can help you sleep in the bed.”  “I will stay right here with you and help you.”  She did too!  For the first time in nights, I was able to sleep in the bed.  Such a blessing.

 

I told Stephanie in the morning, that some people just know instinctively how to care for others.

 

I know Jesus sent her to care for me.

 

 

2.God goes before us.

 

What a powerful truth to focus on in times of crisis.  In the midst of the pain and the crisis he is already there ahead of me and ahead of you.

 

No situation ever takes him by surprise.  He is never caught off guard or without the resources to meet the need.

 

He is in fact, there ahead of us.  

 

He knows what I need.  He has the best plan for me.  He wants what is best for me.  

 

He literally blazes the trail ahead of me.

 

As you continue to read in the early chapters of the book of Joshua you see how God is already ahead of his children.  

 

The promise is going to take place because God said so and he is true to his word.

 

He is going ahead working things out to make the way, like Rahab to protect the spies (chapter 2). 

 

 

These weeks have changed me.  I am not the person I was when all this started.  He is growing me through the weakness, through the recovery.  

 

I don’t know what is ahead for me, but I am so grateful for these truths.  

 

 

 

 

Walk by Faith

2 Corinthians 5:7

"Walk by Faith"

 "We walk by faith, not by sight" (2 Corinthians 5:7).

What does it take to walk by faith?

The following are notes from a devotion by Charles Stanley in his book God's Purpose for your Life.

1.  A personal relationship with Jesus

An intimate, daily walk with Christ.

2.  A commitment to obey God

No matter what my doubts, fears or feelings

3.  Trust God's timing 

His timetable is different from mine.

4.  Live what I believe

I need a lifestyle of choosing what would honor Jesus daily.

page 363, Charles Stanley, God's Purpose for your Life

Always with me

 2  Timothy 4:17

"Always with me"

"The Lord stood with me and strengthened me" (2 Timothy 4:17)

"No one supported me, but all deserted me" (2 Timothy 4:16)

This is why we are always admonished by the scripture to put our trust fully in God, alone.

Even if no one understands my struggles, or others leave me, God is with me.

People close to Paul deserted him.  He sat in prison, facing a death sentence.  But God never let him down or deserted him.

What I was thinking 15 days before Christmas 2021

 Luke 1:30-33 

You shall name him Jesus 

 

What I was thinking 15 days (about 2 weeks) before Christmas 2021. 

I am writing these thoughts on December 10, 2021, 15 days (about 2 weeks) before Christmas. 

Are you ready? Ready or not it is coming. 

The Wright family has a lot going on before then. We are preparing to leave for Detroit for Christmas. Our son, Nathan, has a birthday on December 16th. We have

celebrations, gatherings and yes worship.  

Worship is a central part of Christmas. Sometimes in the busyness of our activities we may overlook it or miss the opportunity for it. 

Pause today, take a breath and read these beautiful words of scripture. Take time to worship and reflect on these words. 

These powerful words changed all eternity for you and for me. 

 

Luke 1:30-33 (ESV) 

30 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.

31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his  name Jesus. 

32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God 

will give to him the throne of his father David,  

33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be  no end.” 

Praying for a lost world

 

 

Sunday, June 5, 2022, was recognized in some churches as day of prayer for unreached and unengaged people groups. 

It is so hard for me to get my mind around this. It is a day of praying for people groups that have no believers in the people group and no one is trying to reach them. I want that to sink in and wash over my mind. 

For us in the United States we have a church on every corner. We have every kind of church you can imagine. Church attendance is something we decide sometimes casually. If our schedule permits, we will attend. 

Try to imagine a world in which there is no believer in the people group, no churches, no witness for Christ, and no one is even trying to reach them. Imagine living a whole life and never hearing Jesus’ name, never hearing the gospel, no one even trying to reach them for Christ. 

Lord, Jesus give me a heart for a lost world. Teach me to pray for a lost world. 

Integrity

Someone has defined integrity as "what you do when no one is looking." I think that is such a good definition.  One of the most powerful testimonies we have is our personal integrity. 

The world watches how we work on our job, how we deal with our family, how we deal with others, and how we handle our finances.  As followers of Christ are to be different from a lost and dying world.  

 Pay close attention to what your life is proclaiming to those around you.

The Bible reminds us in Colossians 3:17, "And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him" (ESV).

Even the winds and the sea obey him

Even the winds and the sea obey him

 This week I read one of my favorite miracles recorded in Matthew 8:23-27.  

 

After a busy time of ministry, Jesus got in a boat with the disciples. A terrible storm came up and they came to Jesus, who was asleep and woke him up saying, "Save us Lord; we are perishing." 

 

Jesus rebuked the winds and the sea, and everything became calm. 

 

The disciples were so amazed they said, "What kind of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?" (Matthew 8:27, NASB). 

 

If you are in the midst of a storm the scripture has good news for you. Our Jesus is stronger than any storm you may face.