Joshua 1:8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. English Standard Version (ESV)
Sometime in January our church is planning on reading through the New Testament over the course of about 10 weeks. For many, it may be the first time doing so. Ten weeks is enough to become "habit forming" and reading the Bible is one habit that is good to have. This time of the year is one where people look back and also look ahead. We try to rid ourselves of some things, a few pounds or bad habits and replace them with the good ones.
I've been reading through the Bible now for about 20 years. The "habit" started after a Promise Keepers event in 1994. Instead of becoming monotonous or boring, I actually look forward to coming up to familiar passages, Old Testament and New. I read today's verse yesterday in a devotional but it reminded me of Psalm 42 which was in my personal reading for today in which David writes "as the deer pants for water so my soul pants for you O God." I look forward to reading again of David and Luke 15 and the prodigal son or Hebrews 11 and the "Hall of Faith" in the New Testament.
It is important for God's Word to be in our hearts and minds. They can be a friend to us, to comfort, cheer, remind, challenge and warn. But today's verse reminds us that while all of these are important; it is the "doing" what it written in it that will have the greatest benefit.
If you have never done so, perhaps you could consider reading through the Bible, whether the whole Bible or perhaps the New Testament to see how God will speak and work through you in the coming year. There are many plans to choose from online, choose one that works for you. May it become a habit that you'll never lose. As it says at the end of today's passage in The Message (below) "God, your God, is with you every step you take.".
In Christ,
Mike
Follow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com
Eph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace NIV
Joshua 1:8The Message (MSG)
1 1-9 After the death of Moses the servant of God, God spoke to Joshua, Moses' assistant:
"Moses my servant is dead. Get going. Cross this Jordan River, you and all the people. Cross to the country I'm giving to the People of Israel. I'm giving you every square inch of the land you set your foot on—just as I promised Moses. From the wilderness and this Lebanon east to the Great River, the Euphrates River—all the Hittite country—and then west to the Great Sea. It's all yours. All your life, no one will be able to hold out against you. In the same way I was with Moses, I'll be with you. I won't give up on you; I won't leave you. Strength! Courage! You are going to lead this people to inherit the land that I promised to give their ancestors. Give it everything you have, heart and soul. Make sure you carry out The Revelation that Moses commanded you, every bit of it. Don't get off track, either left or right, so as to make sure you get to where you're going. And don't for a minute let this Book of The Revelation be out of mind. Ponder and meditate on it day and night, making sure you practice everything written in it. Then you'll get where you're going; then you'll succeed. Haven't I commanded you? Strength! Courage! Don't be timid; don't get discouraged. God, your God, is with you every step you take."
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