Pastor Sharon Lee's QT

“God speaks”

SCRIPTURE

Joshua 8:1. Then the LORD said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Take the whole army with you, and go up and attack Ai. For I have delivered into your hands the king of Ai, his people, his city, and his land.

OBSERVATION

Summary
God gave Joshua a promise to conquer Ai and guidelines for military operations. Joshua carries them out as he was told.

Who is God
• God knows the best military strategy.
• God speaks to man.
• God gives courage to those who fear.
• God gives victory.

APPLICATION

After the defeat, Joshua and the people of Israel rise again to conquer Ai. The Word and the Holy Spirit guided them. That was the key factor to their victory over Ai. In the previous battle with Ai, there was no word from the Lord, nor prayer of asking His guidance help. The result was defeat. Indeed, to win the victory, we should be guided by words and the Holy Spirit.

God speaks. So far, in Joshua, we have seen how specifically God instructs and speaks to Joshua at every difficult moment. And this time, God speaks very specifically to Joshua to give guidelines on how to fight against Ai. God told Joshua not to be afraid and gave him the promise of victory. Unlike the Jericho battle, they were allowed to take the spoils freely. Also, the Lord instructed an ambush. Thus, God speaks in detail. Not only does He speak to biblical figures like Joshua and Moses, but also God speaks to ordinary people through the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit uses various channels to speak to us. Through worship, people of faith, environment, dreams, and vision, God speaks to us. However, the Holy Spirit speaks to us majorly through the Word of God. In Revelation, Jesus said to all churches in Asia Minor, “Those who have ears, let them hear what the Holy Spirit speaks to the church. with ears should listen to what the Holy Spirit says to the church. “. He really wants His churches to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit.

There are many sounds in this world, such as the sound of the ego, the sound of people, the sound of the environment, and Satan’s sound. We should be trained for “How to listen to God’s voice!” The training cannot be overemphasized. Reject the sound of a plausible Satan and hear the voice of the Holy Spirit speaking to me. That is the strategy of victory. Joshua responds with faith and obedience to what God has spoken to him. Declare the truth of the Word and reject the voice of Satan.

• Sin to avoid: Don’t be disappointed and complain and respond to the voice of Satan.
• Promise to hold: God gives us the strategy of how to win victory.
• Action to take place: Reject Satan’s voice and listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit.

PRAYER
Heavenly Father, give me your wisdom to discern the voice of the Holy Spirit. I have to make a lot of decisions as to the leader of your church. Satan makes every effort to discourage me. But I will refuse to hear them. Everything works together for your goodness. You will bless your church and bring revival to your church as you promised. Miracles will happen. Indeed, thee will be a revival. Let me react only to the voice of the Holy Spirit. Amen

“Hate sin intensely”

SCRIPTURE
Joshua 7:26. He built a huge pile of stones on top of it, and it was there until today. When Jehovah stopped his fierce anger, he called it the Valley of Agol until today.

OBSERVATION

Summary
Joshua found the things Achan hid in his tent and burned all his children, livestock, and possessions. And Israelites stoned at Achan and his entire family,

Who is God
• God abhors sin intensely.
• God wants to remove the slightest sin in our lives.
• God is furious about sin.
• In the Valley of Agol, Jesus was executed like Achan.

APPLICATION

All that belonged to Achan were burned and stoned to kill. Then God’s fierce anger stopped. In fact, in a way, the sin committed by Achan may not seem to be such a great crime. It was just a Babylonian mink coat and some valuables. But God was still so angry and wanted to remove them.

How to deal with our sins? Should we go to the Valley of Agar like Achan and burn everything that belongs to us? Very gratefully, Jesus went to the valley of Agor and was killed miserably bearing our sins and stopped God’s fierce anger. I should learn to hate sin, which causes God’s fierce anger.

However, the Agol Valley was initially called the Valley of Pain but is later described as the land of rest and the gate of hope in the Bible. On the cross of suffering, Jesus took all our sins and died in the fury of God like Achan. But for those who come to Jesus and repent in His name, the cross symbolizes rest and hope.

Hate fiercely even a minor sin, confess for sure, and be forgiven in Jesus’ name and receive the life full of rest and hope. I pray that the Holy Spirit will give me a heart that hates even a minor sin in my heart, in my words and conducts. If I love Jesus, who died as miserably as Achan to forgive my sins, I should hate sin intensely.

• Sin to avoid: I repent that I do not hate intensely my sin that I consider insignificant.
• Promise to hold: If I confess sins in the name of Jesus, God will forgive me.
• Action to take place: Hate even the most minor sin, which could bring God’s fierce anger.

PRAYER
My God, you hate even the most minor sin. Jesus, you died miserably like Achan bearing my sin. Thank you for your infinite grace of forgiveness. Let me hate even the most minor sin I can think of. Please remind me of a bit of sin and help me throw it away immediately and surely.

“Deal with sins quickly”

SCRIPTURE
Joshua 7:16. Early the next morning, Joshua had Israel come forward by tribes, and Judah was taken.

OBSERVATION

Summary
Finding the person who had stolen the devoted things was proceeded by drawing lots. Achan was chosen, and he finally confessed what he did.

Who is God
God wants us to deal with sin as quickly as possible.

APPLICATION

Joshua got up early in the morning to deal with the sin in the Israeli community. The fact that he woke up early in the morning means that Joshua responded to God’s order to get rid of devoted things in the community quickly and seriously. What Joshua did gives us a lesson that we should deal with sins rapidly.

I think God wanted to give Achan a chance to repent. God could have told Joshua that the sinner was Achan, but He did not say who he was. So Joshua led the whole Israeli community to draw lots. While people were continuing to draw lots, Achan was given a chance to repent. But Achan abandoned the opportunity. Achan was trying to hide his sins until the moment he drew the lot. And finally, he had to confess what he did standing before Joshua. “Just as man is destined to die once and after that to face judgment.” Even if we hide sins in this world, someday, we will face them standing before God’s judgment seat. If Achan confessed what he had done right away before Joshua and the Israeli community and asked for forgiveness, I think our merciful God could have forgiven him.

“In your anger, do not sin: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.” Eph. 4:26-27. “Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam, so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out.” Prov. 17:14. It is the wisdom to resolve disputes immediately lest the devil should intervene. Missing the right time can prolong the treatment period. If you don’t correct a minor mistake right away, the devil could inflame it. Be quick to acknowledge my mistake or fault, confess them honestly and ask for forgiveness before God and man. That is how we glorify God; as Joshua said to Achan, “My son, give glory to the LORD, the God of Israel, and give him the praise. Tell me what you have done; do not hide it from me.”

• Sin to avoid: Admit my mistake right away and don’t put off confessing it.
• Promise to hold: God is the God of mercy and grace and forgives those who repent.
• Action to take place: Deal with sin quickly. Make every effort to settle the dispute quickly.

PRAYER
Heavenly Father, I want to acknowledge my shortcomings, sins, or faults immediately, confess them, repent them, and correct them. Watch my thoughts, words, and conducts and reveal anything wrong or sinful before your eyesight so that I can confess and correct them immediately.

“Consecrate yourself in preparation for tomorrow”

SCRIPTURE
Joshua 7:13. Get up! Command the people to purify themselves in preparation for tomorrow. For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: Hidden among you, O Israel, are things set apart for the Lord. You will never defeat your enemies until you remove these things from among you.

OBSERVATION

Summary
God told Joshua that the Israelites could win only when they remove the devoted things and consecrate themselves. So Joshua orders to find those who have stolen the dedicated items.

Who is God
God is with the consecrated community and gives them victory.

APPLICATION

God tells Joshua, who cries out in defeat, to consecrate the Israelites in preparation for tomorrow. Many places in the Book of Joshua, we meet God’s command: “Consecrate yourself.” The Greek origin of the word holiness is similar to wholeness. So one’s holiness has something to do with wholeness. Therefore, holiness in the Bible goes beyond one’s integrity in character or life. It affects one’s entire life as a whole. If we expect total restoration, we should first work on holiness. If there is continuous defeat, frustration, and frustration in our lives, we should examine carefully to see if we live in holiness. Today’s passage teaches indeed that restoration of holiness will bring the restoration of whole life, and the failure of holiness leads to the failure of the entire life. The best preparation for tomorrow is for us to make every effort to stay holy today.

The attributes of God can be described in many ways. God of grace, God of love, etc. Being related to God, the word grace appears about 200 times in the Bible. The word love about 300 times, while the word holy or sacred appears about 800 times in the Bible. It is evident that God’s representative attribute is holiness. Archangels who stay closest to God are praising God of holiness. Rev, 4:8, “Each of these living beings had six wings, and their wings were covered all over with eyes, inside and out. Day after day and night after night, they keep on saying, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty— the one who always was, who is, and who is still to come.”
Angels who know God better than anyone else have no choice but to praise God’s holiness.
God speaks. I am holy, so are you. Do my best to be holy and no worry about tomorrow. “Purify yourself n preparation for tomorrow !” Put priority on holiness in my life. Repent diligently to remove any evil in my life to stay holy before God and man.

• Sin to avoid: Do not neglect holiness
• Promise to hold: God is with the holy people and bless them and give them victory.
• Action to take place: Remember for life that the best preparation for tomorrow is to live in holiness today.

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, I learn today that I will not have to worry about tomorrow if I live a holy life today. Leave tomorrow’s work to the Lord and live for holiness as much as I can today in words, thoughts, and conducts. Holy Spirit, reveal my transgressions to repent and guide me each and every step to be holier every day.

“Power of sin”

SCRIPTURE
Joshua 7:1. But the Israelites acted unfaithfully in regard to the devoted things; Achan, son of Carmi, the son of Zimri, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of them. So the LORD’s anger burned against Israel.

OBSERVATION

Summary
Israel was defeated by Ai, because of Achan’s sin, which caused God’s wrath upon Israel.

Who is God
• Do not touch objects dedicated to God.
• God does not dwell among the communities that have lost holiness.

APPLICATION

The people of Israel were defeated by Ai, shortly after they defeated the great city of Jericho. The cause of defeat was a hidden sin Achan committed. Through the defeat of Israel in today’s passage, we realize the reality of sin.

Joshua and the people of Israel, who conquered the great Jericho, did not conquer the community’s sin caused by greed. Joshua’s reputation spread throughout Canaan. However, Joshua failed to defeat due to the sin of one man in the Israeli community.

Sin was the cause of God’s fierce anger. Although God stands with Israel’s people, loves them, and cares for them, one man’s sin immediately brought about God’s wrath.

Sin lowers us. God lowered Israel in the face of nations. Sin causes misery and defeat. The small city of Ai defeated the Israelites who conquered Jericho. Sin blocks God’s grace. Sin results in ruin and defeat. This is God’s irrevocable law.

Sin has a significant influence. One man’s sins affected the entire Israeli community. If one part of the body is ill, the whole body is sick. Therefore, we should intercede for each other’s sins. The influence of sin goes down to the children. Even the sons and daughters of Achan were stoned to death. As such, the result of sin is serious.

Sin will be revealed one day. God was watching the secret sins of one man. One day, even a tiny secret sin will be revealed unless it is dealt with through thorough repentance and be removed.

How did this sin begin in the Israeli community? Achan’s sins began with his failure to obey God’s order. God ordered that Jericho’s plunders were to be given to God, and nothing should be taken. But Achan ignored this God’s orders and warnings, and he robbed some. Do not break even a single word of God. If We did, we should confess and repent and be cleansed.

• Sin to avoid: Do not break any of God’s word.
• Promise to hold: God is holy.
• Action to take place: Fear God and do not sin, Do not violate any of God’s words.

PRAYER

Thank you, Heavenly Father, for forgiving all my sins. Keep me, my daughter, and our church from the influence of sin. Please protect us that any sin can not touch any of ICC believers.

“Jesus’ name is all over the land”

SCRIPTURE

Joshua 6:27. So the Lord was with Joshua, and his fame spread throughout the land.

OBSERVATION

Summary
Jericho is conquered, Rahab’s family is saved as promised, and Joshua’s fame spreads. Those who rebuild the city, Jericho, will be cursed.

Who is God
• The fame of Jesus spreads.
• God keeps his word.
• God can conquer impossible cities

APPLICATION
Now Jericho is conquered, and Joshua’s fame spreads throughout the land. What kind of Jericho is holding up for us. When our Jericho collapses, the reputation of Jesus Christ, our captain, spreads all over the world. “Jesus’ name spreads all over the land.” For the name of the Lord, Jericho, which is everywhere, must be conquered. All the histories of disobedience that are closed to God and follow Satan’s command must be destroyed in the name of Jesus. The people of Israel obeyed Joshua. The Jericho, which the king of Canaan governed, was conquered. The permission for a cafe in Tunisia was not approved. So I asked for intercessory prayer, and now finally, we’ve got the approval. Jericho was collapsed. Now Jesus’ name will be spread to Tunisia. A huge Hindu idol held out on the 7th mountain of India is collapsing. Seven churches were building, and Jesus’ name spreads. Hallelujah!

The church must win the conquest of Jericho, large and small. Jesus gave one common message to the seven churches of the Revelation. “Be an overcomer.” The churches of this earth must conquer the great and small Jericho. A person with haunted symptoms is coming to church recently. The Jericho in him should be destroyed. The Jericho of hate in the family should be destroyed. A sister, who has been praying for a long time due to her husband’s gambling addiction, gives amazing testimony. She says her husband’s addiction has disappeared, and he will come to church soon. The husband was an unborn believer. The Jericho of soft gambling has collapsed.

Let’s not be discouraged in front of Jericho, which is holding firm, but pray, praise, proclaim the gospel, and conquer Jericho, so that we may spread the fame of Jesus, our captain, all over the land. Let’s conquer Jericho of cancer, Jericho of recession or distrust. Furthermore, let’s pray for the conquest of all kinds of Jericho in the whole world, which is led by satan and headed for hell. I hope and pray that the fame of our Lord Jesus Christ, who works in our church, will be known all over the world.

• Sin to avoid: Do not give up or discourage in front of Jericho.
• Promise to hold: If we rely on the covenant of Jesus, Jericho will be collapsed.
• Action to take place: let’s challenge the conquest of Jericho of distrust in the family.

PRAYER

Father God, remember my family that still don’t believe in Jesus. Remember, our church member’s families who do not believe. Let the Jericho of unbelief, which stands in them, be conquered. So let the name of Jesus spread all over the earth. Amen.

“Praise returning Jesus more loudly”

SCRIPTURE

Joshua 6:20. When the trumpets sounded, the people shouted, and at the sound of the trumpet, when the people gave a loud shout, the wall collapsed, so every man charged straight in, and they took the city.

OBSERVATION

Summary
Finally, on the last day, with a loud shout, Jericho’s great castle collapsed and was conquered by the people of Israel. All the things of Jericho are dedicated to God, and the people of Israel must not take any of them.

Who is God
• God does miracles. He judges any strongest city.
• God fulfills His promise.
• God distinguishes particular objects, animals, or people and takes them as His possession.

APPLICATION

On the seventh day, with the seventh shofar’s loud sound, the Israelites gave the biggest shout, and the Jericho wall collapsed. This falling Jericho incident reminds me of Rev. 11:15, where we read what happened when the seventh trumpet was blasted. There were loud voices in heaven, which is very similar to the loud shout of the Israelites when Jericho’s falling. Revelation reveals the loud voices in heaven were nonetheless the powerful praise of angels. Therefore, we can assume that the loud shout of the Israelites should be great praises for God.

The shouts Israelites gave should be a loud tribute to the Lord, the King of kings who conquers and rules Jericho. This must be a shout of joy and a shout of praise. How the angels praise God with the seventh trumpet sound? “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and his Messiah, and he will reign forever and ever.” Twenty-four Elders praise, “We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was because you have taken your great power, and have begun to reign. The nations were angry, and your wrath has come. The time has come for judging the dead, and for rewarding your servants the prophets and your people who revere your name, both great and small—. and for destroying those who destroy the earth.”

With this praise, God’s temple in heaven was opened, and within his temple was seen the ark of his covenant. And there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake, and a severe hailstorm. When genuine prayers and praise are offered to the Lord, heaven will be open, and God will perform miraculous deliverance. In front of our own Jericho that blocks our way to Canaan, we should praise God with all our strength. We must continue to praise the Lord loudly with joy shouting, “King Jesus, come quickly to the earth. I invite you to be my King.”

As our praise goes up in each service, the gates of heaven will be open at every turn. The hidden revelation of God will be made. The key to the victory of the churches in the end time must be in praise. Let us praise the Lord who has become the King of kings with all my might. Let’s welcome the Lord, who will be back with all enthusiasm. Hearty praise breaks down the impossible Jericho. Hallelujah! A praising church wins.

• Sin to avoid: I repent of not being able to praise God with all my might.
• Promise to hold: God dwells in the midst of praise.
• Action to take place: Raise my voice more to praise the almighty King.

PRAYER

I raise Jesus Christ, the King of all kings. I praise Jesus Christ, who will come again and destroy Satan’s kingdom. Jesus, come quickly and rule over this land. I praise my King, Christ, forever. Maranata!

“Preach the gospel of Jesus Christ”

SCRIPTURE

Joshua 6:13. The seven priests with the rams’ horns marched in front of the Ark of the Lord, blowing their horns. Again the armed men marched both in front of the priests with the horns and behind the Ark of the Lord. All this time, the priests were blowing their horns.

OBSERVATION

Summary
In obedience to Joshua’s instructions, the priests blew the ram’s horns, followed by the ark of the covenant, and the people marched for six days around the Jericho wall without saying a word.

Who is God
• God conquers the impossible like Jericho wall.
• God wants us to preach the gospel like blowing the ram’s horns
• God doesn’t want us to say unnecessary words.
• God wants us to be patient and obedient to the end.

APPLICATION

In the course of the conquest of Jericho, today, I would like to meditate on God’s command to blow the ram’s horns. The priests had to blow ram’s horns every day for six days. On the seventh day, they had to blow longer. In the Bible, a ram’s horn symbolizes God’s presence. The first ram’s horn was made when Abraham was going to offer Isaac as a burnt offering. At that time, God prepared a ram that portrayed Jesus Christ. Therefore, blowing the ram’s horns means preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. The sound of the ram’s horns must have meant a warning of upcoming judgment to Jericho residents who did not believe in God. They had to be warned every day. However, for the people of God, the sound of ram’s horns must be a message of comfort and courage. We should also listen to the message of Jesus Christ every day to gain daily comfort and courage.

In front of Jericho, which was still tightly closed, the priests had to blow ram’s horns every day. In the presence of unbelievers who are firmly closing their hearts, we must proclaim and preach the gospel of Jesus Christ in season or out of season. The people of Jericho had to hear the message that the Canaanite king does not rule the world. They had to listen to the truth that there is one God who creates and governs this world and that the whole world is moved in His hand. God might have wanted Jericho’s residents to repent and surrender to Israel before it is destroyed like Rajab. God must have desired to save one more soul from the destruction of Jericho.
When the seventh blow of the ram’s horns, Jericho was supposed to collapse. In Rev. 10:7, “When the seventh angel blows his trumpet, God’s mysterious plan will be fulfilled. It will happen just as he announced it to his servants the prophets.” I think it may mean the returning of the Messiah and the establishment of His kingdom. We must proclaim the message of judgment and the Messiah’s returning diligently as the end is coming nearer. As the end approaches, the trumpets of the gospel should be blown longer and louder. Bible said that the Lord would come back when the gospel is preached to the end of the world. We must blow the trumpet of the gospel to the end of the world. God is looking for a church that preaches the gospel diligently every day. He is looking for a church that does its best to spread the gospel to the ends of the earth.

• Sin to avoid: I regret that I did not preach harder.
• Promise to hold: Only those who believe in the gospel of Jesus Christ will be saved from judgment.
• Action to take place: Boldly proclaim the gospel.

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, like the priests who blow the ram’s horns every day faithfully, we want to preach the gospel and do evangelism every day faithfully. Let more saints in our church understand your heart to save one more soul from the upcoming eternal destruction and obey the Last Commission’s call. Please send us more workers for the harvest! Amen.

“Pray for the conquest of the impossible”

Joshua 6:3. You and your fighting men should march around the town once a day for six days.

OBSERVATION

Summary

God promises Joshua that Jericho will be conquered and teaches him specific ways to overcome it.

Who is God

• God promises a final victory in the war against Satan

• God wants the saints to pray without being discouraged.

APPLICATION

As the first verse says, Jericho closes the door to Joshua and the people of Israel and obeys the Canaanite king. At the Canaanite king’s instruction, they were firmly closing the doors to Joshua and the people of Israel. Joshua portrays Jesus Christ and the King of Canaan, the Antichrist or Satan, and Jericho Babylon. And the people of Israel who follow Joshua represent the church that follows Jesus. Just as Jericho closed its doors to Joshua and the people of Israel, this world is closing doors to Jesus and the people of God. 

But surely Jesus and His kingdom will prevail. Joshua and Israelites might have been intimidated and afraid, for Jericho was standing so strong and huge. But God promises that the people of Israel will be indeed victorious. In the same way, saints can sometimes be discouraged by the influence of this world. But the Bible promises that the church that follows Jesus must prevail. Great Babylon is bound to fall, and Jesus will reign as the king of all kings.

How did the Israeli community conquer Jericho? They first had to march around the Jericho wall. The people of Israel would have prayed that Jericho would be conquered during the march. Likewise, even if there is no sign of collapse or surrender, we should continue to pray for the fall of Jericho with patience. We must continue to pray for Jericho to collapse in Jesus Christ’s name and belong to Jesus. Even though Jericho is still standing proudly in front of us, we still have to pray for its surrender with faith. Our prayers must be answered. It was through a steady prayer march of the Israeli community that Jericho collapsed. Just as a weak, shabby earthworm-like Jacob can be used as a sharp new threshing machine, the weak and humble prayers bring victory to destroy great Babylon. Prayers of the upright transcend the capabilities of nuclear missiles.

God wants His churches to open their eyes to this amazing power of prayer. God wants them to wake up and pay attention to how the people of Israel who had no power in the desert conquered the great Jericho. Of course, God did, but He used men. Likewise, God conquers the impossible like Jericho wall standing in front of us. But He needs our prayers. Our prayers have such great power to destroy the greatest wall standing against God. The praying saints win. Don’t give up and pray for the hardened soul as hard as the Jericho to open to Jesus.

• Sin to avoid: Don’t be overwhelmed by seemingly impossible situations, and do not give up prayers.
• Promise to hold: God answers prayers and conquers the impossible like Jericho.
• Action to take place: Do not give up praying for the closed souls like Jericho to open their hearts to Jesus.

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, there are people whose hearts are so closed to you, like the Jericho. It looks impossible for them to open their heart to you in human eyes. However, I won’t give up praying for them. If we pray, I believe, you will conquer their hardened heart and win their souls. I decide again to pray in faith for the hardened and closed souls like Jericho wall so that they may open their hearts to you, Lord. Amen!

“Take off your shoes”

SCRIPTURE

Joshua 5:15. The commander of the Lord’s army replied, “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so.

OBSERVATION

Summary
The Israelites observed Passover after being circumcised, and the commander of the Lord’s army appeared before Joshua and commanded him to take off his sandals.

Who is God
• God fights for His obedient children.
• God wants to be humble before Him.

APPLICATION

To the people of Israel who obeyed circumcision and observed Passover, God teaches the secret of victory. An angel of the Lord, the commander of the Lord’s army, met Joshua in person. This means that the war Israel faces is now the war of God since Israelites belonged to God by obedience. And the commander of the Lord’s army tells Joshua to take off his sandals from his feet. Only slaves took off their sandals at that time. “Take off your shoes! “This command means for Joshua to be low and humble in the position of a slave before God. I think it teaches us a very important lesson that leads to victory. “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you in due time.” 1 Peter 5: 6.

God gives grace to the humble and exalts the lowly in the heart. Humility is to give up self-assertion and to rely on God entirely. It is the lifestyle of Jesus’s Beatitudes. When Jesus humbled himself until death by obedience, God lifted Him above all things in heaven and earth.

As Adam’s sin is inherited, arrogance and pride have been the rooted natures of human beings. When God gives us success and prosperity, human beings become easily prideful instead of giving God glory. “No one from the east or the west or the desert can exalt themselves. It is God who judges: He brings one down, he exalts another.” Ps. 75:6-7. God gave Joshua great honor and success in front of the neighboring countries and among the Israel people. In such a situation, however, God tells Joshua to be lower like a slave. “Take off your shoes.” “Lower yourself like a slave.” Humility leads us to God. So humility is also leading us to victory. Learn to be more humble before God and man.

• Sin to void: I repent that my heart sometimes grows prideful with the situation.
• Promise to hold: God honors the humble.
• Action to take place: Be humble under God’s mighty hands.

PRAYER

Father God, let my heart be filled only with you, Lord and let me enjoy quiet satisfaction in your presence. I want to remain always as your humble servant. Grant me your heart. Amen.