Reading With the People of God #7 CommitmentSample

Memorization Challenge:

6 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. 7 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. 8 Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. 9 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 1:6-9 NLT)

Reading Primer: Praise, Give Him Praise!

Have you ever had times where you felt you were being trampled upon or oppressed, days where everywhere you turn, there is a fight? Have you ever had your words misconstrued or your every move scrutinized? Or maybe you have fears and are afraid. When I was young, I was afraid of the dark. I could not walk alone into a dark room or down a dark hall. Someone had to be with me, or all the lights had to be on. That sounds silly; my Dad thought so, too. Whether real or irrational, we feel them, but we do not have to fear them.

These words in Psalm 56 never get old; we can never outgrow them. I would sing these words, which helped me overcome my fear of the dark. When I am afraid, I will trust in You. A deeper meditation on the Psalm brings up relationship. In order to trust in God, we must know God. The Holy Spirit builds and expands our understanding of God as we read the Bible and meditate on the words. Our God is relational and wants us to know Him. He wants us to run to Him when we feel our world is crashing in on us or when our fears get the better of us. Casting all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7 He is our safe place, and we can bring whatever we are going through to Him. Verse 4 goes on to say,

In God, whose word I praise,

In God I have put my trust.

In God, is Who we trust in and Who we Praise.

Giving praise to God makes all the difference. Praise, give Him praise! For all God is and all He has done, worship and praise Him.

- Laurie Harry, Artist