Read Joshua 3:1-17.
What daily routines do you have in your life?
While the activities we do periodically (such as once a month or twice a year) can be good for us, it is our daily habits that make us who we are and give our life rhythm. We often call these daily routines “spiritual disciplines.”
To give us inspiration to develop some helpful routines, let’s look at Joshua. This book is great to read because of its amazing stories and because it gives us a peek into the nature of Jesus (both names mean “the Lord saves” in different languages). The book of Joshua also teaches us how to live a victorious and courageous life.
In Joshua 3, God’s people had just left the wilderness and were heading toward the Promised Land. However, something was in the way: the Jordan River. Thankfully, God not only had a plan for how they would cross the river, but also how they would get ready.
We read in verses 1-6 that after the Israelites arrived at the coast of the Jordan, they set up camp and rested for three days. Why did they rest for so long? Well, if you think a road trip in a car with your kids is tough, imagine hiking for five miles with more than 3 million people (plus their animals and every possession they own)! They rested to reset from the journey they just finished and to get ready for one ahead.
Then Joshua (a great shepherd-leader) sent his officers throughout the camp to explain God’s plan. One important detail was that everyone would need to stay back a half mile from the ark of the covenant. The ark was the large, iconic box carried on poles by priests that held three artifacts to remind people of God’s power: the Ten Commandments, Aaron’s rod that budded, and some manna. The ark also gave them a special connection to the presence and guidance of God. They had to stay so far back so the crowd of people could see it in front and follow it.
After everyone received their instructions, Joshua told them in verse 5 to “consecrate” themselves, which meant to clean up, get focused, and get ready. This reminds me of how my high school football coach would tell us to “get our mind right” before the game. This normally involved listening to music, getting our equipment together, and thinking about our playbook. By the time my cleats hit the field, I was psyched up and ready to go. That is what God wanted for his people, too.
Next, Joshua called his troops together and gave his final pep talk in verse 11 to “come here and listen to the words of the LORD your God.” Joshua didn’t tell them how it would happen, but he promised that God was going to “without fail” work powerfully and give them the land he had promised.
Then they set out.
As soon as the priests’ feet hit the water, the river parted and “stood and rose up in a heap very far away” (verse 16) to allow those millions of people to walk through on dry ground. It would have been amazing to behold the miraculous work of God at that moment. Just as he promised, this was a clear sign for everyone that God was alive, present, trustworthy, and powerful. If God could part the waters, he could defeat their enemies!
After taking the time to rest well, consecrate themselves, receive instructions, and follow the presence of God, they were poised to experience the working of God. Considering this passage, we can learn four routines to start doing every day in order to experience the working of God in our own lives as well.
1. Rest well.
Many people are so “plugged in,” stressed by work and coping with unhealthy habits that they do not often sleep well at night. But to be fully awake, aware, and active during the day, we have to develop a rhythm of good rest.
2. Consecrate yourself.
Consecrating yourself involves the “Pray First” principle. In the morning, before you get up, grab your phone, watch the news, make coffee, or whatever you do: pray. In that short prayer, thank God for the day, ask for his direction, and submit yourself to his will. You do not have to pray long, but pray first.
3. Receive instructions.
While God speaks to us in a variety of ways (such as through songs, experiences, and other people), the main way that we can hear God speak and receive his instructions is through reading his spoken and written Word. Reading the Bible is an indispensable daily rhythm for Christians.
4. Follow God.
Following God means that we take what we read in the Bible and put it into practice. It means that we follow the Holy Spirit’s prompting after asking for wisdom to make the right decision. It means we do as Jesus said in Matthew 6:33 to “seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness.” Attending a worship service and Small Group once a week is important, too, but the rhythm of following God must be daily.
These four routines of resting, consecrating, receiving, and following will lead us to experience God more fully in our lives. I know this because God is already working. We just do not always have our spiritual eyes open to recognize his hand at work.
As we reflect on these truths, let’s ask ourselves these tough questions:
- What do we need to stop doing to rest better at night?
- How can we remind ourselves to consecrate ourselves and pray first to start each day?
- Where in the Bible do we need to start reading to receive God’s instructions?
- What distractions do we need to eliminate to hear God’s voice and follow him more closely?
As you put these daily rhythms into practice, write down ways you see God working and share them with another believer in Christ.
Photo Credit: ©Pexels/Jean-Daniel Francoeur
