Devotional:
On that day Deborah and Barak son of Abinoam sang this song: “Israel’s leaders took charge, and the people gladly followed. Praise the Lord! (Judges 5:1-2) 

In this chapter, Deborah and Barak celebrate the victory God gave them over Jabin, the King of Canaan. The leaders in Israel took the lead and many of the people did their part, risking their lives (verse 18) as together they defeated their enemy. But unfortunately, not everyone joined in. The tribes of Reuben, Dan, Asher and Gilead as well as the people of the town of Meroz sat on the sidelines or stayed home. Where are you today? Are you using your gifts and abilities, joining with God’s people to share the good news of God’s love and forgiveness in Jesus? Or are you sitting on the sidelines? “Just as each one has received a gift, use it to serve others, as good stewards of the varied grace of God” (1 Peter 4:10). People will bless the Lord for you as you offer yourself willingly to serve Him.

Pray it:
Father, thank you for the gifts that you have given me to serve you and bless others. Help me to utilize them faithfully so that you may receive honor and praise. Amen.

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Devotional:
Then Deborah said to Barak, “Get ready! This is the day the Lord will give you victory over Sisera, for the Lord is marching ahead of you.” So Barak led his 10,000 warriors down the slopes of Mount Tabor into battle. (Judges 4:14)  

Ten thousand men follow Barak. Barak follows the Lord who goes before him, and the Lord was also leading two strong women, Deborah and Jael. As Deborah, Jael and Barak followed the Lord, He gave Israel victory over King Jabin, General Sisera, and the Canaanites who had oppressed them for 20 years.  What enemies, struggles or battles are you facing today? Who are you following? Jesus says in John 12:26, “If anyone serves me, he must follow me. Where I am, there my servant also will be.” As Deborah, Jael and Barak followed the Lord, He went before them and helped them. As you follow the Lord, He will go before you, too, and help you with the challenges you face today.

Pray it:
Father, I thank you for going before me and for fighting my battles. Help me to follow you and see how you are stronger than the battles and struggles that I face this day. Amen.

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Devotional:
But when the people of Israel cried out to the Lord for help, the Lord raised up a rescuer to save them. His name was Othniel, the son of Caleb’s younger brother, Kenaz. The Spirit of the Lord came upon him, and he became Israel’s judge. He went to war against King Cushan-rishathaim of Aram, and the Lord gave Othniel victory over him. So there was peace in the land for forty years. Then Othniel son of Kenaz died. (Judges 3:9-11)

In Judges 3 we see a pattern that repeats itself several times in the book. The people of Israel rebel against God. God sends a neighboring nation to defeat and rule over them. After a time under foreign domination, the Israelites cry out to God. In His mercy, God sends a judge (a deliverer and ruler) to save them from their enemy. While the judge rules, the people have rest from their enemies, but after the judge dies, the cycle begins again. Today, Jesus is our deliverer and ruler. We sin and rebel against him, but the good news is that when we cry out to him and confess our sins, he rescues us. Unlike the people of Israel in Judges, let’s not wait years; rather, let us quickly repent and enjoy the rest Jesus gives from the trouble of our sin and our enemy, Satan.

Pray it:
Father, I confess that I often reject you as ruler. Forgive me of my sin and help me enjoy the rest that is found through submitting to you and following your ways each day. Amen.

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Devotional:
The Israelites did evil in the Lord’s sight and served the images of Baal. They abandoned the Lord, the God of their ancestors, who had brought them out of Egypt. They went after other gods, worshiping the gods of the people around them. And they angered the Lord. (Judges 2:11-12)

Things started out so well in the first few verses of Judges 1, as the people sought the Lord and captured more territory. However, things quickly deteriorated and the people failed to conquer all of the Promised Land because they abandoned the Lord and began to serve false gods. How did this happen? “After them another generation rose up who did not know the Lord or the works he had done for Israel” (Judges 2:10). This chapter makes it clear that we need to be deliberate in sharing our faith with our own generation and with the generations that follow us. Are you sharing the good news of God’s love and forgiveness in Jesus Christ with the children and youth you know? Are you telling them what the Lord has done for you? 

Pray it:
Father, help me to remember what you have done for me in Christ and to share that message with the generations that follow me. Make the generation that is rising up now be a generation that knows and follows you. Amen.

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Devotional:
The men of Judah said to their relatives from the tribe of Simeon, “Join with us to fight against the Canaanites living in the territory allotted to us. Then we will help you conquer your territory.” So the men of Simeon went with Judah. (Judges 1:3)

Under the leadership of Joshua, the people of Israel began to conquer the Promised Land. As the book of Judges opens, Joshua has died but the people, at least initially, look to God for direction as they continue to conquer the land. So one of the strongest of Israel’s twelve tribes, Judah, invites one of the weakest, Simeon, to join forces so that together they can conquer the territories given to them.  And with the Lord’s help, that is exactly what they do. They are brothers working together in unity. Can the same be said of us? Today may we find joy in joining forces as sisters and brothers in Christ as we gather, grow, give and go to serve the Lord, one another, and the world around us.  

Pray it:
Father, thank you for those in my church community and for the other churches in our community. Help us to resist the temptation of disunity and work together as we seek to share your name and your love to the world around us. Amen.

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Devotional:
The people of Israel served the Lord throughout the lifetime of Joshua and of the elders who outlived him—those who had personally experienced all that the Lord had done for Israel. (Joshua 24:31)

Joshua had led Israel to inherit the land God had promised so long ago. The people were inspired by his faith, and they recognized that God had been with them the entire way. Joshua knew that when he died the people would have a choice to make, so he challenged them to “choose this day whom you will serve.” There comes a time in our lives when we need to make that faith our own and continue to lead others towards ever-increasing faith and hope in God. Let your legacy be Joshua’s unwavering declaration, “but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

Pray it:
Father, thank you for the faithful people who have gone before me who have pointed me to you and showed me how to follow you. Help me to be that person for the next generations, providing them a good model of faith and challenging them to have their own faith and commitment to you. Amen.

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Devotional:
So be very careful to love the Lord your God. (Joshua 23:11)

It is easy to put God on the backburner when life is going well. Joshua reminded them that all the good things they were experiencing were from God. They needed to stay faithful and continue to follow God, or He could just as quickly take them away. Is God first in your life? Do you run to God in the good times or only when things look desperate? The world is full of distraction and temptation. Blessings can lull us into a false sense of confidence in ourselves. Be very careful to love God in all times, remembering His never failing, caring love for us.

Pray it:
Father, I thank you for the blessings that you bestow upon me that should remind me of your faithfulness and evoke faithfulness from me. I confess that I forget all the good things that come from you and thank you for the promise of forgiveness I have in Christ. Amen.

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Devotional:
Phinehas son of Eleazar, the priest, replied to them, “Today we know the Lord is among us because you have not committed this treachery against the Lord as we thought. Instead, you have rescued Israel from being destroyed by the hand of the Lord.” (Joshua 22:31)

The people of Israel were God’s children. Even though they were separating to settle different lands, and some were divided by the Jordan River, they were united through faith in the one true God. This meant that their actions, even at a distance, affected the entire nation. The three tribes east of the Jordan River made an altar as a witness to their shared faith, and the tribes to the west wanted to be sure that faith wasn’t lost. Today, all believers are united by faith. We need to continually celebrate those ties while also holding each other accountable. It doesn’t matter if we are divided by geography, culture, or race, we all serve the same God and should stay committed to strengthening our unity in Christ so that we can also proclaim that ‘we know that the Lord is in our midst.’

Pray it:
Father, help us to remember the unity that we have with others who worship you and whose salvation has been purchased through the one that all the sacrifices pointed to – Jesus! Protect this unity and use this unity to show the world of the reality of your work in our lives. Amen.

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Devotional:
And the Lord gave them rest on every side, just as he had solemnly promised their ancestors. None of their enemies could stand against them, for the Lord helped them conquer all their enemies. Not a single one of all the good promises the Lord had given to the family of Israel was left unfulfilled; everything he had spoken came true. (Joshua 21:44-45)

This was what the Israelites had been moving toward from the time they left Egypt. Through all the wandering, fighting, doubt, and loss, God had been with them. They finally had rest and a land to call home. Sometimes God’s promises seem far off, and they rarely seem to come as quickly as we’d like, but just like the Israelites, God is molding us on the journey. God promises us rest and a home, too – an eternal home, a home where we rest in Him. No matter where life takes you, trust that God will keep His promises and be patient as your trials build your faith. God always keeps His promises. Always.

Pray it:
Father, I praise you because none of your promises fail to prove true. Help me to remember that and trust you when I find myself in seasons of waiting. Amen.

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Devotional:
“Now tell the Israelites to designate the cities of refuge, as I instructed Moses. Anyone who kills another person accidentally and unintentionally can run to one of these cities; they will be places of refuge from relatives seeking revenge for the person who was killed. (Joshua 20:2-3)

God knows that all people have a strong inclination for vengeance. The punishment for murder of any kind was death, and God, though just, was also merciful. God knows that accidents happen, and He knows how dangerous the cycle of revenge can be. These cities of refuge reflect the perfect balance of God’s justice and mercy. Are you quick to judge? Do you display mercy for unintentional hurts? Make space in your heart to give refuge to those the world might judge too quickly.

Pray it:
Father, help me to resist the need for vengeance and instead to trust you for justice. May you also create in me a heart of mercy like yours, showing the same mercy you have on me to those around me. Amen.

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Devotional:
But the tribe of Dan had trouble taking possession of their land, so they attacked the town of Laish. They captured it, slaughtered its people, and settled there. They renamed the town Dan after their ancestor. (Joshua 19:47).

Life can sometimes feel a little like the inheritance for Dan. There aren’t many details in this brief story, but it seems that Dan’s piece of the Promised Land was lost and then won back. Sometimes we feel like we are owed the good things we have, but promises need to be protected. Marriage, parenting, relationships, even our faith – we need to contend for all of them. Thank God for His promises and never let them go.

Pray it:
Father, I thank you that you promise to never let me go, that no one can ever snatch me from your hand. May that promise cause me to be committed to the people around me and to contend for my faith even in trying times. Amen.

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Devotional:
Then Joshua asked them, “How long are you going to wait before taking possession of the remaining land the Lord, the God of your ancestors, has given to you? (Joshua 18:3).

There were seven tribes that still hadn’t received the lands they were promised. Actually, the lands that Joshua was doling out hadn’t even been conquered yet, and so Joshua asked the Israelites what they were waiting for. Do you know where God is calling you in life? Maybe it’s a place He wants you to go, or a person He wants you to reach, or a ministry He wants you to start. Whatever it is, be certain that He has a fruitful plan for your life. So what are you waiting for? Don’t wait for your inheritance to come to you, go out, survey the promised land, and take possession of the unique purpose God has in store for you! 

Pray it:
Father, help me not to miss out on your blessings and goodness because of inactivity. Show me where I need to step forward in faith and strengthen me through your Spirit to take that step so that I might see and experience your power and grace in my life.

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Devotional:
The descendants of Joseph came to Joshua and asked, “Why have you given us only one portion of land as our homeland when the Lord has blessed us with so many people?” (Joshua 17:14)

Of course, the division of the land among the people was not without its challenges. The people of Joseph were dissatisfied with the amount of land they had been given, and Joshua agreed to give them more…with a catch. The land that was given was forested; it would take work to claim it. There were also Canaanites living there; they would have to fight for it. Jesus came to take away our sins, but that doesn’t mean that a life of following Jesus will always be easy. Faith takes work, and we need to fight lingering sin in our lives. In Christ we are promised a hope and a future. Are you willing to work for it? Are you willing to fight for it?  

Pray it:
Father, help me to remember the truth that I did nothing to earn my inheritance through Christ but that I am also called to “work out my salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:2). Enable me, by your Spirit, to discover even more of the transformed life that is mine in and through Christ. Amen.

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Devotional:
They did not drive the Canaanites out of Gezer, however, so the people of Gezer live as slaves among the people of Ephraim to this day. (Joshua 16:10)

The total destruction of the people that Israel fought often seems like overkill. Apparently, the people of Israel must have thought so too, because they didn’t destroy the Canaanites in Gezer. Big deal, right?  Wrong. These Canaanites served false gods, which in turn, the Israelites often adopted as their own. This tendency toward idolatry would plague Israel throughout history and ultimately cost them the land they now called home. Sometimes God’s commands don’t make sense to us. Sometimes things that are bad for us don’t seem too bad. God’s way is always the best way. Disobedience to God’s commands can have consequences that last for generations. God is always faithful. Are we?

Pray it:
Father, reveal to me anything that I am tolerating in my life that might pull me away from you. Give me the strength to remove these things from my life so that I can follow you more faithfully and live more joyfully. Amen.

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Devotional:
Caleb drove out the three groups of Anakites—the descendants of Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai, the sons of Anak. (Joshua 15:14) 

Poetic justice. Caleb, now 85 years old, has driven out the Anakites and taken their cities for his own. It’s a fitting victory since the Anakites were the very giants who drove the original 10 spies back to Moses in fear. Caleb’s faithfulness and confidence in God has brought him back to this point of victory over Israel’s foe, 45 years later. God’s timing and our timing don’t always match up, but He is faithful to His promises in His own time.

Pray it:
Father, help me to remember that the things that naturally strike fear into my heart stand powerless compared to you. Enable me to live in confidence because of your power and promises and to step forward into challenges in hope. Amen.

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Devotional:
“Now, as you can see, the Lord has kept me alive and well as he promised for all these forty-five years since Moses made this promise—even while Israel wandered in the wilderness. Today I am eighty-five years old. (Joshua 14:10)

Part of trusting God involves patience. His promises are not always immediately apparent. Caleb trusted God to keep His promises through forty years of wandering and five years of war. Through all of the waiting, Caleb never stopped following God. What promises are you waiting for? Don’t let time dull your trust. God is faithful and His promises are true. God is worth the wait, so be patient and follow Him wherever He leads.

Pray it:
Father, I confess that I am often impatient and that such impatience is a reflection of a lack of trust in you, that you will do what you have promised and that your promises are good. Help me to remember that your promises have never failed and always arrive at just the right time. Amen.

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Devotional:
When Joshua was an old man, the Lord said to him, “You are growing old, and much land remains to be conquered.  (Joshua 13:1)

Joshua was getting old, but there was still work to be done. No single person can do it all. God fought for Israel and would continue to do so if they remained faithful. Maybe Joshua couldn’t rush off into battle anymore, but he could divide up the land. As we grow older, we may retire from our jobs, but we are never too old to serve God. True, our roles may change, even our abilities may change, but God can still use us. How is God using you? Whether old or young, weak or strong, God has a place and a role for you to fill. Are you ready to serve Him?

Pray it:
Father, it is easy to look at the past or the future and to forget the ways that I can serve you and bless others in the season of life I find myself now. Help me to remember that you never stop working and never stop inviting me to follow you and serve your ways in this world. Amen.

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Devotional:
These are the kings east of the Jordan River who had been killed by the Israelites and whose land was taken. Their territory extended from the Arnon Gorge to Mount Hermon and included all the land east of the Jordan Valley. (Joshua 12:1)

Sometimes we just need to stop and look back. Today’s chapter takes some time to list out 31 different kings defeated by Israel in the taking of the Promised Land. While the chapters leading up to this point have explored in detail some of the battles, chapter 12 gives a flyby of these battles to reflect on how far God has brought His people. All too often we get wrapped up in what is happening to us now. It is good to look back – to reflect on the faithfulness of God in our lives, how far we’ve come, how far He’s brought us. Take some time today to reflect. Look back and thank God for His faithfulness in your journey thus far.

Pray it:
Father, I praise you for the ways that you have shown yourself faithful in my life over the years. Help me to look back and remember what you have done for me so that I can walk confidently forward in life, trusting you each step of the way. Amen.

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Devotional:
So Joshua took control of the entire land, just as the Lord had instructed Moses. He gave it to the people of Israel as their special possession, dividing the land among the tribes. So the land finally had rest from war. (Joshua 11:23)

This chapter is full of the death and destruction of the people of Canaan. These are not the kinds of stories that we read to our children at bedtime. And yet, it is ultimately a story about God’s ferocious love for His people. God had promised to be Israel’s God. He had promised them a home and a future with Him, but to achieve it, He needed to blot out all temptation and evil from their midst. God still ferociously loves His people, so much so that He sent His Son to blot out our sins. God invites you into the rest that Christ secured; devote your life to fighting any sin that keeps you from entering in.

Pray it:
Father, I thank you for being faithful to your promises that we read about in Joshua. Help me to be like Joshua and to be faithful in my obedience to your commands, fighting back and seeking to eliminate the sin that fights against my soul each day. Amen.

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Devotional:
There has never been a day like this one before or since, when the Lord answered such a prayer. Surely the Lord fought for Israel that day! (Joshua 10:14)

This story is astounding for many reasons. It almost appears that Joshua is telling God what to do, when in actuality, God is in control and Joshua is falling in line with His will. It was always God’s plan and promise that Israel would have the land of Canaan, and time and again, He fought for Israel despite their disobedience and distrust. Joshua’s trust and dependence on God resulted in amazing victories, yet the victory always belonged to the Lord. God isn’t a genie who grants our every wish. We will probably never make the sun stand still, but when we seek God’s will over our own, the Son will rest in us.

Pray it:
Father, I thank you for listening to me when I cry out to you. Renew my heart more and more so that the things I seek and desire are your will rather than my preferences. Amen.

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Devotional:
So the Israelites examined their food, but they did not consult the Lord. (Joshua 9:14)

The Israelites made an alliance with the people of Gibeon based on false pretenses, without asking what God wanted them to do. Sometimes the path we should take seems clear to us, and we don’t feel like we need guidance from God. But life isn’t always clear cut. God sees everything. He knows everything. God has a plan for us that is always for our good, but the only way to follow it is to seek Him…always! What decisions are you faced with? Are you seeking God’s will for your life or making plans on your own? Remember, God is for you and His way will always turn out for your good.

Pray it:
Father, guide me in both the big decisions and the small ones I make each day, showing me where others are deceiving me and I might be deceiving myself. Lead me not only into making the right decisions, but always back to you and seeking your will each day. Amen.

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Devotional:
Joshua then read to them all the blessings and curses Moses had written in the Book of Instruction. (Joshua 8:34)

The Israelites had just won a tremendous victory against Ai. It might have been easy to celebrate and be proud of what they had done, but Joshua chose instead to read the Law to all of Israel. The first campaign against Ai had ended disastrously because the people hadn’t followed God’s commands, so Joshua reminded the people of the God they served, and he read everything — blessings and curses. It is good to remind ourselves that blessings flow from obedience, but there are consequences for sin. All of it comes from the same God. Trust Him and stay faithful in studying what He has to say.

Pray it:
Father, help me to remember that I can’t rely upon yesterday’s obedience for today or tomorrow. Help me to pause to celebrate the blessings you place in my life with remembrance of you and continued obedience to your ways. Amen.

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Devotional:
“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. (Joshua 7:13)

God commands obedience from His people, but often, when suffering the consequences of our mistakes, we cry out to God to make things right again. God, though, wants us to face our troubles and get to work rooting out the secret sins in our lives. Jesus died to take the punishment for our sins, but when sin causes us to stumble, God still urges us to get up and fix what we’ve broken in our lives. No matter what is bringing you down today, get up and stand in God’s strength to rid yourself of the ‘sin that so easily entangles’ (see Hebrews 12:1).

Pray it:
Father, search my heart and show me ways that I am not fully devoted to you. Help me to root out those things in my life that pull me away from you through the power of the Holy Spirit and to rejoice in the forgiveness of sins that I have because of Christ. Amen.

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Devotional:
On the second day they again marched around the town once and returned to the camp. They followed this pattern for six days. (Joshua 6:14).

It had to be confusing and somewhat unnerving to follow God’s plan to capture Jericho. It was probably the same for the people of Jericho themselves. God’s plan doesn’t always make sense to us; it can be hard to follow God’s leading day after day with seemingly no results. And yet, God’s plans are less about His methods and more about our trust. Wherever God is leading you today, have faith that the victory is already His and rest in His faithfulness.

Pray it:
Father, I know your ways often do not make sense to human minds or work according to our timelines, yet they are perfect and for my good. Help me to trust you and walk in your ways and to see your power and faithfulness at work in my life. Amen.

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Devotional:
No manna appeared on the day they first ate from the crops of the land, and it was never seen again. So from that time on the Israelites ate from the crops of Canaan. (Joshua 5:12)

God had provided manna for the people of Israel throughout their wandering in the wilderness. It was the day after the first Passover in Canaan when the manna stopped appearing. God will always provide for us, but in His care, He is leading us to growth and abundance. In order to feed others, we must learn to feed ourselves from what God supplies us. Learn to see where God is leading you and what work He has for you there.

Pray it:
Father, thank you for the way you provide for me, giving me just what I need when it is needed. Help me to remember your faithfulness and care for me in the seasons in which I feel like you are not giving me what I want and when I want it. Amen.

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