Can you succeed?

It’s easy to doubt. Doubting is safer and a lot less work, but when your heart is filled with purpose finding a way to succeed is the only route to take. If you’ve ever failed, and actually failure is an important part of succeeding, you can let it stop you or it can fuel your search for your steps to success. That’s where I am. I have goals that have been on my list for way too long! The time has come to accomplish them! How do I succeed? My search took me to Scripture.

I have to start this conversation with an old promise…over 440 years old… a promise that had been kept alive simply by the faithfulness of Almighty God.

Joshua 1 takes us to a pivotal moment in Israel’s history. Moses is dead. The only thing that stood between them and the land of promise was the Jordan River. Joshua had stood here 40 years earlier and failed.

It wasn’t his fault…

it was the people’s fault; their unbelief, their fear and their rebellion kept them from God’s best. This was a new day is so many ways; but would he fail again? All the older folks that had sinned were dead now, except he and Caleb. Joshua and Caleb’s faith and obedience had kept them alive. (And the devil told you your faith is worthless.) The memories of the people’s actions must have been emotional for Joshua as he remembered how it all took place. Would they wimp out again?

The authorship of the book of Joshua is uncertain. The Jewish Talmud credits Joshua as the author. I believe he was the author, if for no other reason than the wording in Joshua 1:1. “After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide:

A historian would have called Joshua, Moses successor, Moses protégé or Israel’s new leader. This verse uses a word that means aid, higher servant or minister. Did Joshua still see himself as only Moses’ helper? It’s one thing to be an assistant, but now the responsibility to lead them into the land of promise rested squarely on his shoulders. In the verses that followed, God was building Joshua’s faith to emotionally and spiritually do the job God had called him to do.

Joshua understood his job was to possess the land.

The conversation that we are listening in on in Joshua 1 wasn’t a vision casting session. Joshua knew what he had to do. But could he succeed? This was an overwhelming assignment. Would the people cooperate? Would they be able to conquer the inhabitants?

 

God was positioning Joshua and the people to succeed.

Read these verses carefully; they hold some vital steps to success. (I know it’s tempting to skip over the verses. But they are succinct and important.)

“Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites. 3I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. 4Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Mediterranean Sea in the west. 5No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. 6Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them. Joshua 1:2-6

We want to succeed.

Every year thousands (millions?) of people set New Year’s resolutions because they want to be more successful! But somewhere between our list and the end of the year…nothing much changes. The truth is; “Success will never find you…you must find it!” There are some principles from these verses that can help us succeed in life.

God is with you!

His promise to be with us is repeated in Matthew 28:20. “Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” NLT We grasp the commission part and somehow forget the essential catalysis that enables us to do His assignment. He is with us!

I know it’s old news, but it is essential to your success. Have you ever had a friend and relative that although you had specific insight into a subject, they didn’t seek your advice and then made a very bad decision? You knew stuff that could have saved them lots of money or emotional pain; but they didn’t ask for your insight. It hard to admit, but the same thing happens to believers when we try to live our life without God’s insight.

Ask God for advice…throughout the project…throughout the day…simple questions…big questions…little needs…big needs.  Just Ask.

Then listen…listen…LISTEN!

God is BIG!

Don’t think you get a watered down version of God because you aren’t doing something as big as Joshua. He is with you. His power, grace, wisdom, peace and ability are available to you. You have to access it!

The last part of verse 5 gave Joshua a picture of what the presence of God would look like in his life. “As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Joshua saw up close and personal how God was with Moses! What an amazing adventure! Wow! And God says…I am going to be with you the same way I was with Moses. What a visual aid! The same God that was with Moses and Joshua is with you! So if you want to know what that looks like in real life; see it through the lens of Moses or Joshua’s life.

Joshua needed different things, different miracles than Moses. Your journey will look different than theirs, but it can be filled with the presence and provision of Almighty God if you invite Him into your journey. He wants you to succeed.

Who you have with you affects your journey.

If I go shopping with a three year old, I’m going to shop much faster than if I shop with my sister in law. My sister in law is an eagle eye shopper. Because she is tall, she sees all the bargain signs quickly. She likes to move fast and wants to visit every bargain rack in the store. I love to find bargains with her. But I don’t search for bargains when I have a 3 year old with me; I get my stuff and end up at the toy store.

Would your life be different if you genuinely understood that you are traveling through life with Almighty God?

Would you dream bigger dreams, believe for more, obey quicker and hold on longer?

The children of Israel forgot

and it kept them out of the promise land.

The next generation went into the promise land…they didn’t forget.

I forget sometimes. I wonder what that has cost me?

And what has it cost you?

Probably more than you realize, but today is a new day! It’s time to grasp the promises of God and invite Him on your journey. The sweetest success can never be accomplished without God.

One more time I want to remind you…He is with you!

Oh…I didn’t answer my question…”Can you succeed?

Yes, you can and it’s time for you to believe it too!

My post got too long…so I won’t finish it all here. I want to pick up on Joshua’s Keys to Success next week. It takes more than believing to succeed and God was very clear about that.

 

If this post blessed you will you share it! It will bless them and help me reach more people. Thank you! God bless you! (See the bottom of the page.)

 

I want to pray over you. Will you join your faith with mine as I pray?

Father, thank you for my reader friend! Thank you for the assignment that you have given them. I thank you that you are setting them up to succeed. You have given them your Word and your Presence. Father, help them to acknowledge you in all their ways so you can direct their paths. In the Holy name of Jesus amen!