No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you. Joshua 1:5

When we are very young, doing something for the first time can seem scary: attending a new school or jumping off a high diving board. What makes it easier is for someone we trust to say, “I’ll be with you!” The same is true when we are adults: getting married or starting a new job.

When Joshua was starting a new “job,” he had every reason to be nervous—his job was leading an entire nation of people into their new homeland and getting them settled. But God reminded him, “As I was with Moses, so I will be with you.” Joshua had been Moses’ “assistant” during the nation’s wilderness wandering and had seen how God had directed and provided for Moses. Knowing God would do the same for him gave him every reason to be “strong and courageous” (Joshua 1:6, 9, NIV).

We start something new with God each day. Remembering that He has been with us in all our yesterdays gives us strength and courage about our tomorrows.

Who brought me hither will bring me hence; no other guide I seek. John Milton

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Verse by Verse Bible Study | Joshua 1:1-9 | Gary Hamrick

You, Lord, are forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call to you. Psalm 86:5

Today’s Devotion

Six-year-old Tiana clasped her hands. She prayed as she scanned the crowd, glancing toward the front door of the church. Her classmates waved at guests settling in for the Father’s Day concert. Fathers and father figures returned the greetings. But nobody waved at Tiana. Her teacher encouraged her to join the choir, but Tiana didn’t budge. Suddenly her daddy rushed through the door. As he waved and found a seat, Tiana smiled, burst into tears, and stepped onto the stage.

Whatever our age, there’s a tender heart of a child within each of us that aches to be seen, heard, and loved. But the psalmist David demonstrated how God delights in showing up for His children. David prayed with confidence in a love that never fails, forgets, or forsakes—the love of our heavenly Father. Confessing his need, David prayed with faith in God’s trustworthiness (Psalm 86:1-4). He declared that God is “forgiving and good, abounding in love” (v. 5). He sang, “When I am in distress, I call to you, because you answer me” (v. 7). David cried out with expectation because God had proven His faithfulness (v. 11).

Like David, we can trust our heavenly Father to show up because He promises to do so. We too can sing, “I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever” (v. 12). Why? Because God is incomparable; He alone is God (vv. 8, 10).

Reflect & Pray

How does trusting that God never leaves change how you wait? How can you pray expectantly today?

Dear Father, please help me trust You because You alone are God!

Today’s Insights

In Psalm 86, David describes being in grave danger. Ruthless enemies “are trying to kill [him]” (v. 14), but he turns to God for protection and deliverance (vv. 1-4). The psalmist proclaimed God’s sovereignty and omnipotence: “There is none like you, Lord; no deeds can compare with yours. . . . For you are great and do marvelous deeds; you alone are God” (vv. 8, 10). David affirmed that God hears and answers prayers (vv. 6-7). He’s “ready to forgive [and] full of unfailing love for all who ask for [His] help” (v. 5 nlt). Whatever our life’s circumstances, we can put our trust in God (v. 4), for He’s “compassionate and gracious . . . , abounding in love and faithfulness” (v. 15). As we wait on Him, we can pray, “Teach me your way, Lord, that I may rely on your faithfulness; . . . I will glorify your name forever” (vv. 11-12).

For further study, read: Why Should I Trust God

God has not forgotten you. Your waiting isn’t wasted Psalms 27:13-14

“Wait for the Lord; be strong and let your heart take courage; yes, wait for the Lord” (Ps. 27:14). Remarkably, these encouraging words occur at the end of a psalm that spoke of David’s enemies, fears, and sense of abandonment. How interesting that he could conclude with a determined command to himself: “Wait.”

Waiting is one of the hardest things we do as believers. It’s easy to think of waiting as passivity—in other words, as empty time, when nothing is happening. But the waiting David describes is something else entirely: active trust. It’s the soul’s refusal to give up on God when the answer hasn’t come, the door hasn’t opened, the healing hasn’t arrived. It’s choosing, in the middle of the silence, to believe the Lord is still good and still near.

Most of us aren’t just waiting for small things. We’re longing for a relationship to heal, a child to return, a diagnosis to change, a hope to come to life. In that kind of waiting, the temptation isn’t merely impatience; it’s discouragement—the slow erosion of belief that God is at work.

That’s why Scripture urges us to be strong and take courage. God hasn’t forgotten (Isaiah 49:15-16). The waiting isn’t wasted. We simply keep looking for Him.

“Beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.” (2 Peter 3:8)

It is sad that many Christians today are so eager to appear intellectual that they are willing to compromise God’s clear revelation. God has made it as clear as plain words could make it that “in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is” (Exodus 20:11). Yet because evolutionary “science” has alleged that the earth is billions of years old, multitudes of evangelicals have fallen in line, rejecting God’s plain statement of fact and then trying to find some interpretive loophole to hide behind.

Our text verse is perhaps the key verse of the so-called progressive creationists who try to correlate the days of creation in Genesis with the supposed 4.6 billion-year system of evolutionary geological ages by citing Peter as agreeing that one day is a thousand years.

No, Peter is saying that “one day is with the Lord as a thousand years”! That is, God can do in one day what might, by natural processes, take a thousand years. In context, the apostle is condemning the last-day uniformitarians (those who teach that “all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation”) as “willingly ignorant” of the tremendous significance of the historical facts of creation and the Flood (2 Peter 3:3–6). Real written records only go back a few thousand years, and to attempt to calculate any date before that requires use of a premise that, in context, the Scriptures have just condemned! God says the uniformitarians are willingly ignorant and then urges those who believe His Word to “be not ignorant.” The only way we can know the date and duration of creation is for God to tell us, and He says He made all of heaven and Earth in six days, and not so long ago! HMM

“And it shall be forgiven them; for it is ignorance.” Num. 15:25

Because of our ignorance we are not fully aware of our sins of ignorance. Yet we may be sure they are many, in the form both of commission and omission. We may be doing in all sincerity, as a service to God, that which He has never commanded, and can never accept.

The Lord knows these sins of ignorance every one. This may well alarm us, since in justice He will require these trespasses at our hand; but on the other hand, faith spies comfort in this fact, for the Lord will see to it that stains unseen by us shall yet be washed away. He sees the sin that He may cease to see it by casting it behind His back.

Our great comfort is that Jesus, the true priest, has made atonement for all the congregation of the children of Israel. That atonement secures the pardon of unknown sins. His precious blood cleanses us from all sin. Whether our eyes have seen it and wept over it, or not, God has seen it, Christ has atoned for it, the Spirit bears witness to the pardon of it, and so we have a three-fold peace.

O my Father, I praise thy divine knowledge, which not only perceives my iniquities, but provides an atonement which delivers me from the guilt of them, even before I know that I am guilty.

Ephesians 4:1-8, 11-32

So far from being ashamed of being shut up in a dungeon like a felon, Paul again repeats, as his choice title of honour, the words, “the prisoner of the Lord.” It is inexpressibly delightful to be allowed to suffer for him who suffered to the death for us. Paul uses his afflicted condition as an affectionate plea with the Ephesians to give heed to his counsel.

Ephesians 4:1-6

True believers are one; Christ has only instituted one church, he has quickened it with but one Spirit, and set before it one sole hope. The Lord is the alone Head of the church, she has not two Lords, neither has Jesus revealed more than one faith, or commanded any other than one baptism: hence believers should anxiously maintain unity, and endeavour each one to promote the good of the whole.

Ephesians 4:11-13

All the ascension-gifts come to us for the building up, not of many sects, but of the Lord’s one church. His choicest gifts are holy men, qualified for various gracious works, which they carry on for the perfecting of each believer, and of the whole body of the faithful.

Ephesians 4:24

Being made parts of a new body, of which the Lord Jesus is the head, we cannot act as we once did, or we should belie our profession altogether. Filthiness must be now abhorred, and holiness panted for; is it so with us?

Ephesians 4:26

We may be angry at wrong without sinning thereby, but if anger be a selfish resentment, it is always sinful, and if it lives beyond a day it cannot be justified. One of the hardest things in the world is to be angry and not to sin.

Ephesians 4:28

The cure for dishonesty is industry, and the remedy for a disposition to steal from others, is to learn to give to them.

Ephesians 4:29

Do we always attend to this? Are not some jests which are commonly heard very far from edifying?

Ephesians 4:32

Let this be written up in our chambers, and practised in every room in the house. What a heaven will our family then become.

Fill every part of me with praise,

Let all my being speak

Of thee and of thy love, O Lord,

Poor though I be, and weak.

So shalt thou, Lord, from me—e’en me,

Receive the glory due;

And so shall I begin on earth

The song for ever new.

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Lost in astonishment I see,

Jesus, thy boundless love to me;

With angels I thy grace adore,

And long to love and praise thee more.

Still may I view thee on the cross,

And all beside esteem but loss;

Here still be fixed my feasted eyes,

Enraptur’d with thy sacrifice.

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Grace led my roving feet

To tread the heavenly road;

And new supplies each hour I meet

While pressing on to God.

Grace taught my soul to pray,

And made my eyes o’erflow;

‘Twas grace that kept me to this day,

And will not let me go.

Grace all the work shall crown,

Through everlasting days;

It lays in heaven the topmost stone,

And well deserves the praise.

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Bless’d are the pure in heart,

For they shall see our God;

The secret of the Lord is theirs;

Their soul is Christ’s abode.

The Lord, who left the heavens

Our life and peace to bring,

To dwell in lowliness with men,

Their Pattern and their King;

He to the lowly soul

Doth still himself impart,

And for his dwelling and his throne

Chooseth the pure in heart.

Lord, we thy presence seek;

May ours this blessing be;

Give us a pure and lowly heart,

A temple meet for thee.

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A fulness resides in Jesus, our Head,

And ever abides to answer our need;

The Father’s good pleasure has laid up in store,

A plentiful treasure to give to the poor.

Whate’er be our wants, we need not to fear;

Our numerous complaints his mercy will hear;

His fulness shall yield us abundant supplies;

His buckler shall shield us when dangers arise.

When troubles attend, or danger or strife,

His love will defend and guard us through life;

And when we are fainting and ready to die,

Whatever is wanting his hand will supply.

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Worthy art thou, O dying Lamb?

Worthy, O bleeding Lord;

Eternal, Infinite, I AM,

Ceaseless to be adored!

Fulness of riches is in thee!

From thee all mercies spring:

And grace and love, divine and free,

And power enlivening.

Out of the deep of every heart,

Let praise to thee ascend:

Till thou to heaven shalt us translate,

Where praises never end!

Let them be confounded and consumed that are adversaries to my soul. (Psalm 71:13)

It was a gracious revelation to my human spirit when I discovered that the Word of God was actually on my side, operating in my behalf!

I was reading Psalm 71 and I came to this amazing statement: “Thou hast given commandment to save me!” My heart has been warmed with that realization ever since. I believe that the Word of the living God has gone throughout all the earth to save me and keep me! Let the theological experts raise their eyebrows—I do not care! The living Word has charged Himself with responsibility to forgive, to cleanse and to keep me!

Let us not be guilty of underrating the Word of God operating on our behalf. I dare to say that there is not an uncontrolled stroke or force anywhere in all of God’s mighty universe that can take eternal life away from a trusting, believing, obedient child of God.

Let us thank God for the Word! It is living and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword!

Now therefore, arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them—the children of Israel. Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you, as I said to Moses. Joshua 1:2-3

If someone includes you in their will, your inheritance is as good as done even though it may be years before you receive it. Words spoken with authority before the fact ensure that what is spoken will take place.

That was the case when Joshua prepared to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land. Before Joshua and the people crossed the Jordan River and entered into the land, God said He was giving the land to them. Even though God said it before it happened, it ultimately took place just as He said it would. It happened again before the Israelites captured Jericho: “I have given Jericho into your hand” (Joshua 6:2). When God makes a promise about something in the future, His promise removes all fear. We can be certain that what He has said or what He has called us to do, will be accomplished.

What has God called you to do? His calling removes any reason to fear the future.

Nothing is more offensive to God than disbelief of His promise. Matthew Henry

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Joshua 1-2 – Skip Heitzig

[God] has saved us and called us to a holy life . . . because of his own purpose and grace. 2 Timothy 1:9

Today’s Devotion

In a letter dated September 13, 1943—five months after his imprisonment for opposing the Nazi regime—Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote his parents. He asked for books and paper. He thanked them for the ways they’d helped him, and said, “It’s a strange feeling to be so completely dependent on other people; but at least it teaches one to be grateful, and I hope I shall never forget that. In ordinary life we hardly realize that we receive a great deal more than we give, and that it is only with gratitude that life becomes rich.”

In 2 Timothy, writing while “being chained like a criminal” (2:9), the apostle Paul too expressed his deep gratitude to those who’d loved and cared for him (1:3-4, 16). He asked for Timothy to bring his “scrolls, especially the parchments” (4:13).

And he lifted up the greatest gift God has given—“He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we’ve done but because of his own purpose and grace” (1:9). The grace revealed through Christ—who “destroyed death” and “brought life and immortality to light” (v. 10)—brought Paul peace and purpose even in his suffering.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer was never freed from Nazi imprisonment. He was executed on April 9, 1945. It’s believed Paul was executed not long after writing 2 Timothy. Yet both could testify to the goodness of a God who always gives immeasurably more than we could ever give in return.

Reflect & Pray

In what ways have you experienced others’ care? How has gratitude changed you?

Gracious God, thank You for all You are.

Today’s Insights

Paul’s invitation to Timothy to “join with [him] in suffering for the gospel” (2 Timothy 1:8) is one that most would rather take a pass on. When we experience suffering and discomfort because of our faith in Jesus, we often resist it rather than welcome it. The consolation and hope that strengthens us, however, is found in the words in the remainder of the verse: “by the power of God.” Believers in Christ have resources that more than match the challenges they encounter. Those assets include God’s “power” (v. 7)—His might and strength. Furthermore, God’s Spirit resides in us: “Guard the good deposit . . . with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us” (v. 14; see v. 7). Finally, in our suffering, God’s grace strengthens us: “Be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus” (2:1).

For further study, read: Does Gratitude Help Our Mental Health?

We don’t have to witness on our own. God gave us fellow believers and the Holy Spirit to help us share Christ with others Acts 1:4-8

Before Jesus ascended to the Father, He gathered His disciples one last time and gave them a remarkable promise. They were not to leave Jerusalem yet; they were to wait for something to happen that would change everything: “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses” (Acts 1:8).

Notice that Jesus spoke these words to a group. He didn’t commission one man to go it alone. He gathered all of His apostles and told them, together, that the Spirit would equip them, together, to bear witness to what they had seen and heard. The early church was never meant to be a collection of isolated believers taking individual stands. It was meant to be a community whose shared life made Christ visible.

That’s still the essence of witnessing today. We don’t have to manufacture courage on our own, and we don’t have to figure out what to say in the moment. We belong to a body of believers—past and present—in which the Spirit is already at work. Our job is to live faithfully inside that community, trusting that when the time comes to speak, the same Spirit who filled the disciples will give us exactly what we need (Luke 24:49). Witnessing is not a performance. It is the overflow of a shared life in Christ.