Success

I just started reading the book of Joshua today for my devotions. I got excited to read the book because my NIV introduction stated that "Joshua's remarkable life was filled with excitement, variety, success and honor." I want a life like that too. Here are some of the things that I learned from the first chapter.

1. At the very onset of the book, God promised Joshua success and God also promised that He will never leave Joshua. When God makes a promise, you can bet He will see it through. That's why Joshua didn't have to worry at all about his assignment to be the leader of God's people. All Joshua had to do was be strong and courageous. God already paved the way for Joshua's success.

2. However, the success that Joshua was going to attain came with a condition. God said that Joshua must "be careful to OBEY all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left that you may be SUCCESSFUL wherever you go (Joshua 1:7)." Success seems to be a direct result of obedience to God.

3. That's why it was so important for Joshua to meditate on God's Word day and night. The Bible states the reason. "So that you may be careful to do everything written in it. THEN you will be prosperous and SUCCESSFUL (Joshua 1:8). Again, success seems to be a direct result of obedience to God.

4. The last thing I learned from this chapter is that having a good relationship with God is incredibly essential for a leader. People will follow a leader whom God is evidently present with. Soldiers in God's army were willing to do whatever Joshua commanded and go wherever Joshua directed. And they did that for good reason. "Just as we fully obeyed Moses, so we will obey you. ONLY may the LORD your God be with you as he was with Moses (Joshua 1:17)." The soldiers followed Joshua because God was evidently present with him. Having a good relationship with God is incredibly essential for a leader.