Hey Clawson Family!

Song:

Scripture:

Joshua 5:1 New Living Translation

5 When all the Amorite kings west of the Jordan and all the Canaanite kings who lived along the Mediterranean coast[a] heard how the Lord had dried up the Jordan River so the people of Israel could cross, they lost heart and were paralyzed with fear because of them.

Joshua 6:1 New Living Translation

6 Now the gates of Jericho were tightly shut because the people were afraid of the Israelites. No one was allowed to go out or in.

Joshua 6:3-5 New Living Translation

3 You and your fighting men should march around the town once a day for six days. 4 Seven priests will walk ahead of the Ark, each carrying a ram’s horn. On the seventh day you are to march around the town seven times, with the priests blowing the horns. 5 When you hear the priests give one long blast on the rams’ horns, have all the people shout as loud as they can. Then the walls of the town will collapse, and the people can charge straight into the town.”

2 Timothy 1:7 New Living Translation

7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.

Devotional:

The people of Israel wandered in the wilderness for 40 years because they chose fear over faith. Moses is now gone, that generation died off except for Joshua and Caleb. Joshua is leading the people of Israel, and Joshua is choosing to walk by faith and not fear, so he is preparing the people to take the land of Canaan. You can find all of this in your bible in the book of Joshua chapter 3,4,5, and 6. In chapter 3 God parts the Jordan river for the people to cross, just like he did the red sea with Moses. He did that to prove to the people that they could trust Him, and that he was with Joshua as he was leading the people. Chapter 4 they set up memorials to remember what God did there at the Jordan. 

 40 years ago it was the people of Israel who were paralyzed with fear and fear stopped them from receiving what God had promised. But now the people of Israel were walking by faith and trusting God, and their enemies were now paralyzed with fear.

By chapter 6, they are trusting God, they have moved into the Land of promise. They have come to the first city. Jericho, and the spies from 40 years ago were right. They said the cities were fortified, and the city of Jericho was one of the most fortified cities. Their walls were huge and thick.

Joshua and the people of Israel trusted God, they put their faith in God, and they did exactly what God tells them to do and on the 7th day God causes the walls of Jericho to come crumbling to the ground and the people of Israel take the city.

When the people of Israel were paralyzed with fear, they sinned, the disobeyed God, they wandered in the wilderness, and died. When the people of Israel walked by faith, miracles followed and God did amazing things for them.

Fear causes us to underestimate the potential.

Never let fear determine your destiny. Let faith determine your destiny.

Journal: 

What are some things you’ve been feeling fearful about? Have you spent more time worrying about them or praying about them? 

In your journal today, take time to humbly ask God for help with them today.

Training:

Try feeding your faith with some of these practicals:

1. Listen to an audio Bible while you do household chores.

2. Make yourself a go-to set of Scriptures you can keep on your phone to read when you’re afraid, insecure, or worried.

3. Make playlists of songs that help you think about God. Listen to it in the car or at home to fill your mind with faith. 

4. Don’t let yourself get isolated. Find a few people you can safely connect with regularly so you can get the encouragement of fellowship. 

5. Take faith risks by reaching out to help others. Seeing God work through your life will build your faith.