DAY 9: COMMAND….”This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success….Joshua 1:8

CONSIDER THIS: The command from Joshua to the Israelites entering Canaan is for all people of all time. The book of the Law of God – Bible – is for all generations until He comes and we know this from several scriptures. Our calling is the following:  NOT to let it depart from our mouths/hearts/minds; to meditate on it always and to walk carefully in Holiness! Is this easy? No, it is not. We are going to drop our phone or tablet and crack the screen. Subsequently, the urge to let out a four letter word is right there. If it slips out, repent immediately, but if the Bible is second nature to you, then recall the words of Isaiah who told God face to Face “I am a man of unclean lips”, and the Lord cleansed his mouth with a burning coal. Bringing Scripture to mind will avert almost ANY desire to react in sin and fury.

ACTION:  Start memorizing Scripture. Apart from just reading over and over and memorizing that way, a good way is to write it out by hand. Using your prayer journal or ESV or other Journaling Bible, start by writing out Psalm 23. Be slow and intentional by focusing on every line which is written. When this is memorized, go to Psalm 34 and write only a portion per day. DO that for a month and watch the difference  both in you and in your alone time with the Lord.

Heavenly Father, thank you for Jesus, Who is the Word Who became flesh. Your Word in the natural here on earth is all we need, after Salvation and to continue to fight that which lives accuses and attempt to deceive us. Wpsalm e thank You that Jesus shows us how to approach these less-than-ideal situations by the Sword of the Word  – as in “It is written”. Help us to be so saturated by the Word of God that it becomes second nature and we can draw on the right verse, at the right time, for any occasion, for such a time as this, in Jesus Strong Name amen.

VERSE: “The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple” (Psalm 19:7).

EQUATION: God’s Commands + His Grace = the Most Fulfilled Life in this World!

ACTION: The reason God gave us His Law and all His commandments etc. is not to keep us from having, what we think is “FUN”! It is to keep us from harming ourselves, from harming others and from harming our relationship with Him. Knowing this, it is now time to readjust our thinking to this paradigm and look at God the REAL way, maybe for the first time!

PRAYER: Lord, we never realized what a good, good and gracious Heavenly Father You are, and that You would love us so very much, that You sent Your Word, Your Law, Your Commands, Your Bible to us. These precious words – Your teachings, Your wisdom and EVERYONE of Your commandments are given to us that we may have Your Mind and Your Heart and Your Truth that we may simply live….and not just live, but live a life free from the burdens of guilt, sin and shame if we just obey and follow Your Word, Lord. We thank You mightily for this and the very fact that Thy Word is Truth and Thy Word giveth life, in the Mighty and Strong Name of Jesus we pray, amen.