TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them. Joshua 1:6
Read: Joshua 1:1-6
Listen: Joshua 1
TODAY’S MESSAGE
Joshua steps up to lead the Israelites, and all eyes are on him. Four decades of wandering in the wilderness bring them to the edge of promise. The people know many battles lie ahead and look to Joshua for direction. Could Joshua lead them into victory? The pressure is intense. God reminds Joshua he is with him, and it doesn’t depend on Joshua. God is the one who promised the land. God is the one who will deliver them into it. Joshua can be strong and courageous because victory doesn’t depend on him.
God is the main character in Joshua’s story and ours today. We, too, can take courage and experience relief from the pressure because results don’t depend on us. We may feel the pressure of other people’s expectations to achieve or succeed in school or work. We may feel pressure to look or act a certain way to be accepted. We may feel the weight of leadership knowing people depend on us to provide for their needs and care for them well. The Apostle Peter urges Jesus’s followers to “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7).
We can be sure that God cares for us and about the things that bring us fear. When we feel like everything depends on us, we can rely on God to be with us and help us.
IN YOUR CHAIR TIME TODAY
Name the things that weigh you down and cast those cares on God. For more help on navigating fear and anxiety, check out this video from Pastor Aaron Buer with Ada Bible Women’s Ministry Director and counselor Nicole Fryling.
2022 BIBLE MEMORY PRACTICE
Develop spiritual roots and tap in the power of God’s word by memorizing monthly a Bible verse! View previous verses at beyondtheweekend.org/biblememorypractice.
JAMES 1:19–20
My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.
Download a printable PDF of the BTW week here.
