Joshua 11

He left nothing undone of all that the LORD had commanded Moses.

Oh, Lord, that I would follow Josh’s example. To do all that You say and to leave nothing undone.

None of the Anakim were left in the land of the children of Israel; they remained only in Gaza, in Gath, and in Ashdod.

The Anakim had been trouble for Josh from early on. None remained in the land of Israel’s children. Thank You Lord for Your kind attention to the smallest details. 

I was curious about the ‘only’ part of that verse and searched those cities. Interesting verse in Zephaniah. Challenge I have is that God removes what needs to be removed and allows even enemy strongholds to remain that He may use them for His great and eternal purposes…reminds me of a national example of difficult relationships being used to shape God’s people, (thank you, Pastor Troy for that remarkable lesson Sunday). Lord, I pray that I would also be complicit with Your divine schemes – and not used as a tool of destruction. I pray for the peace of Jerusalem and Your precious people.

Only in Gaza, Philistine city, home of the city without gates and a missing temple to the god Dagon – thanks to Samson and an area which still makes headlines.

Only in Gath, the Philistine city and home of Goliath, Philistine’s choice for storing the Ark of the Covenant and home of large and fierce warriors – sons of the giant, (one was known for having 6 fingers and 6 toes), who came against David and his men. These guys experience serial defeat at the hands of Israel and her God. The difficulty is that they had the upper hand often.

Only in Ashdod, a Philistine city, the place Philip landed after the conversion of the Ethopian eunuch and currently a place known for great opposition to the Messiah’s story.  Zephaniah 2:4-5 Gaza and Ashkelon will be abandoned, Ashdod and Ekron torn down.  And what sorrow awaits you Philistines who live along the coast and in the land of Canaan, for this judgment is against you, too!  The LORD will destroy you until not one of you is left.

Then the land rested from war.

I praise You Lord that there is “a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.” Praise You Lord that You know the times and keep the schedule.

Joshua 10

the LORD God of Israel fought for Israel

I am so grateful that You, LORD God are my God and You have already fought for me. Praise You, sweet Warrior of Triumph God of mine. I so love that You lead them into battle and You guide them when the battle comes to them. I know You do the same for me. You blow my mind, Holy God of the Host Armies. May I embrace and walk in the victory You have provided even during the umpteenth day of battle or pursuit.

Joshua 9

I hate that the Gibeonites were clearly told about God’s work and words but chose deception out of fear. How does that translate to my day? Who do I know that, out of fear or distrust of God or His people, chooses to live on their terms rather than run to God and receive His … grace? How can I be a messenger for His reputation, that the enemy’s lies may be uprooted and replaced by God’s gift of salvation? Where am I believing; but only partially and responding in fear? Reveal, Lord, that I may bring You much glory. May my reputation be at Your disposal, may I never strike a deal without knowing Your will. God, help me.  LORD God, keep me from being tricked, deceived or swindled.

Joshua 8

Achan, stoned, burned and rocks heaped up on him…then the LORD says, “Go and attach Ai again.” God’s work waits for no one. God was serious about the promise He gave them. He intended possession to be theirs and He kept them on task.

I praise You God and Father that You are focused on Your plan. I can so easily be derailed by an event, certainly one of the magnitude of Achan’s would throw me into a tailspin. But You remind Josh to keep on, to not be afraid and reiterate Your promise of acquisition and possession. You are a great God. May my thoughts reside in and on Your Words, may my actions reflect that You are my center and any work I do bring You glory.

The burnt offering brings near to God, the fellowship offering demonstrates responding and relating to God, the uncut stones of sacrifice display my Messiah through whom we have access and fellowship with the Father. You, o God, are so picturesque with Your words and Your requests. I thank You for this pictorial of Jesus and His loving work. You are so creative. Of course, You are. =}

Joshua 7

“The Canaanites and the other people of the country will hear about this and they will surround us and wipe out our name from the earth. What then will You do for Your own great Name?” Holy Chutzpah, J-man. Lord, I am not certain what sort of tone Joshy took with You; but I love His passion for “Your own great Name.” Please help me to be more concerned and desperate for You to act for Your own great Name than I am for You to act for me.

…liable for destruction … devoted to destruction. Precious God, purify my mind and motives that I do not entertain anything destined for destruction. YIKES.

He … has done an outrageous thing … ! Holy and Loving Father, Holy Spirit and Messiah-Mine; our culture has a fascination for the outrageous. Please keep me far from the envelop-pushing extremes which addict my societal peers. Only by Your grace am I Yours. I praise Your Name.

I don’t know where Achan thought he or his wife would wear that beautiful Babylonian robe; but why didn’t he see the folly of his ways? Spirit of the Living and Holy God, please keep me from desiring to be clothed in anything but Your gracious provision, let me not want to cover myself in riches from a place which You condemn or to take that which You have directed away from me. Let me never believe this world offers me something better than what obedience to You brings. Let me always see the ridiculousness of my sin – especially before I act. Thank You.

One man sinned, all Israel suffered. (Reminds me that through one man’s sin, death and condemnation came to the world.) One man’s bad choice yielded a bad reputation for the entire nation. As it was, so it is: Help me, Holy Spirit, to behave, choose, live, respond in a manner worthy of the faith, Your Name, Your reputation. Lord Jesus, the world hates You and needs no excuse to attack; please let me give it no real ammo. May the words of my mouth, the meditations of my heart and the interactions of my life be pleasing and acceptable to You, O God, my Strength and my Redeemer.

Joshua 6

However, Rahab the harlot and her father’s household and all she had, Joshua spared; and she has lived in the midst of Israel to this day…

Rahab, one of the Messiah’s ancestors. Lives in the midst of Israel to this day. Lord, give them eyes to see Who lives in the midst of Israel to this day. Help us be a people who make known Your precious identity to Your chosen people, that they may recognize and receive that You live in their midst to this day.

Father God and LORD of the Host Armies, I would have had so many questions for You, clarifying Your instructions. I praise You for Josh’s grand example of following Your orders and not over-analyzing the length of a long horn blast or what formation should be implemented. He simply ordered what You had commanded. He received Your authority and walked it out. Lord, I desire to do that, too. I want to hear and obey, please help me to trust You in the details rather than question You ad nauseam. Remind me that what You say is sufficient for my obedience. You know when I know enough, encourage me to step up in faith. Even if others don’t follow suit.

And Lord, I know You had Rahab live in the city wall so the men could escape, so she could be spared; but it must have looked funny to all the other Jerichoans to see the wall flattened with her home still intact. Your attention to details is lovely, thank You for Your very specific descriptions of Your story. I am even more enriched by Your style.

<I wonder if Rahab considered how puny the thread was, that maybe it wouldn’t be seen amidst the carnage of war. But, faith – even thread-thin faith is rewarded when it’s hung on the God of Eternity.

And what a picture of the blood flowing down many, many years later which provided ultimate salvation for any who would believe.>

Joshua 5

Lord, again one of Your chosen ones does not recognize holy when he sees it, experiences it. Help me to know; teach me holy, tell me as You have told Joshua and Moses what is the holy that I may respond rightly to the praise and reverence of Your very great Name. Invade and pervade all of my spirit, soul, strength and mind by Your Holy.
Circumcise the sons of Israel…for the wilderness-born people had not been circumcised. The Lord God may speak through a donkey and all creation does testify of Him; but His people will be marked by obedience to Him. Help me to be careful in my life to obey and encourage others to honor You, too. Please don’t let me slide for forty years in disobedience only to have a hasty pruning done on my life or self that I may comply with Your requirements. May I yield – SUBMIT to Your Word and Spirit everyday. Show me where I am presently slacking and make me ready. Trust and obey, may that be the way that my life is expressed in response to You always. Your Name not mine. And help me not struggle with the ramifications of this; but only trust You more. I love YOU, LORD of my life. Help me to love you the way You deserve and the way You created me to.

Joshua 4

The LORD your God dried up the waters before you until you crossed. Until we crossed…the waters were dried up.

God doesn’t do a partial job. He is faithful to fulfill all He has said He will do. He – the LORD my God has plans for wherever I find myself and for whatever is before me. Let me look expectantly at You and to You to dry up whatever needs Your mighty hand of intervention.

That all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the LORD is mighty; so that you may fear the LORD your God forever.

Am I allowing my life to be a stone of testimony to the mightiness of the LORD’S hand or am I so deluged by the life’s overwhelming currents that no one can see the work of God in and through my life … not even me?

Do I behave like I worship a mighty God?

The Sovereign King of the Universe?

How’s my fear factor?

How is my reverence and awe quotient?

Lord, so that all people may know Your hand is mighty (and if the hand is mighty, how much more so is the arm, and increasingly so the God Himself!) and that I may fear You forever … help me fear and revere You now for You are worthy right now.

Joshua 3

“Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you.”…  not an immediate gratification for getting ready, living ready. Help me to delight in that delay as well as the realization of Your promises.  

 ”follow at a distance” not up close like you’d prefer.

Are the water-heaping-up wonders not done because of a lack of consecration and obedience? oh Lord, educate me in the school of consecration and yieldedness. Wrench my pride and my comfort from me that i may experience and participate in Your wonders of each day. Help me to wait on Your ways rather than to be a full-time bridge-builder over the Jordan’s in my life.

The previous consecration yielded the wonder of the next day. Where am I setting my heart and mind each day? If I don’t daily choose actively to pursue God, I am passively choosing not-God. This thing, this life, this wondrous relationship won’t happen by accident or neglect. Help me knowingly and willfully choose You everyday.

The LORD said to Joshua, “Today I will begin to exalt you…”  

Lord God, Sovereign King of the Universe and my little life, help me not to worry about what You’ve called me to do nor my reputation. If You desire me to have impact, You will take care of those arrangements-I don’t need to fuss with the details nor stress about connections. Keep me prayerful and spiritually mindful of what You call me to do that I may be ready for whatever journey or day trip You have planned for me. Lord, the longer I live the more I know that I truly don’t know anything about how to do this right and the more I realize how much I need You. I invite You to show off extra big in my life, my heart and my spirit today that I may increasingly and winsomely exalt You in those same places. and beyond.

Thank You God and Father, Jesus and Savior, Holy Spirit and Comforter, for doing what You say You will. You are faithful. And I praise You for that quality this morning.

Joshua 2

Romans 3:22 This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile … between chosen adventurer and town prostitute.

Romans 9:30 What then shall we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith …

Psalm 91:4 He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. Thank You, Lord.

The faith of Rahab, her proactive efforts to aid and abet the God of Legends, her defiance of cultural expectations, her realigning her trust, future and security with the Lord of Israel and His motley crew yields salvation of her family. They just had to enter in to her faith by joining her in her home. Reminds me of Noah and that ark. Jesus and the cross. I praise You God for Your faithfulness to a person who needs You so much, who offers nothing but detriment and cost to Your Name and Your person. I love You and am so amazed again at what You do.

Joshua 1

The Lord God said to Joshua, “Moses my servant is dead …”

Sometimes I just need God to give me a truth – to shut that door, to remind me of what i already know but am having trouble getting beyond. To lovingly speak a hard or difficult thing to me that I may get on with His plan. Thank You God for not leaving me stuck nor forgetting about me. Please continue to speak to me in all ways that bring You best and most pleasing glory, please use me to help encourage my bro’s and sis’s in a similar fashion. And grant me courage to speak Your words.

God: Be strong, vigorous and very courageous. Be not afraid neither be dismayed…
The People: Only be strong, vigorous and of good courage.

I am sitting in Panera and a beautiful, middle eastern family has seated themselves next to me. The father is speaking in their home tongue apparently trying to convince at least one of the many children to try cheddar cheese. He is louder than the rest of the restaurant and quite adamant about his point. He is also obviously speaking in love to them, in his very authoritative and noticeable voice. The teen son who appears to have been a bit reticent about the dairy experience responds quietly. I suddenly feel like I am peeking into a modern day Joshua story. A quiet, timid boy, sure of his convictions is being told to do something he does not want to do. Respectful of authority he tries the cheese (and hates it…as he knew he would). But he was brave enough to try a new thing. After the firm direction from his father. It’s been that way his whole life, not wanting to attempt something unfamiliar, not wanting to deviate from the norm, the known, the established. His family and those in his circle of influence will know this about him. He may even be exploited for this characteristic, unless he remembers that his authority is God, the One True Lord of All. God, I pray that this family would know You and love You as the God of their father Abraham and their own.

Everyone seemed to know our Joshua was in need of being encouraged and reminded to not be fearful. God and the people. And they all spoke that encouragement to him. Lord make me a better encourager and help me to walk in Your authority. Josh was one of two who had believed You and spoke up about it in the previous generation-but it seems that was a stretch for his natural demeanor. Make me braver than I want to be, Lord help me to be strong, vigorous and of great courage in You….even though my reputation as a timid person precedes me. Use me for Your purposes, not my preferences. And remind me that I need not be afraid of their faces as I am Yours.

Deuteronomy 34

And Moses the servant of the LORD died, just as the LORD had said, without crossing over into the land of promise.

Even though God knew there’d be generations of people who would root for Moses to be able to enter the land he had been focused on for years; He maintained His holiness and integrity by keeping Moses to Himself. And Moses knew in whole what he had believed by heart – that God was his strength, his song, his salvation, his portion and his very great reward as that same God of the Universe, who knew Moses face to face, guided Moses to His most holy dwelling and welcomed him into His everlasting rest.

Holy Father, may I, in response to You being my strength, live strong and mighty for Your Name’s sake and not wimp out spiritually, emotionally, intellectually or physically. May Your praises be the soundtrack of my walk, the harmony of my life and the rhythm of my soul. May I be saved everyday from myself, this world and the enemy’s efforts as I humbly (may it be humble, Lord) work out my salvation with fear and trembling to the glory of your Name. May I relentlessly find soul-deep satisfaction in my relationship with You, for You are my Portion, my abundant, mind blowing, cup spilling over Portion. And may I always consider You my Treasure, my Reward, my Prize and not look to anything else to reassure me or pat me on the back. Nor may I succumb to self-pity when I experience what i would deem a severe mercy, for You, and not an outcome nor a promised land long awaited, are my REWARD. You rock and rule the universe You created. Glory to You.

Deuteronomy 33

“Indeed, He loves the people…"

Praise You Father and Sovereign King of the Universe, that you love, indeed and in deed, You love (present tense) the people. I thank You that I am one of the people. You are worth so much more than I can ever give or even imagine to offer – but You take me, indeed, You accept me in the Beloved. What grace, what unfathomable love You give. 
 
The eternal God is a dwelling place,
And underneath are the everlasting arms ...

I thank You, El Olam. May I dwell and respond to You in Your glorious presence all the days of my life; and recognize that Your arms are everlastingly strong and might to save…that is the foundation, the underneath of where You have me…wherever that may be.

Deuteronomy 32

For I will proclaim the Name of the LORD, ascribe greatness to our God! The Rock, His work is perfect, for all His ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is He. … That very day God said to Moses, “Go up on this mountain … and die on this mountain …” 

Lord Your mercies are sometimes severe by this emotional ball of flesh’s reckoning; but Moses knew You better than me. May I grow up in You that I may praise You and love You without condition; but full of expectation of all that You are.

Deuteronomy 31

Joshua, do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; He will neither fail you nor abandon you. … these people will begin to worship foreign gods, the gods of the land where they are going. They will abandon Me (God) and break My covenant that I have made with them.

So in the face of what will be discouraging times and rebellion, Josh is to be encouraged and heartened. The people will abandon God and break their relationship with Him; but He will not fail nor abandon His chosen ones. Nor will He fail Josh.

Lord, help me to honor my commitments to You and others as faithfully as You do. Even with an epic prophetic poem to commemorate that which had not yet occurred, You remain faithful. I thank You for Your steadfastness and Your forbearance. May I engage as You have, may I love as You have. May I bring You glory, as You deserve.

Deuteronomy 29-30

A root that produces a bitter poison called idolatry, adultery with a lesser god. lord God, please help my heart, mind, strength and soul be ever-faithful to You alone. Stir in me a passion for only You, that the things of this world may be properly eclipsed.
The secret things belong to the LORD our God; but the things revealed belong to us and our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law. … Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you nor is it beyond your reach….no, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and it is in your heart so you may obey it. See I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. …life and death, blessings and curses. Choose life that you and your children may live, that you may love God, hear God and trust and obey God. Make it so, precious Messiah. May I consistently receive Your revelations, faithfully follow Your words, believe and respond to Your knowable, graspable and doable will. May I speak Your words and follow the God-filled heart You have provided in reverent obedience. I choose life, obedience, loving You, hearing You, holding fast to You over anything the world, my flesh or the adversary may offer or suggest. I believe that I can do this, that it is not too difficult for the mere mortal that I am. Keep me from messing that up in unbelief.

Deuteronomy 28

because you obey the voice of the LORD your God, all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you

Wow, Lord, Your blessings will come upon me and overtake me.  I'm picturing a tsumani, tall and overpowering - of blessings from Your kind hand - absolutely encompassing me.  And any other who obeys You.  You are relentless.  abundant.  overwhelming.  I thank You and I am so very small.

The LORD will strike you with the boils of Egypt, with tumors, with the scab, and with the itch, from which you cannot be healed.  The LORD will strike you with madness and blindness and confusion of heart.  And you shall grope at noonday, as a blind man gropes in darkness; you shall not prosper in your ways; you shall be only oppressed and plundered continually, and no one shall save you.

Yikes.  And we see this.  Help me pray rightly and encourage well.  Truth, let it come lovingly and unflinchingly from my lips.

14 verses which detail blessings following obedience.  54 verse elaborate on the cursings which come with disobedience. 


Lord, may I ever follow in obedience after You.  I praise You and am so grateful for where and when I live; but I know that obedience is a measure of devotion to You.  Purify my heart and mind and soul that I may render loving obedience.  To the praise of Your very great Name!

Deuteronomy 27

You shall build the altar of the LORD your God of uncut stones, and you shall offer on it burnt offerings to the LORD your God; and you shall sacrifice peace offerings and eat there, and rejoice before the LORD your God. You shall write on the stones all the words of this law very distinctly.

Oh God, I hate that we have to be told to rejoice before You.  And without Your Spirit, we would not rejoice well or consistently.  Please, in Your mercy, help us to be a better group of rejoicers before You.  May we pour out the sacrifice of thanksgiving and praise before You.  You also know that if You don't make it distinct and clear, we will quibble and dispute.  We'll probably do that anyway, as we tend to take better care of our comfort than Your Name.  I am sorry.  Please help me to learn and be very careful with Your words that I may make You famous in my life.  You are more than worthy.

Deuteronomy 25-26

Judgment, punishment but not degradation.  Lord, I praise You for You grace in the face of the law.  You know what we are capable of and You teach us the higher and more noble way.  May we follow what You say.  May our leaders rule over us in godliness, please. 

This day the LORD your God commands you to do these statutes and rules. You shall therefore be careful to do them with all your heart and with all your soul.

Take care, do them with all my heart,  perform them with all my soul.  God, I desire to be careful in responding to Your voice, to Your Word, to Your Spirit.  Holy Spirit, please help me set my heart, my whole heart on being careful and obeying.  Please teach me to act with all my soul, even as it is yielded to You and compliant with Your great purposes.  Purify my heart and wretch my spirit from my soul that Your Spirit may have His perfect way in and through my life.  And may my heart and soul, in wholeness and entirety, be Yours.  Gladly, contently and unreservedly Yours.  As You, Holy Spirit lead, so shall my spirit, in obedience, go; as my obedient spirit leads, so shall my soul follow, as my obedient soul goes, so shall my flesh follow.  With all my heart, all my soul, all my strength, all my mind and all my spirit.  Carefully.  To the praise of Your very great and worthy Name.

Deuteronomy 23-24

when you go to war against your enemies, be sure to stay away from anything that is impure.

Lord God, please always keep me from unclean things.  i know the enemy will invade with the impure; but et my eyes and heart remain on you.

remember, remember, remember you were a slave, but you are redeemed.  let your actions today today be informed by the fact that you have been saved and brought out of slavery.  Lord God, may Your mercy and grace always be my filter, let me not be consumed with accomplishments but with You, let anything i do be in response to Your inestimable kindness in bringing out from captivity and may i be useful to You in bringing others out from their Egypts as well.

Deuteronomy 21-22

Then the priests, the sons of Levi, shall come near, for the LORD your God has chosen them to minister to Him and to bless in the name of the LORD; by their word every controversy and every assault shall be settled.

Lord God, by the word of Your ministers shall every controversy and every assault be settled.  Holy Spirit, let my words bring healing and peace, may they not stir up controversy nor slander.  I recognize this scripture in regard to a very specific situation; but I desire that by my words, I would minister, bless in Your Name and be useful for Your purposes of reconciliation and atonement.  To the praise of Your peaceful and glorious Name.

You shall not see your brother’s ox or his sheep going astray, and hide yourself from them; you shall certainly bring them back to your brother.

Please keep me from thinking or believing I am too busy to help a brother or sister. Please help me be wise in situations which I would normally veer away from and check with You first. I am safe when I am obeying You.

 

Deuteronomy 19-20

... set aside for yourselves three cities in the land the LORD your God is giving you to possess.  Determine the distances involved and divide into three parts the land ... so that a person who kills someone may flee for refuge to one of these cities.

Provision for mercy and do the math.  This is important to establish; but the people should participate in the establishing.  I see God coaching the heart and the ethics while  still drawing the people into the plan.  I thank You Father for Your relentless kindness and terms of relating to one another; especially when great pain and loss are involved. What wisdom You share with us. 

A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.

Reminds me of Matthew 18:15-20:

 "If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you,  you have won your brother.  ... But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that BY THE MOUTH OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES EVERY FACT MAY BE CONFIRMED ...  Truly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.   Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven. For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst."

Two or three establish a matter, two or three confirm a matter, two or more in agreement establish Heaven's work, two or three in His Name touch Heaven and. in turn, are touched by Heaven's Prince.

Additionally, by the testimony, by the mouth, agreeing together and in His Name - this is the path to accomplish Heaven's plan.  Also, an integral part of the victorious life of a Spirit-bearer.   And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death.  Rev. 12:11 

Lord, I praise You and I thank You for directing me to be one of two or three.  It's not about one, only You.  And thank You for continuing to emphasize to me that the words matter, the testimony is the key, the accord is the way.  Heaven is accessed, impacted by the spoken word - my spoken word.  Lord, please instruct me in the way of the wise that I may speak words which matter, give true testimony which is overcoming and pursue agreement not acquiescence.  Lord, only You know that which needs to be loosed and bound; please teach me Your priorities and may I be a meticulous and Kingdom-minded student.  

Hear, Tami:  Today you are going into battle against your enemies. Do not be fainthearted or afraid; do not panic or be terrified by them. For the LORD your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory.

May I begin each day with this truth, may I walk in it and decide through it and go to bed with it.  May I bring You glory, LORD my God, for You give the victory.  And faith is the victory.

Then the officers shall add, “Is anyone afraid or fainthearted? Let him go home so that his fellow soldiers will not become disheartened too."


Lord, please help me to remember Who You are rather than who I am not.  I don't want to be afraid or fainthearted when You invite me to join You on the front lines, or even the side-lines.  Make me braver than I am, for through You, I can do all things - strengthen my weaknesses, strengthen my pitiful strength, that You may be glorified through me.

 
 

Deuteronomy 17-18

Now it shall come about when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, he shall write for himself a copy of this law on a scroll in the presence of the Levitical priests.  It shall be with him and he shall read it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the LORD his God, by carefully observing all the words of this law and these statutes, that his heart may not be lifted up above his countrymen and that he may not turn aside from the commandment, to the right or the left, so that he and his sons may continue long in his kingdom in the midst of Israel.

 God's word shall be with the leader, he shall read it everyday in order that he would learn to fear the LORD his God through conscientious and honoring obedience so pride will not carry him into disobedience at the cost of the people and his legacy.

God, could I please have a leader like that?  Holy Spirit, teach me, condition me, train me in these ways.  Keep me from pride and presumption.

They shall have no inheritance among their countrymen; the LORD is their inheritance, as He promised them.

 Father God, You are my inheritance, too.  Grant me soul- and spirit-deep satisfaction with that fact so my flirtations with the things of this world would stop.  Let my passions reflect Your priorities, cultivate a pursuit of the true and holy in me; may I be so consumed with You that my life is known for delayed gratification (did I really just pray that?) waiting for the promises You have give and will deliver.  I need Your wisdom and restraint, I need to focus increasingly on You, I need obedience in every, every choice.  Every decision.  Grant me the consistent comprehension that it all matters.  Holy Spirit, when I am choosing poorly, overrule me and help me to remember that it is Your plan I desire - even when my flesh cries out, my heart wobbles in confusion and my mind is deceived or leaning towards passivity.  I. CHOOSE. YAHWEH.

The man who acts presumptuously by not listening to the priest who stands there to serve the LORD your God, nor to the judge, that man shall die; thus you shall purge the evil from Israel.  Then all the people will hear and be afraid, and will not act presumptuously again. ... When a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the thing does not come about or come true, that is the thing which the LORD has not spoken. The prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him.

Presumption.  Perturbation and apprehension.  Purge evil.  

Lord God, please keep me from being, thinking, responding presumptively.  I want to always have a teachable heart and a soul yielded to You.  Holiest of Spirits, inform every aspect of my spirit, soul, mind and strength that I would be a faithful steward for You and Your Fame.  May I only be audacious for You, may any swagger come from the cross and not of me.  And may love cover it all, to the praise of Your very great and eternal Name.  You have not given me a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear - so I need not be afraid or timid; but You have given me a Spirit of adoption as a daughter, by whom I cry, "Abba, Father."  Purge evil, purge fear.  Help me to promote the Spirit of Adoption.

Deuteronomy 15-16

Take care lest there be an unworthy thought in your heart and you say,  ......

Lord, please keep me from all unworthy things, thoughts, imaginations, habits, actions, plans, ...  I want to choose only the worthy things, that which is worthy of Your glorious Name.  And please keep my mouth shut if I am not speaking under Your authority and by Your divine and holy influence.

You shall furnish him liberally out of your flock, out of your threshing floor, and out of your winepress. As the LORD your God has blessed you, you shall give to him.  You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the LORD your God redeemed you; therefore I command you this today. 

Because of my redemption by God, I am to give as He has blessed me.  I can't imagine what that would be; my salvation cost my Lord His own life.  How can I match Your divine gift, Lord?  How can I give as You have blessed me?  Help me to be creative and generous to give in response and accordance to Your blessings. 

... at the place that the LORD your God will choose, to make his name dwell there.

Thank You, LORD my God, that You chose to make Your Name dwell in and on me.  

Deuteronomy 13-14

Serve only the Lord your God and fear him alone.

Father God and High and Only King of the Universe, only serve and only fear You are Your requirements.  It seems so simple; but I somehow allow it to become complicated.  Please keep me from being lazy that I may recognize every thought, word, deed either serves and honors You or it doesn't.  Give me that persistent perspective, passion and priority, lest I rebel quietly, slipping away without a ripple in the pond of life around me.

In this way you will purge the evil from among you.

Teach me to be as vigilant as You desire me to be that I may purge the evil that is around me. And thank You that You have given me Your righteousness.

... set apart as holy to the Lord your God

Thank You, for it is Your holiness that is in and on me.  Help me to steward Your presence and attribute well.

Doing this will teach you always to fear the Lord your God.

Obedience yields reverence and awe.  Grow me up in You, precious Lord that I may fear You alone.

Deuteronomy 12

As I more fully yield to His magnificent possession, I am increasingly able to more fully possess that which He has called me to.  If it is not of the Most High God and my Savior, then I must fully dispossess the thing, place, idea, stronghold, relationship, adornment - eviscerate the place of their abode ... tear down, dash into pieces, consume with fire, destroy the place of their name.  I can't be nice or passive.  I must have the heart of an annihilator regarding the thing which offends my God (and should offend me).  Mighty  and Majestic LORD, make this so.  I am soft-hearted; but I desire the way of the warrior with regard to Your holiness and my life.

And you shall rejoice before the LORD your God in all that you undertake.

May this be true of me and my family, always.  Rejoice in all, before the LORD my God.  Praise You.

But the holy things that are due from you ...

Holy Spirit, teach me in the way of the holy, that I may serve well in the holy things which are due from me.  I need You to do this.  Teach me the holy.  thank You for choosing to put Your great Name on me and for making Your habitation within me.  Your worthiness eclipses my utter lack and inability.  I praise You, may my life bring You glory.

Everything that I command you, you shall be careful to do. You shall not add to it or take from it.

Help me to live in the fulness and wholeness of Your mighty and sufficient Word, Lord God; let me never add nor subtract from what You have said.  Grant me the obsessive heart and mind to truly be mindful of the wholeness of Your commands and truth that I may walk in the fulness of Your most Holy Spirit.

 

Deuteronomy 11

You shall therefore keep the whole commandment that I command you today, that you may be strong, and go in and take possession of the land that you are going over to possess, and that you may live long in the land that the LORD swore to your fathers to give to them and to their offspring, a land flowing with milk and honey.

Whole commandment requires whole obedience.  The yield is strength, going in, taking possession, living long.  Lord, help me to be about the whole commandment, not partial; that I may render whole obedience.  That I may benefit from the blessing of walking in Your perfect will.

Take care lest your heart be deceived, and you turn aside and serve other gods and worship them ... You shall therefore lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul ...

Lord, my heart can be deceived and be deceptive.  Keep me true to You so I won't turn away from You.  Any turning means idolatry - even if I don't recognize it.  Oh, my God, I want only You, I wish to serve no other - keep me from being deceived, Holy Spirit.  Help me to layer Your words in my heart and soul that I may more consistently walk in the fulness of Your Spirit.  Only if I lay down my heart and soul, yield them to You, can I be fully available to You, Holy Spirit.  I desire to give You that unhindered access to me, everyday, every opportunity, every thought. 

See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse:  the blessing, if you obey the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you today, and the curse, if you do not obey the commandments of the LORD your God...

It's not complicated.  One choice, blessing or curse - good or evil.  Every choice I make - either for the blessing or for the curse.  God Spirit, make each one glorious in my heart, soul and spirit.  For the blessing.  For the fame of Your Name.  

Deuteronomy 10

Yet on your fathers did the LORD set His affection to love them ... For the LORD your God is the God of gods and the Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God who does not show partiality nor take a bribe. 

Lord, in Your unimaginable wisdom You set, on inconsequential folks,  Your affection to love and still You do not show partiality.  I praise You that You would that none should perish.  I don't understand how these two truths fit together exactly; but I am blessed that You do love and that You desire all to come to You.  I praise You for Your infiniteness in love and understanding.  You are never strapped nor challenged.  Thank You.

 

Deuteronomy 9

You know about them and have heard it said: “Who can stand up against the Anakites?” But be assured today that the LORD your God is the one who goes across ahead of you like a devouring fire. He will destroy them; he will subdue them before you.

Thank You Lord, that You allow the Anakite in my life and that You defeat the Anakite.  Please help me to focus on Your known reputation and relationship with me rather than the myth of the Anakite who hates me.  Help me to walk in confident victory with You rather than cower in fear behind You.  To You belongs all the glory and awe, not the rebellious Anakite.

Understand, then, that it is not because of your righteousness that the LORD your God is giving you this good land to possess, for you are a stiff-necked people.

 Please increase my understanding of who I am and change me to increasingly reflect You.  Lord, help my stiff-neck and rebellious spirit be used against sin and not for  it.  

So I turned and went down from the mountain while it was ablaze with fire. ... When I looked, I saw that you had sinned against the LORD your God; you had made for yourselves an idol ...

Lord, help me to never turn from You (to an idol), especially while You are still working in my presence.  Grant me vision of the Holy, the Divine, Your Ever-Present Blaze of Glory.  Help me to remember that I was made for You and nothing less and nothing else.  No compromise.

But you rebelled against the command of the LORD your God. You did not trust him or obey him.

Help me, oh God, to realize that "mild" rebellion is distrust, unbelief and disobedience.  Please give me  such a distaste for rebellious quests and thoughts that I get sick if I entertain them for any time.  Make the physical connection that You may break the spiritual inclination.

When I went up on the mountain to receive the tablets of stone, the tablets of the covenant that the LORD had made with you, I stayed on the mountain forty days and forty nights; I ate no bread and drank no water. ... You had turned aside quickly from the way that the LORD had commanded you.   So I took the two tablets and threw them out of my hands, breaking them to pieces before your eyes. Then once again I fell prostrate before the LORD for forty days and forty nights; I ate no bread and drank no water, because of all the sin you had committed, doing what was evil in the LORD’s sight and so arousing his anger.

Father, grant me such an appetite for You that I live consistently in response to the simple truth that You are enough for me, even to the exclusion of bread and water.  Teach me the ways of the intercessor impassioned by intimacy with You, cultivate in me a heart for holiness and the tenacity to persevere in worship- prayer for Your will, for Your glory and for others. 

Deuteronomy 8

... and you shall remember the whole way the LORD your God has led you ...

Lord, may i never remember just part of Your leading and provision; but may i remember Your complete work on my behalf, the whole way You lead and Your faithful faithfulness.

... that He might humble you and test you, to do you good in the end ....

Help me remember that it's about the whole way and not part way.  i praise You for the good You have in store for me - and for the good You give me everyday. Help me to steward well Your humbling and testing, as well as the other good things.

Deuteronomy 7

if you say '...how can i ______?' remember what the LORD did ....


God, i praise You that You give me scenarios where i wonder how can i continue or i know i can't do what is for me to do ... help me to always remember Your glorious faithfulness and Your previous demonstrations of Your love, power and promise-keeping when i am face to face with the giants and wild animals of the world.  may my responses always be in remembrance of You.  Thank You that, by Your grace and wisdom, i am not devoted to destruction.