Sunday (5/15)

Since January of 2022 we have been reading Old Testament books as part of this Your Faith Journey devotional. This week we will conclude our journey through the book of Joshua, which tells the story of the Israelites finally arriving in the Promised Land after forty years of wandering through the wilderness. If you did not read the previous books of Genesis through Deuteronomy, you are encouraged to watch the Bible Project video about the Old Testament. The video is a summary of the Hebrew scriptures. It is available on YouTube.

TaNaK/Old Testament by the Bible Project:

 

Below are some suggestions and questions to help you as you read scripture this week:

1. Approach scripture with humility. Seek to receive what the Bible reveals without trying to make it say what you want it to say.

2. Invite the Holy Spirit to speak a message to you through the verses you read.

3. What do these verses reveal about God?

4. What do these verses reveal about humanity?

5. What do these verses teach me about myself?

6. How do you see yourself in the story when reading biblical narratives?

Which of these characters would I be?

In what ways is their story similar to my story?

7. Read, study, and discuss scripture with a small group or another person.

8. Are you using a Study Bible?

A Study Bible is a very helpful tool for understanding each book of the Bible. They include information shared by scholars about historical and cultural realities during the time depicted or the era of the document, the author, when the book might have been written, the intended audience of the document, themes and messages within a book or letter, and more.

The NIV, NRSV, ESV, and NLT Study Bibles are worth considering if you do not own one. There are a few available from the AUMC Library in the back of the Chapel. You can also purchase a Study Bible from ChristianBook.com, Cokesbury.com, or Amazon.com.

 

*If you do not have a Bible, consider downloading the YouVersion Bible App for free from the Apple App Store or Google Play for your smartphone or tablet. You can also use www.BibleGateway.com to look up and read various translations of Bible verses online for free.

 

 

Monday (5/16)

Read the verses below from Moses’ song in Deuteronomy 32 to focus on the Lord during your devotional time:

I will make known the name of the LORD.

Praise God! How great he is!

He is the Rock. His works are perfect.

All his ways are right.

He is faithful. He doesn’t do anything wrong.

He is honest and fair. – Deuteronomy 32:3-4 NIRV

 

If you have not watched it already, you are encouraged to watch the Overview: Joshua video by the Bible Project that is available on Youtube:

Overview: Joshua by the Bible Project

 

If you have not read the first two chapters of Joshua, you are invited to read them before reading other chapters from the book this week. Read Joshua 3 for today. Which word, phrase, or verse is God using to speak to you today from what you read?

 

Pray however the Spirit of the Lord and Bible verses prompt and guide you to pray.

 

 

Tuesday (5/17)

Read Deuteronomy 32:3-4 to focus on worshiping the Lord.

 

Be silent for a few minutes to turn your heart and mind towards the Lord. You may find it helpful to sit, lay down with your face towards the ground, kneel, or walk during this time of being with the LORD your God. If you struggle with being present in the moment, think about how you will make the name of the Lord known.

 

Read Joshua 5:13-6:27. You are encouraged to use the suggestions and questions on the list from the Sunday portion of this devotional during your study time.

 

Pray for:

• Those closest to you (family members & friends)
• Those who point others towards God (pastors, teachers, mentors, authors, musicians, etc.)
• Leaders (locally, nationally, and globally)
• People in need throughout the world (the hungry, thirsty, homeless, sick, imprisoned, neglected, abused, lost, etc.)
• Yourself (share your needs and invite the Lord to guide you)

 

 

Wednesday (5/18)

Read Deuteronomy 32:3-4 as a reminder the goodness of the God we worship.

 

Read Joshua 7. Which word, phrase, or verse is God using to speak to you today from what you read?

 

Pray through your day, including for the people you will be with, or have been with, as well as what you will do, or what you have done.

 

 

Thursday (5/19)

Read Deuteronomy 32:3-4 to focus upon the Lord during this devotional time.

 

Spend a few minutes in silence thinking about how God is your Rock. Invite the Holy Spirit to guide your thoughts. Knowing that you are in the presence of the Almighty, leave your thoughts and desires of normal life behind to be present with the Lord. Place your body in a position that helps you to have a humble heart as you sit with your hands on your legs with your open palms facing upward, or kneel with your body leaning on a chair, couch, bed, or object that reminds you that you need to lean upon the Lord.

 

Read Joshua 10:1-15 If you haven’t yet, choose a question or two from the Sunday list of this devotional to wrestle with as part of your study time.

 

Pray in response to God using the ACTS acronym as a guide as you use the same posture from your time of silence:

Adoration (praise the Lord)

Confession

Thanksgiving

Supplication (share your needs & the needs of others)

 

 

Friday (5/20)

Read Deuteronomy 32:3-4 to center yourself on the Lord, our Rock.

 

Read Joshua 23. You are encouraged to use the suggestions and questions on the list from the Sunday portion of this devotional during your study time.

 

Pray that the Lord helps you and our congregation to faithfully follow and obey Jesus, the one who is with us always (Joshua 1:5 and Matthew 28:20). Invite the Spirit of the living God to guide and empower us to live the AUMC virtues revealed in Christ, which includes humility, compassion, forgiveness, and love (Luke 6:27-40). In regards to obedience, remember that Jesus said that the greatest commandment is to “love the Lord,” as well as to “love your neighbor as you love yourself” (Matthew 22:34-40 NIRV).

 

 

Saturday (5/21)

How are you going to remember and observe the Sabbath this weekend? The sabbath is a day each week that is set apart from the others to worship God, rest, and enjoy life-giving recreation to experience restoration. You may need to begin by setting aside an hour on Saturday or Sunday to develop a new habit of observing the Sabbath. It might be helpful for you to incrementally observe the Sabbath by setting aside an increasing portion of a day each weekend until you are eventually able to worship, rest, and engage in living-giving recreation for an entire day each week.

 

Read Psalm 111. You may find it beneficial to return to these verses throughout the day as a reminder to continually worship and praise the Lord.

 

Solitude and Silence. You are encouraged to find a place where you can quietly be alone for at least ten, twenty, or up to thirty minutes, while you ponder the great works of the Lord revealed in scripture and those you have experienced in your life. During your time of solitude and silence with God, you may want to lay down, sit on a comfortable chair, couch, or swing, or go for a walk. Try to shut out the thoughts of to-do-lists, plans for the day, etc. Simply be with God as you let your mind meditate on his greatness and what he has done. Afterwards, read the Bible verse listed below.

 

Read Joshua 24, which describes the end of Joshua’s life. Then read Psalm 112, which is described in the NIV Study Bible as “a eulogy to the godly man.” Think about how the message of Psalm 112 connects with Joshua, a godly man.

 

After thinking about the connections between the godly man described in Psalm 112 and Joshua, now think about your own life and eulogy. How do you think you will be remembered? How do you want to be remembered by those who are closest to you?

Knowing that God created you, how does the Lord want you to be remembered after your time on earth ends? Consider writing your answers in a journal or spend some time talking to your spouse, another family member, or friend about your answers to these questions.

 

Pray in response to the Lord and invite the Holy Spirit to guide you to live the life of a gracious, compassionate, and righteous person who steadily trusts in God while blessing others.