City Life Starter

Written by Aisha Darwesh

The Word

¹⁴“Now therefore, fear the Lord, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord! ¹⁵And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

Joshua 24:14-15 (NKJV)

Aisha’s Analysis

The Book of Joshua is a very groundbreaking new season for the Israelites. While Moses delivered the Israelites out of slavery from Egypt and into the wilderness, Joshua would lead the next generation into the long awaited Promised Land. 

We can only imagine how uncertain and saddened Joshua must have been following the death of his highly respected mentor, Moses. As Moses’ personal assistant, Joshua was very close to Moses. He attended Moses up the mountain when Moses would worship the Lord, and he also bravely fought the Amalekites while Moses stood with his hands held up overlooking the battle at the top of the hill. 

Although Joshua was a seasoned soldier and witnessed amazing miracles constantly, he must have been terrified when God commissioned him as Moses’ successor. It is no wonder the Lord commanded him to be strong and courageous three times! (Reference Joshua 1). 

From the start of his leadership, Joshua faced challenge after challenge. He had many enemies to overcome in conquering the land God promised the Israelites. He then had to distribute the land amongst the 12 tribes. Finally, he ended with a prophetic word and admonition to the Israelites to stay faithful to God. Despite the overwhelming odds, Joshua finished well. 

I believe the final words of Joshua reveal the secret of his success. He served the Lord single-mindedly without wavering. He knew that for every enemy he had to fight and for every decision he had to make, he needed the Lord’s strength and wisdom. Was he perfect? Hardly, but at least he knew Someone who would always have his back. He knew where his strength and courage came from. 

Application

Today, think candidly about what could possibly be distracting you from God. Is it binge-watching TV, work or family tensions, or possibly a relationship? Make a resolute decision to serve the Lord alone. It’s not a matter of whether we’ll worship. We are created to worship. The question is who or what do you worship? If the answer is anything other than the One True God, you’re missing out. Nothing else will satisfy.  

After you make this decision or renew your decision to serve the Lord wholeheartedly, take corresponding actions to support your relationship with God. Spend time with Him in prayer and in the Bible. Join a small group at your church. Stay focused on God. If you can stay committed in your relationship with God, you’ll find yourself victorious in the battles you face. 

Prayer

Father God, I want to thank You for already winning the victory for me through the triumph of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I am more than a conqueror in Christ. I am truly blessed and honored to serve You. Lord, I pray You’ll reveal the distractions that are coming in the way of my devotion to You. Give me strength and courage for the battles You’re calling me to. In Jesus’ name, amen.