After Moses died, God chose Joshua to lead the Israelites into the promised land. When God chose him, he told Joshua what he was supposed to do, and he encouraged him as well. In Joshua 1:8, God tells Joshua to study the Book of Instruction continually, to meditate on it both day and night so that he can be sure to obey everything it says, and that he would succeed in all he did if he followed what God was telling him. After God gave him instructions, in Joshua 1:9, He encouraged him saying, “This is my command - be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” These instructions and this encouragement applies to us today as well.

Nowadays, we need the Lord and his guidance in everything we do. When we apply these two verses to ourselves and our lives, we know what we need to do. We need to study the Bible as much as we can and meditate on it throughout the day because it is our instruction manual. I know that we all have our busy schedules… whether it is succeeding in your career, taking care of your family, attending school, etc. However, God calls us to read His word, even if it is just one verse a day it still counts. And just how God encouraged Joshua, He also encourages us. Once we know what God says and we apply it to our lives, He says that we will then succeed in everything we do because we will be including Him in it all and hopefully, putting Him first in everything. Just as it says in 1 Corinthians 10:31, we do what we do to glorify God.

Suggested prayer: Lord, thank you for giving me Your Word as my instruction manual for life. Thank you for guiding me and encouraging me as I try to glorify you. Please continue helping me to give you even just a few minutes of my time every day. In Your name I pray, Amen.

1.    Joshua 1:8 (NLT).

Today’s Encounter was written by: Gianna B.