Joshua 1-4

I have always really enjoyed reading the book of Joshua, YAHWEH's commission to Joshua in chapter 1 is faith building and strengthening because of the truth that we are not to be afraid or dismayed because YAHWEH Himself is with us giving courage and strength. In preparation to cross over into the promised land Joshua assembles the tribes of Reuben, Gad and Manasseh to accompany the rest of the Israelites in crossing the Jordan River to enter the land of milk and honey. Joshua reminded these eastern Jordan river tribes of what YAHWEH commanded and promised through Moses, the immediate response from the tribes is faith-filled obedience:

Joshua 1:16 (NKJV) "All that you command us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go."

O LORD may this be my perpetual prayer as I go throughout each day, faithful unhindered obedience to the will of God in all my ways acknowledging God, yielding to the Holy Spirit's leading: active faith. I have recently been challenged by a pastor by the name of Luke Lefevre who recently preached at a New York City conference Altars 2026 about the 'Death of Self-Reliance' which is something I resonate with deeply as selfish ambition (rooted in a spirit of pride) is a daily surrender for me personally. Paul writes to the Ephesian church to "be filled with the Spirit" and outlines to the Galatian church that the fruit of the Spirit is "love, joy, peace, long suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control" while contrasted with acts of the flesh, selfish ambition or pride in my estimation is the Behemoth of mankind's worst tendency. One cannot be willing to do all that the LORD commands or go wherever He sends without first embracing a heart posture of humility before the LORD who sustains, protects strengthens, delivers and provides with His mighty hand. 

II Corinthians 1:10 (NIV) "On him [God] we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us."

Operating in humility means trusting in the LORD with everything, leaning not on my own human understanding. God is good, He makes the blind see, the deaf hear, the mute speak and raises the dead back to life. In our own strength we cannot do that, medical innovation and surgical intervention doesn't come close to the supernatural miraculous healing power of the Holy Spirit in the Name of Jesus. No pharmaceutical can restore full physiological function of sight, hearing or voice, let alone restore life from death. The ambition of man pales in comparison to the mighty will of the Almighty who does not crush man's will into submission - he must approach the throne of grace with humility on his own as the Father draws his heart unto Himself. 

"God is trying to suffocate your self-reliance." ~Luke Lefevre, Altars 2026 The Death of Self-Reliance

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