SEEKING AND FINDING SUCCESS

JOSHUA 1:7-9

7   Only be strong and very courageous;  be careful to do according to all the law which Moses,     My Servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have success wherever you go.   8   This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you will make your way prosperous, and that you will have success.   9   Have I not commanded you?  Be strong and courageous!  Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

None of us would ever make it our goal to fail, but many do fail and success eludes them.   God's Word gives us a simple formula for those who wish to avoid failure and find success.  To understand the passage, we have to put ourselves in Joshua's shoes.   Moses has died.  Joshua surely feels the pressure of needing to succeed.  The passage gives three simple lessons.

• When Seeking Success I should speak of God TIRELESSLY-- "this book of the law shall not depart from your mouth." (v. 8)  What a strange turn of phrase -- shall not depart out of your mouth."   Sometimes a parent might say, "I never want to hear those words coming out of your mouth."  This actually means the exact opposite.  The cloud and fire did not depart from the children of Israel while they were in the wilderness.  The cloud and fire were with them 24/7.   If I am seeking success, I should speak of God tirelessly.  I should be talking about Him 24/7.  Let me share with you what God has been teaching me.  When I speak of God tirelessly I am constantly reminding myself and others of who God is and how he has dealt with me.   
• When Seeking Success I should meditate on God TENACIOUSLY-- "you shall meditate on it day and night" (v. 8)   To meditate is to "mull it over -- think about it.  In this passage I can see Joshua mulling over what God said in the previous verses.  God said of the land, "I am giving it to you.!"   God said, "every place your foot shall tread."  God said, "I am with you."  God said he will not fail me or forsake me.  God's got this.  I can rest in His promises and know that success is simply discerning and doing the will of God.
• When Seeking Success I should obey God TOTALLY-- "be careful to do all the law which Moses My Servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or the left."  I must be careful to never become diverted to the right or to the left.  So much in this world is pulling me one way or the other, but I must test all I see and hear by the grid of God's Word.   

Following these simple steps I can be assured of success.   So, today I will speak of God tirelessly, meditate on Him tenaciously, and seek to obey Him totally.