Quiet Walk

[Judy Harder]

May 1

Joshua 1

The people pledge their allegiance to Joshua's leadership.

INSIGHT

The genius of God's moral code is that everything He requires of us is for our own good. When we violate His code of life, we suffer harmful consequences.

Joshua's success is dependent upon not deviating from God's Law. God instructs Joshua to meditate on the Law day and night so "that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it" (1:. When Joshua does according "to all that is written in it," then "[he] will make your way prosperous, and then [he] will have good success."

Anything less than obedience to God is not only disappointing to Him-it is self-destructive. There is more than one reason for faithfulness to His Word.

PRAYER

· As you think of the impact of the Word of God on your life, offer the Lord this praise:

Oh come, let us sing to the Lord!
Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation.
Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving;
Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms.
For the Lord is the great God,
And the great King above all gods. . . .
Oh come, let us worship and bow down;
Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker
(Psalm 95:1-3, 6).

· Having offered Him your praise, now pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:

We look for light, but there is darkness! . . .
Our sins testify against us;
For our transgressions are with us,
And as for our iniquities, we know them
(Isaiah 59:9, 12).

He will again have compassion on us,
And will subdue our iniquities.
You will cast all our sins
Into the depths of the sea
(Micah 7:19).

· As you make your requests known to the Lord, come to Him with your concerns and desires:

· your spiritual growth,
· the fulfillment of the Great Commission,
· your activities for the day.

· Finally, offer this prayer to the Lord:

The Lord bless you and keep you;
The Lord make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace
(Numbers 6:24-26).

[Judy Harder]

May 2

Joshua 2

Rahab shelters two spies and helps them escape from the city of Jericho.

INSIGHT

God will meet any person, any time, any place. There are few people who seem to be further from the Lord than a harlot. Yet, in the course of her everyday life, Rahab finds herself keeping a divine appointment with two strangers in need and, in the process, meets with God.

The kind of risks Rahab takes will not be taken without a searching heart. In her own way, she takes a step of faith; God meets her. Her reward is not only eternal life, but also the honor of being included in the messianic lineage. Wherever you are in your life, God will meet you there.

PRAYER

· Offer to the Lord this psalm of praise as you remember all He has done for you:

You who love the Lord, hate evil!
He preserves the souls of His saints;
He delivers them out of the hand of the wicked.
Light is sown for the righteous,
And gladness for the upright in heart.
Rejoice in the Lord, you righteous,
And give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name
(Psalm 97:10-12).

· As you ponder the wondrous holiness of the Lord, pray this confession to Him as you seek to keep your life free from sin:

"Come now, and let us reason together,"
Says the Lord,
"Though your sins are like scarlet,
They shall be as white as snow;
Though they are red like crimson,
They shall be as wool"
(Isaiah 1:18).

· Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind. Now pause to pray this affirmation to the Lord who will protect you:

When the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:4-5).

[Judy Harder]

May 3

Joshua 3

God miraculously parts the Jordan River for the people of Israel to cross over.

INSIGHT

There are two times in history when God parts water for the Israelites-once at the Red Sea as they flee from the Egyptian army and again at the Jordan River as they enter the Promised Land.

The Red Sea experience receives more acclaim, but the Jordan River experience is just as miraculous. The water parts for a distance of almost 20 miles as the nation passes over on dry ground during the flood stage.

God is faithful to accomplish His good purposes for His people.

PRAYER

· Offer your praise to the Lord for His goodness to all generations of those who love Him:

Oh, sing to the Lord a new song!
Sing to the Lord, all the earth.
Sing to the Lord, bless His name;
Proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day.
Declare His glory among the nations,
His wonders among all peoples.
For the Lord is great and greatly to be praised;
He is to be feared above all gods
(Psalm 96:1-4).

· Pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:

Create in me a clean heart, O God,
And renew a steadfast spirit within me. . . .
Restore to me the joy of Your salvation,
And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.
Then I will teach transgressors Your ways,
And sinners shall be converted to You
(Psalm 51:10, 12-13).

· Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind. Now pause to pray this affirmation to the Lord, who has been good to you:
You did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father" (Romans 8:15).

· As you make your requests known to the Lord, pray for:

· greater insight into the meaning of Scripture,
· the hungry around the world,
· your activities for the day.

· Finally, offer this closing prayer to the Lord who is goodness in Himself, and therefore the standard of goodness for all His creatures:

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord
Forever
(Psalm 23:6).

[Judy Harder]

May 4

Joshua 4

The Israelites choose 12 stones to erect as a memorial to God's faithfulness.

INSIGHT

Memorials help us preserve important memories. God memorializes many important things in the Old Testament, often through feasts and ceremonies. Now He uses a monument built of stones so that in the future the Israelites can tell their children: "Here, the God of miracles was faithful."

What things has God done in your life that you ought not to forget? Think of ways to memorialize them. You might have ceremonies, anniversaries of important events, or a physical memorial. Either way, foster the memory of God's work on your behalf.

PRAYER

· Offer this psalm of praise to the Lord as you remember all He has done for you:

The Lord reigns;
Let the earth rejoice;
Let the multitude of isles be glad!
Clouds and darkness surround Him;
Righteousness and justice are the
foundation of His throne. . . .
The mountains melt like wax at the
presence of the Lord,
At the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.
The heavens declare His righteousness,
And all the peoples see His glory
(Psalm 97:1-2, 5-6).

· Pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:

I acknowledge my transgressions,
And my sin is always before me.
Against You, You only, have I sinned,
And done this evil in Your sight-
That You may be found just when You speak,
And blameless when You judge
(Psalm 51:3-4).

· Pause to pray this affirmation to the Lord who has done great things for you:

[We look] for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works (Titus 2:13-14).

· As you make your requests known to the Lord, pray for:

· greater sensitivity to sin,
· the ministry of your local church,
· whatever else is on your heart.

· Offer this closing prayer to the Lord:

Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen (Hebrews 13:20-21).

[Judy Harder]

May 5

Joshua 6

The Lord fells the walls of Jericho.

INSIGHT

The Word of God often goes against all reason. Consider Joshua, a military strategist so brilliant that his campaigns are still studied today. He is standing afar, looking at the city of Jericho, pondering how to conquer it. The angel of the Lord appears to him saying, "Walk around the city several times and shout. That ought to do it!"

Can you imagine the response from the standpoint of military strategy? It is sheer nonsense. Yet it is a test of faith and obedience. Joshua believes and obeys, and the fallen walls are history.

PRAYER

· Offer praise to the Lord who fights mightily for His people:

Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel,
Who only does wondrous things!
And blessed be His glorious name forever!
And let the whole earth be filled with His
glory. Amen and Amen
(Psalm 72:18-19).

· Pause for personal praise and thanksgiving. Pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:

O Lord, I have heard your speech and was afraid; O Lord, revive Your work in the midst of the years! In the midst of the years make it known; In wrath remember mercy (Habakkuk 3:2).

· Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind. Now pray this affirmation to the Lord:

Without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen by angels, preached among the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up in glory (1 Timothy 3:16).

· As you make your requests known to the Lord, pray for:

· greater confidence in the Lord's power,
· revival to pour down on our spiritually parched land,
· your activities for the day.

· Finally, offer this closing prayer to the Lord who does everything according to His plan and purpose:

He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will (Ephesians 1:4-5).

[Judy Harder]

May 6

Joshua 23

Nearing his death, Joshua charges the Israelites to be faithful to the Lord.

INSIGHT

After a brilliant career as Israel's leader, Joshua bids them farewell. He urges them not to allow themselves to be corrupted by the gods or people of the nations around them. Then Joshua encourages them that if they are faithful, "all the good things" of the Lord will come upon them (23:15); if they are not faithful, "the Lord will bring upon you all harmful things, until He has destroyed you from this good land" (23:15).

PRAYER

· Offer your praise to the Lord for His faithfulness to all generations of those who obey Him:

I will extol You, my God, O King;
And I will bless Your name forever and ever.
Every day I will bless You,
And I will praise Your name forever and ever.
Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised;
And His greatness is unsearchable.
One generation shall praise Your works to another,
And shall declare Your mighty acts.
I will meditate on the glorious splendor of Your majesty,
And on Your wondrous works
(Psalm 145:1-5).

· Pause for personal praise and thanksgiving. Pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin: David said to the Lord, "I have sinned greatly in what I have done; but now, I pray, O Lord, take away the iniquity of Your servant, for I have done very foolishly" (2 Samuel 24:10).

· Confess any sins which the Holy Spirit brings to your mind. Now pause to pray this affirmation to the Lord:

"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life. I am the bread of life. . . . This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world" (John 6:47-48, 50-51).

· As you make your requests known to the Lord, pray for:

· greater faith in God's providence,
· ministry leaders,
· whatever else is on your heart.

· Finally, offer this prayer to the Lord:

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen (2 Corinthians 13:14).

[Judy Harder]

May 7

Joshua 24

Joshua reviews Israel's history, charges them to serve the Lord, then dies at the age of 110.

INSIGHT

Joshua again gathers Israel to hear a review of their history and the good things God has done for them. He states the benefits and consequences of faithfulness and unfaithfulness. "If it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve. . . . But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord" (v. 15). Fortunately, the Israelites accept the challenge and agree to serve the Lord.

From time to time, the Lord may challenge us through various and unpredictable ways. When we drift from Him, when we get stale, or cease growing, the Lord will often bring a circumstance into our lives which forces us to choose whom we will serve. At those times, we must learn from the nation of Israel and choose to serve the Lord.

PRAYER

· Because the Lord cares enough about us to challenge us to total commitment, we praise Him:

Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands!
Serve the Lord with gladness;
Come before His presence with singing.
Know that the Lord, He is God;
It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
And into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
For the Lord is good;
His mercy is everlasting,
And His truth endures to all generations
(Psalm 100:1-5).

· Pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:

Search me, O God, and know my heart;
Try me, and know my anxieties;
And see if there is any wicked way in me,
And lead me in the way everlasting
(Psalm 139:23-24).

· Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind. Now pause to pray this affirmation to the Lord:

They said, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household" (Acts 16:31).

· As you make your requests known to the Lord, pray for:

· greater love for other Christians,
· missions in Europe and Asia,
· your activities for the day.

· Finally, offer this prayer to the Lord:

Be of good courage,
And He shall strengthen your heart,
All you who hope in the Lord
(Psalm 31:24).

[Judy Harder]

May 8
Judges 1

The tribes of Israel do an inadequate job of vanquishing the aliens living in the Promised Land.

INSIGHT

The book of Judges is a pathetic chronicle of a weak and willful people. Soon after Joshua's death, the Israelites begin to fall short of the directives he gave them. They fail at the most crucial point and tolerate the presence of immoral idol worshipers among them. The story which follows is one of sexual immorality, murder, idolatry, corruption, and greed. The depths to which the Israelites plunge is truly disgusting- reminding us of the warnings given by Moses and Joshua.

Turning your back on God always has tragic consequences. When we read about the Israelites, their foolishness seems so clear. Yet when we are faced with temptations today, it doesn't seem so clear. We can learn from the past, however. The consequences can be just as grave for us. A wise man walks with the Lord and is saved.

PRAYER

· Because we can be delivered from bondage to sin, offer your praise for the Lord's goodness:

O Lord, how manifold are Your works!
In wisdom You have made them all.
The earth is full of Your possessions . . .
May my meditation be sweet to Him;
I will be glad in the Lord
(Psalm 104:24, 34).

· Pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:

He is despised and rejected by men,
A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.
And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him;
He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. . . .
All we like sheep have gone astray;
We have turned, every one, to his own way;
And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all
(Isaiah 53:3, 6).

· Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind. Now pause to pray this affirmation to the Lord:

Reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus (Romans 6:11).

· As you make your requests known to the Lord, pray for:

· greater faithfulness with your time,
· the president and national leaders,
· whatever else is on your heart.

· Offer this closing prayer to the Lord:

The Lord God is a sun and shield;
The Lord will give grace and glory;
No good thing will He withhold
From those who walk uprightly.
O Lord of hosts,
Blessed is the man who trusts in You!
(Psalm 84:11-12).

[Judy Harder]

May 9

Judges 2

The Israelites begin worshipping Baal, a god of Canaan.

INSIGHT

There is a distinct pattern of events that begins to unfold in Judges. The children of Israel fall into sin and begin worshiping other gods. Sin is followed by servitude. The Lord causes other nations to rise up in judgment and enslave Israel.

Israel cries out to God for deliverance, and the Lord delivers them by raising up a judge to lead them to victory. Then the land has rest until that judge dies and the cycle begins again: sin, servitude, supplication, salvation, and silence. Sin is always followed by bondage. Repentance frees.

PRAYER

· Because God always honors our obedience to Him, we praise Him:

Bless the Lord, O my soul!
O Lord my God, You are very great:
You are clothed with honor and majesty,
Who cover Yourself with light as with a garment,
Who stretch out the heavens like a curtain. . . .
May the glory of the Lord endure forever;
May the Lord rejoice in His works.
May sinners be consumed from the earth,
And the wicked be no more. . . .
Bless the Lord, O my soul!
Praise the Lord!
(Psalm 104:1-2, 31, 35).

· Pause for personal praise and thanksgiving. Pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:

There is not a just man on earth who does good and does not sin (Ecclesiastes 7:20).

Thus says the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel:
"In returning and rest you shall be saved;
In quietness and confidence shall be your strength"
(Isaiah 30:15).

· Pause to pray this affirmation to the Lord:

Our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal (2 Corinthians 4:17-18).

· As you make your requests known to the Lord, pray for:

· greater wisdom for living,
· the needs of your family,
· your activities for the day.

· Offer this closing prayer to the Lord:

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable in Your sight,
O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer
(Psalm 19:14).

[Judy Harder]

May 10

Judges 6

Gideon is chosen to rule Israel.

INSIGHT

God takes ordinary people and does extraordinary things through them because of their devotion to Him. This is true in times of apostasy when God sometimes calls His mightiest servants from places of obscurity and gives them faith to believe Him. He works great deliverance through them.

This is certainly the case with Gideon who exclaims that he is from the weakest family in Manasseh and is the youngest in that family. Yet he is devoted to the Lord and, therefore, usable for God's purposes.

PRAYER

· Praise the Lord for the privilege of following Him fully:

Make a joyful shout to God, all the earth!
Sing out the honor of His name;
Make His praise glorious.
Say to God,
"How awesome are Your works!
Through the greatness of Your power
Your enemies shall submit themselves to You.
All the earth shall worship You
And sing praises to You;
They shall sing praises to Your name"
Selah
(Psalm 66:1-4).

· Pause for praise and thanksgiving. Pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:

The Lord is merciful and gracious,
Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy.
As a father pities his children,
So the Lord pities those who fear Him.
For He knows our frame;
He remembers that we are dust
(Psalm 103:8, 13-14).

· Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind. Now pray this affirmation to the Lord:

All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus (Romans 3:23-24).

· As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:

· growth in all areas of your life,
· fulfillment of the Great Commission,
· whatever else is on your heart.

· Offer this closing prayer to the Lord:

Every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying:

"Blessing and honor and glory and power
Be to Him who sits on the throne,
And to the Lamb, forever and ever!"
(Revelation 5:13).