"This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success." (Joshua 1:8)
 
Joshua, this great leader, has a challenging task ahead of him.  He must hold together 1 million people, and successfully lead an invasion of a foreign land.  Just what do you think would be the secret of his success?  Some would suggest that this great General must have charisma, and be a great strategist to fulfill his mission!  However, Joshua was told that the real key to victory was to think deeply and continually on God’s word!
 
Do such promises seem strange to you?  Most folks don’t believe that God is really going to help us prosper just because we think about what he says in Scripture.  In fact, most folks don’t have time to spend in God’s word!  When Joshua and Israel march into the land of Canaan, Jericho is the first city to conquer.  Asking your army to march around the walls of the city and blow trumpets is the kind of strategy to drive most generals crazy!  It was not because of the size of the army or the speed of the chariots that caused Israel to conquer Canaan.  It was because they obeyed God!
 
All of the great leaders of Israel spent time with God in his word.  Moses had his tent of meeting:  “"This shall be a continual burnt offering throughout your generations at the door of the tabernacle of meeting before the LORD, where I will meet you to speak with you. "And there I will meet with the children of Israel, and the tabernacle shall be sanctified by My glory.” (Exodus 29:42-43)  There was Ezra’s resolve:  “For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the Law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel.” (Ezra 7:10)  Finally, the blessed Psalmist:  “Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.” (Psalms 1:1-3)
 
Now is the time to stop soaking up the world and start soaking up God’s word.  It will soften your heart and strengthen your soul.
 
By George Slover
 

So Jesus answered and said to them, "Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' it will be done. "And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive." (Matthew 21:21-22)

Just before his death, Jesus made his final entry into Jerusalem.  His purpose was to expose its religious leaders, and to warn Jerusalem of impending judgment.  A fruitless fig tree represented the pitiful condition of Judiasm.  Miraculously, Jesus cursed the tree and used it to teach the apostles an important lesson about faith and prayer.

The focus of effective prayer is God.  There can be no prayer without faith in a personal God.  The atheist cannot pray.  He has no god to pray to.  The infinite “it”, the god of the pantheist, is unsusceptible to prayer.  The god of the deist is so far removed he does not care.  The Christian can pray believing in a personal God who intelligently listens to his petitions.  He prays to a God who is able to keep His pledge to do whatever He wishes.  

The Apostles were still weak in faith.  Thus, the Lord’s lesson: “have faith in God”; “do not doubt”.  Doubt destroys the strength of prayer, but with faith “all things are possible”.  Absolute trust in the power and good will of God is a prerequisite to effectual prayer.

Effective prayer must also be backed by an active faith.  This faith is reflected in the life of the petitioner.  He must not ask with improper motives. (Js. 4:3) He must strive to live according to God’s will.  When you pray what is your real motive?  Is it for personal gain or comfort or that God is glorified?  It is the prayer of a righteous man that avails much.

Prayer that includes these elements can move a mountain.  Remember the Lord’s promises before you pray.  Trust in them and pray with perseverance.  Your challenges may seem like a deep rooted mountain.  Pray in faith, believing in God’s power and love.  With God “all things are possible”.

By George Slover
 

For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?" (Esther 4:14) The story of Esther’s courage is a classic that has encouraged the saints both young and old.  King Ahasuerus established a decree that on day 13 of month 12 all Jews would be exterminated.  Queen Esther, a lovely Jewish girl, was the only hope of the Jews.  Esther’s cousin, Mordecai, pleads with Esther to make supplication for her people before the king.  Esther reminds her cousin that approaching the king without invitation would likely result in her death.  Mordecai’s reply (printed above) is a classic. By these words Mordecai is encouraging Esther to cease the moment!  She must take advantage of the opportunity.  Esther was the instrument that could be used by God to redeem her people.  In dramatic fashion Esther accepts her possible plight:  “And so I will go to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish!" (Esther 4:16)  It has occurred to me that most opportunities for doing good are not this dramatic.  Much of life is quite ordinary.  These occasions to make a difference are in every relationship: family, neighbor, nation, and church, and almost everyday we live. We often search for significance by the momentous and dramatic.  Occasionally, a sermon or song service will prompt an emotional thrill!  We rejoice emotionally when one decides to obey Christ in baptism.  Unfortunately, some love the drama of a “church fight”.  However, most of life is not that way. In our work most days are just ordinary.  Life is the same old routine!  It can be quite boring!  However, this does not mean that such times are not significant.  Every day we live still belongs to God.  It is God’s day and God’s time.  Even the “small” things can make a difference in our lives and the lives of others. Dear brethren, never under-estimate the value of your life or the power of your influence.  Even the quiet moments count for God’s service.  By George Slover

He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” (John 7:38)

God employed the symbol of water flowing through a person when answering Judah’s frustration at His disregard for their fasting. “’Why have we fasted,’ they say, ‘and You have not seen?’” (Isaiah 58:3) God answered that their calloused hearts made their worship unacceptable. God counseled “If you take away the yoke (of exploitation) from your midst, the pointing of the finger and speaking wickedness, if you extend your soul to the hungry and satisfy the afflicted soul, then … the Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy your soul in drought … and you shall be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.” (9-11)

Jesus offered “living water” to satisfy spiritual thirst and give eternal life. (John 4:14; 7:37) But He also promised the heart so benefited would become a conduit through which would flow “rivers of living water.” (John 7:38) Those who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ would become influenced by His Spirit to the extent they would “let this mind be in (them) that was also in Christ Jesus,” (Phil 2:5) - looking out for the “interest of others.” (4) and “esteeming others better than themselves.”(3) They would “overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12:21) and they would let their lights shine to glorify God. (Matt 5:16)

The promise remains for us today. As living water refreshes us, we can effectively minister to others to God’s glory – allowing the rivers of living water to flow through our hearts. In so doing, we’ll be “His own special people, zealous for good works.” (Titus 2:14)

Brian Beck

Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20) True success in this world is accomplished by self-sacrifice.  Anyone who leaves their mark upon the World must lose themselves in some great cause of science, of humanity, of country, etc.  If there is any pursuit worth such a sacrifice, it is the cause of Christ.  Christians are to live to the glory of God.  They are “not their own” for they have been purchased by the blood of God’s own son. The true disciple’s heart, actions, abilities, and influence are totally given to Jesus.  All of his being, including body and spirit are to be devoted of Christ.  The Christian has no personal rights.  His life’s goal is no longer in pursuit of selfish desires, but in passionately pleasing Jesus. What gives Jesus the right to make such demands?  He has this right because the shedding of his own blood.  The Christian has been set free by one who had pity upon his enslaved condition.   God paid a high price to redeem man from his undone condition.  God delivers man from his degrading moral condition and makes make him a son! Fellow disciple you must give to God the praise and service due Him.  All that you are, all that you have, all that you can be, is under a solemn obligation to Him. Every phase of your life must be sacrificed at the altar of your Savior.  Your mission today and everyday is to glorify God!   George Slover