Spend time in prayer and silence with God asking him to meet you and speak to you.
Bible Reading
Then Joshua summoned the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh and said to them, “You have done all that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded, and you have obeyed me in everything I commanded. For a long time now–to this very day–you have not deserted your brothers but have carried out the mission the LORD your God gave you. Now that the LORD your God has given your brothers rest as he promised, return to your homes in the land that Moses the servant of the LORD gave you on the other side of the Jordan. But be very careful to keep the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the LORD gave you: to love the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to obey his commands, to hold fast to him and to serve him with all your heart and all your soul.” Then Joshua blessed them and sent them away, and they went to their homes. (To the half-tribe of Manasseh Moses had given land in Bashan, and to the other half of the tribe Joshua gave land on the west side of the Jordan with their brothers.) When Joshua sent them home, he blessed them, saying, “Return to your homes with your great wealth–with large herds of livestock, with silver, gold, bronze and iron, and a great quantity of clothing–and divide with your brothers the plunder from your enemies.”
– Joshua 22:1-8
Devotion
It is hard to imagine the joy that the people must have been experiencing after finally completing the conquest of the land and now being able to simply go home to experience all that God had planned for them. For such a long time, they awaited the land that God had promised to them. After many events of disobedience, which led to years of wandering and times of defeat, they had now experienced the fulness of God’s faithfulness and had learned obedience to Him. Joshua sends these tribes who were located on the other side of the Jordan to their new homes with a commendation and a challenge. He commended them for their obedience to that point, and challenged them to continue walking with the Lord. He challenged them to continue in wholehearted devotion. After giving them a blessing, Joshua sent them on their way with all of their spoils of war, another sign of God’s faithfulness.
Often times in life, it is actually easier to cling to God during the struggles and difficulties because that is when we are most aware of the fact that we need Him so desperately. It can be when things calm down and everything is going smoothly that we begin to get off mission. Are you in a time of struggle? Cling to God! Are you in a time of peace? Cling to God! Regardless of your circumstances in life, God wants your whole heart. Cling to him in the good times and in the bad times.
The Big Question
In your current circumstances, are you wholly devoted to God? If you are in a time of struggle, are you looking to Him for your strength and provision? If your circumstances are favorable, are you still acknowledging that all you have comes from God? Spend some time considering how you can be more surrendered to God today.
Conclude in prayer and silence, reflecting on what you’ve learned.