Everyday Truth with Kurt Skelly

God often uses one generation to secure the opportunities of the next. Instead of worrying about what I get, I should be far more concerned about what I do and whom I serve.

If we aren’t careful, we will bulldog ourselves along in life without taking time to recount the ways by which God has blessed us. Stopping, thinking, and recounting provide the benefit of itemizing God’s blessings and incentivizing future obedience.

Joshua faced a formidable foe. (And so do we!) Not only were they entrenched in fortified cities, but they were now unified in their opposition. And they had tanks! OK, not real tanks, but the most advanced equipment of the day. How did God help Joshua both identify and neutralize the advantage of his enemy?

We’ve all seen footage of a team that has prematurely celebrated victory, only to end up losing. Joshua was tempted to do just that when he had the enemy kings right where he wanted them. Wisely, he didn’t take the shortcut to honor; he finished the job!

Did you know that Joshua actually prayed for and received such a blessing? This might be the procrastinator’s favorite miracle! Don’t expect a repeat miracle, but do expect to learn something about the value of your own time.

Unpredictably. That’s how God often works. Just about the time you think you have figured out how God will help, He will throw another heavenly curveball. Listen and learn how God faithfully helped an obedient people accomplish their goal.

Nobody likes to get fooled. There’s a certain level of embarrassment when you do. But even worse than a feeling of shame is the danger that can result. Things aren’t always what they appear to be!

Consider the amazing story of Joshua and his army calling a “time-out” on the war in order to find a place of worship! What does it mean to prioritize and centralize God’s presence and God’s Word in our lives?

Failure does not exempt us from future obedience. When it comes to His children, God is not a “one and done” Heavenly Father. Failure carries its own intrinsic lessons, and our future success depends upon our ability to learn and apply them.

Things ended badly for Achan and his family. In fact, at a surface glance, the whole story seems a bit unfair. But could it be that God was demonstrating mercy in the process? And what can we learn about the predictable nature of our own sin?

Defeats in our lives sting badly. If we aren’t careful, we’ll spend more time licking our wounds than learning the lessons that bad experiences teach us. Listen to how Joshua cycled through these emotions and emerged wiser on the other side.

How is it possible to win big victories and lose little ones? What dangerous attitudes tend to follow great successes? Joshua found out the hard way. How will you learn?

When the Lord tell you not to touch something, you’d better listen the first time. Why was it so important that all of the stuff in Jericho belong exclusively to the Lord?

What does marching around a city have to do with walls coming down? Nothing. Unless, of course, God has told you to do it. Don’t let your ignorance of *how* God does things keep you from obeying *what* God has told you to do.

Before a stone ever cascaded down Jericho’s wall, the Lord led His people to affirm their relationship with Him. And before Joshua led the battle cry, he met the Captain alone at ground zero. Who I am in Him always precedes what I do for Him.