It's Meta Man...

I probably should have written this as the very first devotional. To wait until I have written over 100 of these seems a little late to explain my process. But these verses struck me today, and in a sense, these devotions follow the pattern laid out in these verses. So here we go:

Read:

Joshua 1:7-8 Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. 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.

"The Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth." Read the Word, everyday. What I put in my mouth first is what comes out of me first. I didn't mean that to be a potty joke, I promise. A day that starts with social media or a day that starts with God's Word has two very different starts. Which might mean two very different ends, especially over many days. I decided to send my devotionals early in the morning as you have seen. Maybe you don't read it in the morning, but I wanted it to be there when you woke up in case you did.

What it is speaking to me:

"Meditate on it day and night."

My pastor likes to say that the Bible has a "speaking" quality to it. It talks to you. Meditating on the Word is considering "What is this speaking to me?" That is what this section is for. What is the Word saying to ME today? How is it changing the way I think about something? How is it confirming what I already believe? How is it challenging me to be more like Jesus? How is it showing me an aspect of the Father, Son or Holy Spirit? What obvious truth is it sharing? What greater truth looms large behind the obvious one? What is it speaking to me TODAY? Tomorrow the same verse could speak something else to me, but what does God's Word have for me TODAY? I try to answer these questions honestly here, and hope that what God is saying to me, He is also at least in some small part, speaking to you.

What is it saying to you?

Now it's your turn. I try to write prompts that make you meditate on what I have written, and much more importantly, the verses at the beginning. If I have written anything of value to you, what does it make you think about? Concerning the verses that were shared, meditate. Ask yourself some of the questions mentioned above, or any other thing that comes to your mind as you consider His Word for you.

Even if this self-reflection lasts only a minute or two, take that time. Let the Word sink into your heart and mind. It will bear fruit.

What are we going to do about it?

"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."

The Word is meant ultimately, to be applied. For the Word to have full effect, it has to leave the realm of a thought exercise and show its fruit in our lives in a tangible way. That can take form a million different ways, but this last section is meant to put feet to faith. Reading the Word daily is a great start, but walking it out daily is where you find success and prosperity. I want that for myself, and for you my dear reader as well.

So, till tomorrow, be prosperous!