Joshua 7:16-9:27, Luke 16:1-18, Psalms 82:1-8, Proverbs 13:2-3

What God said to me – There have always been scammers and charlatans trying to deceive people or to cheat them, even more so in this digital age you live in.  You get a text out of the blue that there is a great, high-paying job, and they found your information online and you’re perfect for it or you get an email thanking you for your purchase with and invoice for hundreds of dollars that you can use PayPal to remit.  Similarly, the enemy is active and trying to deceive My people into falling into outright sin or to discourage them because they fell for it.  You must be wise as serpents and as innocent as doves.  Israel fell for a deception of the enemy because they didn’t seek Me or seek My counsel, so they believed a lie.  To avoid being destroyed, the Gibeonites pretended to have come from a far land.  They tricked Joshua and Israel into making peace with them, so they made a covenant.  Israel’s momentary lapse ended up being a thorn in their side.  That’s why a moment-by-moment interaction and dependance on Me is so important.  That’s why you must pray about everything – especially when you get a sense that something is just not quite right.  “I AM” at work guiding you step by step – follow Me.

Joshua 5:1-7:15, Luke 15, Psalms 81:1-16, Proverbs 13:1

What God said to me – There is a saying, “no man is an island.”  It really is a true statement.  Unless you live a totally isolated life where you never encounter or interact with another person, the things you say and do affect others.  Even something so small as a smile or a kind word can make someone’s day whereas a thoughtless comment or rudeness can not only ruin their day, but it can ruin your witness as well.  In My children it is especially important to take care with your words and actions.  You must be careful how you walk – your obedience is a witness and a blessing, but your disobedience brings shame, not just on you, but also on Me.  After the great victory at Jericho, Achan took contraband in disobedience and because of it, Israel was defeated at Ai and thirty-six men died.  The result of his disobedience was to cause Israel to question My faithfulness and My enemies to question My power.  You must determine each day, each moment, to walk in a manner worthy of your calling so that My name will be lifted up and I will be glorified.

Joshua 3-4, Luke 14:7-35, Psalms 80:1-19, Proverbs 12:27-28

What God said to me – Gyms are crowded in January, but by February, they have emptied out because people don’t follow through on their New Year’s resolutions.  They made a head determination, but their heart was not changed.  Israel was like that – when they finally got to cross the Jordan and go into the promised land, they were gung-ho.  I stopped the flow of the river, and they crossed on dry land.  I had them gather twelve stones and set up a memorial to use as a witness to their descendants of how they crossed triumphantly on dry land.  However, a generation later most people were doing what was right in their own eyes and not following Me.  They made a head determination to follow Me, but their heart was not changed.  What about you?  How many times have you determined to have a quiet time every day and a regular prayer time only to fall away when you got too lazy to take time or too busy for Me.  This time is not about a head commitment – it is about the heart.  It is not about a routine to be carried out.  It is about a relationship to be built.