This morning we continue our series entitled, “Refined Focus”, with a mini-series within it entitled “Focusing on the Word”. We are using Joshua as a case study. We spent all week studying the first eight verses of the book of Joshua. You know the setting by now. Joshua was the newly appointed leader of the nation of Israel. God made it clear that it was time to take possession of the land promised to their forefathers. The land was expansive (millions of acres) and was inhabited by several nations with fortified cities and tested armies. So this was no easy task. But the Lord was with Joshua and His presence made all the difference. The Lord would provide His grace. Joshua had to provide his faith.
To prepare Joshua for the assignment the Lord said, “Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.” (Joshua 1:8 NIV). Today we will focus in on the words, “Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips.”
So what does this mean to you today? A few things about focusing on speaking Godly words.
- Your words matter to God. The very first thing the Lord instructed Joshua to get a hold of in Joshua 1:8 was his mouth. If you can control your mouth you will control your life.
- Your words are so powerful that they can literally unleash the power of death or the power of life (Prov 18:21). For Joshua to experience Godly success he was going to have to get a hold of his tongue. You and I must do the same.
- The words you speak are a litmus test for the condition of your heart. Jesus explained this in the New Testament and his message was simple. Whatever you have filled your heart with — good or bad, blessing or cursing — will come spilling out of your mouth.
- You are your words and your words are you. Daily, your words are telling everyone who you are.
- Your words are so powerful and important that Jesus said there will come a day when we will have to give account for every “idle” (non-productive) word we have spoken.
- Your words can bring about Godly change when they are spoken on purpose. God wanted Joshua to use his tongue on purpose. He wants you and to do the same. Make sure your words are purposeful and not purpose-free. Purpose-free words are useless and non-productive.
- When you speak words that are in-sync with heaven, you come in agreement with God and you position yourself to experience heaven on earth.
Closing Confession: Father, this is a season of refined focus for me. As I bring my life into focus I will focus on my words. I take control of my tongue. This is important for me to live in-sync with You. You made plans for me before the world began. Heaven is in sync with Your divine plans for my life. I live in the earth and You want me to live in alignment and agreement with those plans. I live ON EARTH in sync with HEAVEN. One of the ways I come in agreement with heaven is with my words. I know my mouth will only speak what my heart contains. So I fill my heart with good things. I meditate and medicate on Your Word day and night. I then speak ONLY that which is in alignment with heaven. Living this way, I get to experience HEAVEN ON EARTH every day of my life. I declare this by faith! In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
