Sizzling North Carolina temperatures this July 4th proved too much for our air conditioner. Our dog Strider pawed his favorite air vent on the normally cool pine kitchen floor, trying to coax it to release cool air.

Larry texted our A/C man. He was at the beach. Of course he was. It was the Fourth of July.

After a miserable 24 hours of suffocating heat, I returned from an appointment to a cool house. A skilled worker and a $5 part changed our home from a place of misery to one of cool comfort.

The broken A/C reminded me of the importance of small parts. Joshua 1:8 shares three details that make the difference between a successful and a miserable life.

“This book of instruction must not depart from your mouth; you are to recite [meditate on] it day and night so that you may carefully observe everything written in it. For then you will prosper and succeed in whatever you do” (Joshua 1:8 HCSB).

This command in Joshua 1:8 was given to a general preparing for battle. But its wisdom reaches beyond successful military campaigns. Its secret applies to “whatever you do.”

Let’s highlight some important details. First, to prosper, we must do more than read our Bibles and go our way. The Bible must control three areas of our lives: our mouths, our minds, and our movements.

Our Mouths: “This book of instruction must not depart from your mouth.”

In Ephesians 6:17, Paul says to “take up the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” Word comes from the Greek word rēma which means: “that which is or has been uttered by the living voice, thing spoken, word.” Speaking God’s word allows us to hear it and releases the powerful sword of the Spirit.

In addition to reciting Scriptures, scriptural principles should season our speech and guard our tongues.

Our Minds: “You are to recite [or meditate] on it day and night.”

Recite or meditate means to “imagine, meditate, mourn, mutter, roar.” God’s word should fill my mind, my mouth, and my imagination (Psalm 1:2).

Our Movements: “So that you may carefully observe everything written in it.”

To prosper we need to practice the principles revealed in Scripture (Phil. 4:9). We can’t pick and choose.

Promise: “For then you will prosper and succeed in whatever you do.”

Prosper and succeed in whatever you do! God’s principles work in every area of life, providing refreshing insights and understanding we’d otherwise miss.

Application

All we thought about was the heat when the A/C broke. Now that it’s fixed—even with record-breaking high temperatures—we don’t think of the temperature at all.

Any broken part of life can zap our creative juices and emotional strength. But a life in sync with God functions as it should and is able to engage with people and focus on the tasks at hand. We may not be able to control our culture or our loved ones’ choices. But we can prosper, even when the temperatures around us soar.

“But his delight is in the Law of the Lord,
And on His Law he meditates day and night.

He will be like a tree planted by streams of water,
Which yields its fruit in its season,
And its leaf does not wither;
And in whatever he does, he prospers” (Psalm 1:2-3 NASB).

Strength Finder

Is there an area in your life that is broken or not functioning as well as it could? Consider the three details Joshua 1:8 addressed.

• Mouth: How is being in God’s word influencing how I talk to others and to myself?

• Mind: When do I meditate on God’s Word?

• Movements: In what area do I want to more fully apply God’s Word?

Resources

You can download a free pdf called “Good News + Faith = Rest” under the “Equipping Resources” section. It lists scriptures that address different needs. Start by meditating on the one that addresses an area you want to fortify.

Are you looking for a speaker on a biblical topic or on the topic of writing and speaking for your group or next event? Let’s chat to see if I’m a good fit. If not, I may know someone who is.

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Blessings,

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