The Upper Room daily devotional
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Endings and Beginnings
The Lord spoke to Joshua . . . saying, "My servant Moses is dead. Now proceed to cross the Jordan, you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them, to the Israelites."
- Joshua 1:2 (NRSV)
Today's Devotional
A new era began for Israel when Moses died. What would Joshua and Israel do now? The Israelites had not yet gone into the Promised Land, and probably they questioned what they would do without Moses.In today's Bible reading, God reassures Joshua, the new leader of Israel, that he should cross over the Jordan River and enter the land of Canaan. God wanted Joshua and the children of Israel to know that the God of their ancestors would go with them into this new adventure.As this year ends and another begins, we look back at all that has happened. We then look forward to a new adventure and into the unknown. Just as God encouraged Joshua and the Israelites when they prepared to enter the Promised Land, God also says to us, "Be strong and courageous" (Josh. 1:6). We can trust God to see us through any trouble we face in the future. The Lord who reassured Joshua and the Israelites long ago gives us the same assurance today.
Roger Brannon (Florida, USA)
Thought for the Day: The God who has sustained me through 2011 will walk with me through 2012.
Prayer: Loving God, as we face a new year, help us to place our trust and confidence in you and your promise to go with us always. Amen.
Prayer Focus: Those insecure about the future
The scripture quotation is from the NEW REVISED STANDARD VERSION of the Bible, copyright © 1989, by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Copyright ©2012 by The Upper Room, a ministry of GBOD. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce or redistribute without written permission from the publisher.
