After the ups and downs, and successes and mistakes of the Israelites in Joshua 1-9, chapters 10-11 are filled with accounts of consistent successes.
And as you grow, you can learn the keys to consist success in your life and ministry as well. Here are four keys to consistency that we can learn from Joshua:
And as you grow, you can learn the keys to consist success in your life and ministry as well. Here are four keys to consistency that we can learn from Joshua:
1) Focus on the size of God, not the size of your problems
You may have some really big problems, but you have an even bigger God. Looking only at your problems breeds fear, but looking to God gives hope. So keep your faith in God, not in yourself.
We see this pattern as Joshua leads the Israelites into battle throughout chapters 10 and 11:
We see this pattern as Joshua leads the Israelites into battle throughout chapters 10 and 11:
- Verse 10:8 – “The Lord said to Joshua, “Do not fear them, for I have given them into your hands…”
- Verse 10:25 – “Joshua then said to them, ‘Do not fear or be dismayed! Be strong and courageous, for thus the Lord will do to all your enemies with whom you fight.’”
- Verse 10:42 – “Joshua captured all these kings and their lands at one time, because the Lord, the God of Israel, fought for Israel.”
- Verse 11:6 – “Then the Lord said to Joshua, ‘Do not be afraid because of them, for tomorrow at this time I will deliver all of them slain before Israel.’”
2) Pray Boldly
Joshua knew how to pray for big things. In Joshua 10:12, he asks God to literally stop the sun in the sky. And in verse 14, it states “There was no day like that before it or after it, when the Lord listened to the voice of a man; for the Lord fought for Israel.”
As you can see, this was an exceptional request and an exceptional answer. But God does answer big prayers. So pray boldly and have enough faith to accept His response.
As you can see, this was an exceptional request and an exceptional answer. But God does answer big prayers. So pray boldly and have enough faith to accept His response.
3) Exhibit Sanctified Stubbornness
Sometimes God answers prayers immediately and in obvious ways, like when he made the sun stand still for Joshua. Other times he leaves you in the battle for a while longer. Joshua remained in his campaign for about 5-7 years.
So be stubborn in your love for and your faith in God. Be humble enough to accept God’s answers. Stay committed to loving Him and trusting in Him, even when His actions don’t look loving to you. Remember that you don’t see the whole picture, but He does and His plans are bigger than just you.
Remember the heroes of faith listed in Hebrews 11? It included Abel, Enoch, Noah, and Abraham. And in verse 13, it reminds us that “All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.”
So be stubborn in your love for and your faith in God. Be humble enough to accept God’s answers. Stay committed to loving Him and trusting in Him, even when His actions don’t look loving to you. Remember that you don’t see the whole picture, but He does and His plans are bigger than just you.
Remember the heroes of faith listed in Hebrews 11? It included Abel, Enoch, Noah, and Abraham. And in verse 13, it reminds us that “All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.”
4) Rest is on its way
God will deliver on His promises in His own time. The victory and land was eventually theirs. Joshua 11:23 states “So Joshua took the whole land…Thus the land had rest from war.”
And your total rest is coming. Revelation 21:1-4 foretells, “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth…and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.”
So when times are tough, when you are in the middle of a battle, when your campaign never seems to end, remember that your rest is on its way.
And your total rest is coming. Revelation 21:1-4 foretells, “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth…and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.”
So when times are tough, when you are in the middle of a battle, when your campaign never seems to end, remember that your rest is on its way.
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