Read Joshua 24:1-13
Focus on verses 1-2a
Then Joshua assembled all the tribes of Israel at Shechem. He summoned the elders, leaders, judges and officials of Israel, and they presented themselves before God.
Joshua said to all the people, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says:
All of Israel was gathered together for the purpose of presenting themselves to God. This act gives us the idea that, as a people, they were engaging in a purposeful and obedient act of worship and submission to God. …And then they waited for God to speak.
I love this! It reminds me of the way I should start every day – with an intentional, purposeful, and obedient heart ready and expectant for God to speak and move in my life that day.
Too often, my day gets away from me even before my feet hit the floor. My mind is racing, and on to the tasks of the day, or I am fixed on whatever particularly difficult struggle I am facing at the moment. When that happens, I have moved past giving God my full attention and looking to see what He wants for me that day, and I rush headlong into what I can do to get through the day. There is no purposeful presenting myself to God in submission and waiting for Him to speak.
There is a better way! This week, try something different! Be intentional when you wake up. Put aside the distractions of your day for a few minutes…they will still be there when you are done! Quiet your mind and your heart and bring yourself into the presence of God. Submit to what He would have you focus on that day, give Him thanks for all He has done, and then wait for Him to speak to you through prayer or Scripture reading.
God is waiting for us to be ready to hear from Him.
