It seems everywhere I turn people are giving advice on how to be successful.
Wear these clothes…drive this car…eat this food…use this exercise equipment…drink this beverage…do this…use that…and you will be a SUCCESS.
Isn't being a success being at peace with God and with yourself?
In Joshua 1:8 the end of the verse says: "Then you will be prosperous and successful."
Let's look back and see what it is that we are to do to achieve this outcome… 
"Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth;
Meditate on it day and night,
So that you may be careful to do everything written in it."
First of all this isn't Joshua talking…nope, it's the Lord talking. Verse 1 says,
"the Lord said to Joshua…"
Now, (for a little background) Joshua was an aide to Moses. Because Moses had disobeyed God he was not permitted to enter the Promised Land. God chose Joshua to take the Israelites into the land. This was no small task. Numbers 26:51 tells us that the total number of men of Israel was 601,730 which did not include the Levite males a month old or more which were 23,000 (vs 26:62)this number also did not include males under 1 month of age or any of the females.
Vs 6 & 7 say,
"Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them.
Be strong and very courageous.
may be successful wherever you go.
Proverbs 4:26 & 27 says, "Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm. Do not swerve to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil."
Have you noticed when driving a car, riding a bicycle or even walking, that if you look to the right or to the left you begin to go that direction. It doesn't take much to get us off track and Satan knows our weak links, so do we.
It is also written in the Word that we are to make our path straight so others that follow us won't stumble and fall. If we compromise, we swerve to the right or to the left maybe we will be able to get back on track but, will our swerving cause someone weaker to get off track?
Surely would be easy to get feet tangled and trip each other!
The book of Joshua is in the Old Testament and now days we tend to think we don't have to worry about the Old Testament, after all Jesus came in the New Testament and because of Him we are in a state of GRACE.
I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.
Guess again! Matthew 5:17 says, "Do not think that I (Jesus is speaking) have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven,
but
whoever practices and teaches these commandments will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven."
When I think of success, I think of another verse that says that Jesus grew in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man.
He was at peace with himself and with God.
All you have to do is read the Gospels to see that not everyone was overjoyed to see him. After all, didn't his very presence shine light on their souls and bring to light all their wrong actions and attitudes? Wasn't like stepping into a den of snakes? They were content until this JESUS had to come and stir things up. They began to wiggle and coil and strike.
How about you? When Jesus shines his life and love into an area of your life that's not been housecleaned-does it rile you feathers?
I know it does me. The more I try to clean me up the more I find my face dirty. Jesus sticks that mirror in my face and I don't like what I see - mostly because it's not my secret any more. He's brought it to light. That's the time we are humbled and brought to a place of repentance and confession. The time we are put back on the right track.
Doing what the Word tells us doesn't mean that everyone will LOVE us. It just means that we are doing what God wants of us. And he assures us that we will be prosperous and successful.
Be strong and courageous. Be strong and very courageous.
Those two sentences tell us that it isn't going to be easy and it isn't always going to be pleasent, but to keep on going, because it's worth it.
Jesus coming to us brought us GRACE not an EXUSE. God still demands that we fess up. Confess our flaws, our errors, our sins and he will be faithful to forgive them.
Realize that we are held accountable. In that confession we are expected to turn around and get back on the right path. Once we are back on the path we need to meditate on the Word day and night, not turning to the right or the left. Being careful to do everything written in it.
Peace that passes all understanding. Isn't that success?
Kathy D. 