Playing golf seems to be part of the job description of a pastor, so that’s what I was doing Tuesday morning. As I lined up my putt on the 8th green, I was focused more on my conversation with my friend than the putt. I hit the putt and just when I was about to speak, I realized that my putt had a chance to go in.
Since this year started, I’ve been thinking about Joshua chapter 1, verses 6 through 9 and how God promises success. I like the idea of being successful, of accomplishing goals, of persevering through challenges. While God does lay out a promise of success for Joshua, He also lays out a requirement for that success:
“Be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right or to the left.”
“Meditate on the law day and night so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it.”
Joshua 1:7, 8
In other words, immerse yourself in God’s Word. Read it. Think on it. Mutter it to yourself. And above all, obey it.
God’s Word cleanses us, restores us, encourages us, confronts us, and prepare us. By God’s Word we gain salvation, wisdom, perspective, truth, love, and transformation. I have often found that times of sinful failure are preceded by neglecting God’s Word.
When you soak up this much of God’s Word, some things become automatic – like worship. Or thankfulness. Or generosity. Or giving a kind word. You don’t necessarily process them fully; you just do them. And God grants success.
Like with that putt. My mind was somewhere else but I was familiar enough with putting to go ahead. And yes, the putt went in. Even more, I shared that thought with my friend.