Read through the Bible in 2 Years: Psalm 24, Joshua 24
“Now therefore fear the LORD and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” …
“Then Joshua said to the people, “You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen the LORD, to serve him.” And they said, “We are witnesses.”
He said, “Then put away the foreign gods that are among you, and incline your heart to the LORD, the God of Israel.” And the people said to Joshua, “The LORD our God we will serve, and his voice we will obey.”
Joshua 24:14-15; 22-24 ESV
Heavenly Father, What foreign gods am I serving? Where is my heart not inclined toward You? Where am I still limping between the world and the Lord rather than fully surrendering all to You? Show me where I’m falling short, Lord. I don’t want to be blind to my own iniquity. I want to love You more, that I might serve You better, for You are worthy and good. I pray that my whole family will be surrendered to Your will and live for Your glory. In the Name of Jesus Christ who died in my place I pray. Amen.
Read through the Bible in 2 Years: Psalm 21, Joshua 21
Two year ago, when I originally wrote these posts, I was in the middle of working on a talk about God’s sovereignty. So, imagine how I felt when I noticed that Joshua 21 ends with these beautiful words.
Not one word of all the good promises that the LORD had made to the house of Israel had failed; all came to pass.
Joshua 21:45 ESV
Joshua 21:45 reminds me of a quote from the book Does God Control Everything? by R.C. Sproul which I shared in my talk on sovereignty
“If God is not sovereign, then God is not God. If there is even one maverick molecule in the universe … we cannot have the slightest confidence that any promise God has ever made about the future will come to pass.”
R.C. Sproul.
Heavenly Father, You are indeed good, and You are indeed sovereign. You are sovereign over us. Your plans are for good and not for evil. Your plans are to prosper us and not to harm us. Your plans are for our good and for Your glory. We believe that every word of God proves true; You are a shield to those who take refuge in You. We are so, so thankful for Your power and might. Help us to trust You in the fire and in the flood, to walk by faith and not by fear. In the mighty name of Jesus Christ, our sovereign Lord, the Almighty King over all kings, we pray. Amen.
Read through the Bible in 2 Years: Psalm 20, Joshua 20
In Joshua 20, the Lord told Joshua and the people of Israel to designate cities of refuge where those who had unintentionally killed someone could flee. I’ve never killed anyone (intentionally or not), but sinful anger has festered in my heart more times than I care to admit.
Let’s not forget the words of Jesus, “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.” (Matthrew 5:21-22 ESV)
We all deserve the death penalty, but Jesus paid the price that by our faith in Him we can be set free, as Romans 6:23 reminds us, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” I’m so thankful that the Almighty Lord God is my ever-present refuge, and that His Son is my city of refuge.
Here’s a smattering of verses from Psalms which point to the Lord as our refuge. Meditate on them. Write them out. Memorize them. Let this truth wash over your soul.
“But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them ever sing for joy, and spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may exult in you.” Psalm 5:11 ESV
“O LORD my God, in you do I take refuge; save me from all my pursuers and deliver me,” Psalm 7:1 ESV
“Wondrously show your steadfast love, O Savior of those who seek refuge from their adversaries at your right hand.” Psalm 17:7 ESV
“The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” Psalm 18:2 ESV
“This God—his way is perfect; the word of the LORD proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him.” Psalm 18:30 ESV
“Oh, guard my soul, and deliver me! Let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in you.” Psalm 25:20 ESV
“The LORD is the strength of his people; he is the saving refuge of his anointed.” Psalm 28:8 ESV
“Incline your ear to me; rescue me speedily! Be a rock of refuge for me, a strong fortress to save me!” Psalm 31:2 ESV
“Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!” Psalm 34:8 ESV
“Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, for in you my soul takes refuge; in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge, till the storms of destruction pass by.” Psalm 57:1B
“Let me dwell in your tent forever! Let me take refuge under the shelter of your wings!” Psalm 61:4 ESV
“On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God. Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us.” Psalm 62:7-8 ESV
“Be to me a rock of refuge, to which I may continually come; you have given the command to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress.” Psalm 71:3 ESV
“But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, that I may tell of all your works.” Psalm 73:28 ESV
“It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man. It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in princes.” Psalm 118:8-9 ESV
“I cry to you, O LORD; I say, ‘You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.’” Psalm 142:5 ESV
“He is my steadfast love and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield and he in whom I take refuge, who subdues peoples under me.” Psalm 144:2 ESV
Heavenly Father, You are my refuge, my strength, my rock, and my fortress. I have no reason to fear for You are by my side. I am hidden under the shelter of Your wings. Strengthen me to trust in You and You alone. Let me not be shaken. Some trust in chariots and some trust in horses, but I trust in the almighty name of Jesus Christ, my Faithful Refuge, I pray. Amen
Psalm 34 – Taste and See – Shane and Shane
Want to download a free PDF of these verses? Here it is!
Read through the Bible in 2 Years: Psalm 18; Joshua 16-17
Reading today and praying about what the Lord wants me to take away from this passage today, I have three main thoughts:
(1) The people of Joseph (the tribes of Manasseh and Ephraim) were numerous and received a large portion of land, yet they did not drive out the Canaanites. They could have done it. They should have done it. But they didn’t do it. Whatever the Lord is telling me to do, I can do in His strength … but sometimes I just don’t want to. Father, help me to obey you even in the things that seem too hard or too trivial. Help me to trust Your plan.
(2) God has good plans for women, too. My dad was the only son in his family and he only had daughters. Additionally, his dad was the only son who survived to bear children. I’m thankful for God’s provisions for women, even listing these 5 daughters by name. Father, help me to be thankful to be a woman. Help me to believe that it is a precious gift to be a nurturer and a helper. Thank You for Your unending faithfulness and care for me and for my daughters. I pray for my extended family, my aunts and uncles and cousins. Lord, please draw them into Your kingdom and bless them with an eternal inheritance with You by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
(3) And, finally, I’m reminded again that God had a purpose for His chosen people, Israel, and He still does. Will you join me in praying for them?
Heavenly Father, we lift up the descendants of Israel. We pray that You will draw them back to Your side, open their eyes to see their Messiah, Jesus. Thank You for the firm roots that they have provided for us. Let us not become arrogant and haughty. Rather, we pray that they would be provoked to jealousy by this wild olive branch, so that they would be grafted back in to Your kingdom through the precious gift of faith. In the name of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord we pray.
Behold our God – Sovereign Grace Music
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Read through the Bible in 2 Years: Psalm 16, Joshua 13
See this rollercoaster? It’s called “Runaway Mine Train.” If you ever find yourself in St Louis, you can go to Six Flags and ride it yourself. The Mine Train is about the only rollercoaster ride that I’ll go on.
I don’t like rollercoasters that shoot you out going 100 mph. I don’t like rollercoasters that make you travel backwards or through endless dark tunnels. I don’t like rollercoasters that make you spin around in circles and leave you dizzy. I prefer a more sedate, predictable ride with just a few bumps and turns.
Over 25 years ago, we found out that the much-planned-for baby that I was carrying had passed away in my womb. Less than a month earlier I’d walked into my doctor’s office for what I thought would be a routine 12-week checkup, absolutely unaware that the entire course of my life was about to change. That day I had the first of a series ultrasounds which revealed that my unborn son had a fully obstructed bladder, followed by an amniocentesis to check for generic anomalies, and ultimately in-utero surgery. The rollercoaster ride I hadn’t signed up for came to an abrupt halt with the words, “I’m sorry, Mrs. Endraske. We can’t find a heartbeat.”
But, God.
God had different plans for me and my family. God had a different little boy in mind to grow up in my family. God was at work behind the scenes for who He wanted to be my oldest son. This journey, too, would feel like a runaway rollercoaster ride, but this time the ride included the prize of a beautiful little boy in my arms.
There have been plenty of situations in my fifty-plus years of life that I never would’ve chosen for myself. Twists and turns, highs and lows, that I wish I’d never taken.
But, God.
El Roi, the God who sees, is the One who has expertly laid out the tracks that my life has run on. Though my life has all too often felt completely out-of-control, the truth is that God has been guiding and directing my course.
My heart had planned my way, but the Lord is who established my steps. (Proverbs 16:9)
Many have been the plans of my mind, but it has been the purpose of the Lord that has stood. (Proverbs 19:21)
The Lord’s plans have been for my welfare and hope, not for my harm (Jeremiah 29:11-14).
The roller coaster ride of my life has compelled me to seek God, rather than merely coasting down the paths I would have chosen for myself. He used this valley to equip me to start the “A Child of Promise” online ministry and write a book for parents continuing their pregnancy following a poor or fatal prenatal prognosis.
The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot.
The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.
I bless the LORD who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me.
I have set the LORD always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.
Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure.
For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption.
You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
Psalm 16:5-11 ESV
How about you? Are you on a ride of life right now that you’re thinking, “I didn’t sign up for this?” Are you looking frantically for the escape hatch? What do you think the Lord is teaching you in the process?
Let’s pray.
Heavenly Father, Your ways are higher and better than ours. You hold my life, my future, in Your Almighty hand. You are on Your sovereign throne. Help me trust You. Even when I’m walking through dark valleys, help me remember that You are with me, holding my hand and guiding me in the paths of righteousness for Your Name’s sake. Give me strength to trust You to rightly order and direct my steps. In the Name of Jesus Christ, my Good Shepherd and the Captain of my soul, I pray. Amen.
No One Ever Cared for Me like Jesus – Melody Joy Williams
Midnight Cry – Ivan Parker (Gaither) – This song really ministered to me when I was grieving.
Read through the Bible in 2 Years: Psalm 14; Joshua 11-12
Maybe you know and maybe you don’t, but I’m just beginning my tenth year at my local Community Bible Study group. Together we study verse by verse through books of the Bible, meeting weekly to discuss what we learn and listen to some teaching on that week’s lesson. This year we are studying the Psalms.
Two years ago, when we were studying 1 and 2 Samuel, our teaching director challenged us to memorize Hannah’s prayer found in 1 Samuel 2:1-10.
And Hannah prayed and said,
“My heart exults in the LORD; my horn is exalted in the LORD. My mouth derides my enemies, because I rejoice in your salvation.
“There is none holy like the LORD: for there is none besides you; there is no rock like our God. Talk no more so very proudly, let not arrogance come from your mouth; for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.
The bows of the mighty are broken, but the feeble bind on strength. Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread, but those who were hungry have ceased to hunger. The barren has borne seven, but she who has many children is forlorn.
The LORD kills and brings to life; he brings down to Sheol and raises up. The LORD makes poor and makes rich; he brings low and he exalts. He raises up the poor from the dust; he lifts the needy from the ash heap to make them sit with princes and inherit a seat of honor. For the pillars of the earth are the LORD’s, and on them he has set the world.
“He will guard the feet of his faithful ones, but the wicked shall be cut off in darkness, for not by might shall a man prevail. The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken to pieces; against them he will thunder in heaven. The LORD will judge the ends of the earth; he will give strength to his king and exalt the horn of his anointed.”
1 Samuel 2:1-10 ESV
Working on memorizing Hannah’s prayer encouraged me to remember God’s sovereignty in both giving life and giving death, in both exalting the poor and breaking the mighty, something that’s important to remember as you study through the book of Joshua. God sees the whole BIG picture and He is working. He has purposes that we don’t even know about, but we can trust that His plans are good.
If the Lord is hardening someone’s heart, it’s for good, just as much as when He’s softening it.
Heavenly Father, I know that Your ways are higher than mine. I know that You are good and Almighty and nothing happens apart from Your sovereign will. Help me to trust You when things seem bad and out of control. Help me to humbly, joyfully yield my life to Your will. In the name of Jesus Christ, my Savior and Lord, I pray. Amen
Read through the Bible in 2 Years: Psalm 13; Joshua 10
In Numbers we read about when the Israelites were afraid to go into the Promised Land because the spies had brought them reports of the people already living there. And, now, in Joshua 10, here it is. They are facing these cities and kingdoms and armies. And it’s scary.
Friends, there are lots of scary things in life. Things like cancer and job loss, hurricanes and forest fires, wayward children and wayward husbands. But there is no situation – no matter how terrifying – that is beyond God’s reach.
There is nothing too hard for our God. There is no person beyond His reach. There is no crisis on earth that God does not hold in the palm of His Almighty hand. Fear not. He is still on His throne.
Heavenly Father, sometimes life here is awfully scary. Like a child imagining what might be hiding under the bed or in the closet, sometimes I let my mind wander to all those unsettling, scary what-ifs. Please, Father, help me to cast all my anxiety on You and trust that You care for me. You care about me, and You take care of me. You are cradling me in the palm of Your Almighty hand, sheltering me under the wings of Your Steadfast, Omniscient Love. You know all things. You are in control of all things. You are wise. You are good. Help me to trust You right now, in this moment, and in all the moments still to come. In the Name of Jesus Christ who triumphed over sin and the grave, I pray. Amen.
Read through the Bible in 2 Years: Psalm 9, Joshua 5-6
Have you ever dealt with bedbugs? We did. It was awful. The thing is, though, we didn’t even know it! Those sneaky little things were eating my son alive, but we didn’t even know it.
Then, finally, after weeks of unexplainable bites, I got out my handy-dandy flashlight and peered into the cracks and crevices of my son’s bed frame, and there they were. Every nook and cranny of that blessed thing were full of them. But I didn’t even know it! And if it hadn’t been for the bites covering my son’s body, I’d never know to go looking for them.
Here’s what that taught me: Don’t be mad when evidence finally comes to light. Be thankful that those hidden things are finally being revealed so they can be dealt with!
I’m thankful we figured out what was causing those bites all over my son’s body, so we could deal with it and get rid of them! Likewise, I don’t want hidden sins to go undetected, wreaking havoc on a person’s heart, life, and soul.
Are you going through something right now that is gnawing at your mind or secretly eating you up from the inside? The Lord knows it. He knows it all. The Lord sees what is hidden in the dark. The Lord knows what is hidden in my heart and your heart, and He knows what is hidden in that other person’s heart, too. “And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” Hebrews 4:13 ESV
To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.
O LORD, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar.
You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways.
Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O LORD, you know it altogether.
You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it.
Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence?
If I ascend to heaven, you are there!
If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!
If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me.
If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,” even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you.
Psalm 139:1-12 ESV
Heavenly Father, You are the God of angel armies. You can bring to rubble even the highest, strongest walls erected by the greatest nations. One Word from Your lips makes even the mightiest army fall to their knees. You know all things. You are all-mighty, and You are good. Help me to trust in Your perfect timing and Your perfect wisdom. Redeem the things that are ugly, like You redeemed Rahab … and me. Thank You for Your grace! Thank You for giving me a testimony. I am Yours forever more! You are God, and You saved my soul! I am free! I was dead, but now I’m alive! All praise to Your Name, Jesus! Amen.
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“Saved my Soul” – City Alight
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Read through the Bible in 2 Years: Psalm 7; Joshua 3
In 2017, I began teaching English online to children in China. Since then I’ve been trying to learn a little Chinese, but it’s been slow going. Very, very slow going. One phrase, one word, at a time.
Hello: 你好 (nǐ hǎo)
Goodbye: 再见 (zài jiàn)
1 一 (yī) 2 二 (èr) 3 三 (sān) 4 四 (sì) 5 五 (wǔ)
Have you ever heard the Chinese proverb, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step“? 千里之行,始于足下. (Qiān lǐ zhī xíng, shǐ yú zú xià.)
I was thinking about that saying this morning when I read Joshua 3.
And when the soles of the feet of the priests bearing the ark of the LORD, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan shall be cut off from flowing, and the waters coming down from above shall stand in one heap.
Joshua 3:13 ESV
The priests had to step into the flooded waters of the Jordan before the Lord stopped the river from flowing. This, my friends, is what a faith walk looks like. Like Hebrews 11:1 says, “Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” God wants us to walk by faith, not by sight. (2 Corinthians 5:7)
Do you believe God inspired Paul to write these words?
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others.
2 Corinthians 5:10-11a ESV
I do.
I am so thankful that my life is hidden in Christ, but I will still have to appear before Christ and give an account for what I said and did during my time in this body of flesh. Did I seek Him first? Did I love my neighbor as myself? Did I endeavor to persuade others to join me in trusting Christ?
This faith journey begins with one step followed by another. Sometimes that journey has a lot of “two steps forward and one step back,” but a journey forward it is. And it begins by trusting God and His Word.
Heavenly Father, I believe in You. I believe every word of God is true. I believe You are a shield to those who take refuge in You. Give me the strength, wisdom, and courage that I need to walk by faith and not by sight. Help me to love my neighbor as myself by sharing the good news of salvation by trusting in Christ. In His Name I pray. Amen
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“First Things First” – Consumed by Fire
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Read through the Bible in 2 years: Psalm 6; Joshua 2
Today’s passage reminded me how often the Bible just “tells the story like it is” without any commentary on the morality of a person’s decisions. Was Joshua wrong to send the two spies to Jericho? I’m not sure. Was Rahab wrong to lie about the Israelite spies she was hiding? I think so, but once again I’m not sure.
But I am sure that God works even through the terrible, horrible, no good, very bad decisions that we make. God chose Rahab who had been a prostitute (clearly not a good choice) to be the great, great grandmother of that man after God’s own heart, King David. Rahab is the mother of Boaz, the worthy man who acted as the Moabite Ruth’s kinsman-Redeemer. (Matthew 1:5) I wonder if Boaz was more accepting of Ruth’s Gentile background because of his mother’s, so he would’ve better understood the transformative power of faith in God because of his own mother’s testimony.
The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram, and Ram the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon, and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of David the king….
Matthew 1:1-6 ESV
Have you made choices in your life that you wish today you could go back and erase? I have. And, yet, those very choices have made me the woman I am today. All I can say is, PRAISE GOD for where sin abounded, His grace abounded all the more.
Heavenly Father, Your mercy is more. Your power is greater. Your love is better. You are perfect in all Your ways, using the tangled webs of our lives to weave a masterpiece of Your glory. You have cleansed me and washed me white as snow in the crimson blood of Christ my Savior. Now take my life as a living offering of gratitude for Your saving grace. In the Name of Jesus Christ, fully God and fully man, my sinless kinsmen-redeemer, I pray. Amen.
By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies.
Teach What is Good 
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