Head Above Water Hardie W. Midkiff

Summer happens. As much as we prepare for it summer happens every year. Look for us to reboot season 2 after the summer.

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I hanks for listening 


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Day 1 - Joshua 10:1-8 
God knows your shortfalls, and though you think you have it all together, you don’t. None of us do. And one of our greatest failings is loving others. This is where our Gibeons are so helpful. We likely don’t need them for friendship or protection, but to keep us humble. To teach us how to love sacrificially and selflessly.
Who is your Gibeon? What can you do this week to reflect the love of Christ to him or her?

Day 2 - Joshua 10:9-15
Likewise, “but God” is the key to our victories, both internal and external. “But God” is what takes hold of our sour attitude and gives us love in its place. “But God” is what gives us the courage to stand on the gospel when the culture around us pushes back. “But God” is what enables us to cling to our faith even in the darkest nights of pain and suffering. “But God” is the power of God working the gospel in us and through us. (See Eph. 2:1-10.)
What is your “but God” testimony? Who have you shared it with recently?

Day 3 - Joshua 10:16-43
Yes, God had been the One delivering victory after victory. And yes, there was still work to be done—the northern cities had to be defeated so that all of the land would be Israel’s possession. But God’s people needed rest. Just as God established Sabbath rest in the creation account and just as Israel abstained from collecting manna on the Sabbath, we see here a reminder of our limits as people. Even while doing the Lord’s work, we need to find time to rest.
How do you guard time to rest as a rhythm of life? Do you tend to fall more toward working too much or resting too much? Why?

Day 4 - Joshua 11:1-23
In verse 15, we see how Joshua and the next generation were wise not to repeat the same mistake of faithlessness. At the conclusion of the conquest, we read that Joshua was faithful to obey all God had commanded which led to the successful conquest of the land. God was not just after a portion of faithful obedience, He was after full faithful obedience. Each battle and each step in each battle was a step of faith for Joshua and the Israelites. They could not have picked and chosen which steps to take and which not to take. They had to walk fully in faith, and when they did, they were successful. God was not after their obedience in isolation—just as He is not after ours. Instead, He is after our faith, which is made known through our obedience.
In what areas of your life are you struggling to walk fully in faith? Why? What steps can you take toward more faithfulness?

Day 5 - Joshua 12:1-24
God had won each one of them through Israel and for Israel. This is what God wanted the people to remember. He wanted them to be able to look back on the conquest and not remember one convoluted victory. He wanted them to remember precisely what He had done to give them the victory—what He had done thirty-one times. Each fallen king was a testament to God’s power and a reminder of His provision for His people. That is what they would need to remember.
What have you done to record and remember the many victories God has won for you?


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Day 1 - Joshua 2:1-7

The intent of Joshua’s spies, on the other hand, was to act from faith—to find what God had given them and perhaps how He had given it to them. Similar actions; different motivations. One scouting trip was done honoring God, the other rebelling against Him.

When have your actions seemed right from the outside, but you performed them with the wrong intentions or motivations? What happened?

Day 2 - Joshua 2:8-24

In these verses, we are reminded of the power of a testimony. Word of what God had done had traveled to Jericho because someone, somewhere, had told others what he or she had witnessed. It may have been one person; it may have been several people, or even many people, but someone’s testimony ended up in Rahab’s ears and led to her faith in God. And that is what we are called to do today as followers of Christ—we are to declare what God has done in Christ to others, trusting in God for our testimony to bear fruit.

What has God done, or is He doing right now, that you can tell someone else about today?

Day 3 - Joshua 6:1-14

We see something similar in Jesus’ high priestly prayer in John 17. In verse 4, Jesus said to the Father, “I have glorified you on earth by completing the work you gave me to do.” Here, we see Jesus used the past tense to speak of a future event; in this case, the cross. Just as Jericho’s fall was sure in Joshua 6, so was Jesus’ lifting up on the cross in John 17.

What sure promises of God do you need to rest in today?

Day 4 - Joshua 6:15-21

On the seventh day, they were called to action—although it was not the action a soldier would expect. It must not have made much sense to the Israelite soldiers. It must have been frustrating. And yet, they did exactly what God had called them to do—in obedience and in faith. Sometimes God calls us to act in faith; at other times, like here, He calls on us not to act, in faith.

Consider a time in your life when God’s plan was simply to move. How willing were you to follow His simple instruction? Why?

Day 5 - Joshua 6:22-27

We see here a word picture of the power of God to change us by grace through faith. When we trust in Christ, our old self is put to death and we have been giving new life in Christ. 

How do you tend to live as your old, dead self at times? Why? How do you fail to live as your new self at times? Why? 


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Day 1 - Joshua 1:1-9

God knew Joshua would need encouragement and God knew the people would need it as well. But God also knew the people needed something else more—much more. They needed Him. Good leaders are a gift from God. Great leaders are a blessing. But no leader, no matter how good he or she might be, is a substitute for God Himself. Moses was not who the Israelites needed. Joshua was not either. Nor would it be any of the judges, Samuel, Saul, David, Solomon, any other king, or any prophet. The leader the people needed was Christ Jesus—the One who God provided to lead us out of bondage of sin and into the rest of salvation in Him.

Have you ever lost a significant leader? What was the effect of that loss on you and others?

Day 2 - Joshua 1:10-18

We know from the Book of Hebrews, that rest in the promised land was a shadow of the greater rest we find in our salvation in Christ. In Christ, we are able, for the first time ever, to cast aside our labor—our innumerable attempts to be right with God—and rest in Christ instead as recipients of forgiveness and righteousness in Him. This is the rest our souls need. This is the rest the gospel gives.

What are some ways that you need to stop working and rest in Christ?

Day 3 - Joshua 3:1-17

We need to consecrate ourselves day-by-day, moment-by-moment. God is at work all around us everyday, but will we see it? 

What are some ways you can consecrate yourself each day to see what God is doing and follow Him?

Day 4 - Joshua 4:1-16

Do we see ourselves as Joshuas? Do we understand that God has positioned us where He has, and how He has, for a reason—to glorify God? Or are we ever tempted to steal God’s glory instead? To take how He has gifted and blessed us and hoard it for ourselves? May we hold loosely to our glory and tightly to God’s. 

How can you point others to God this week through how He has blessed and gifted you?

Day 5 - Joshua 4:17-24

While the primary context of these two passages focuses on parents, it is broader than that. All of us are called by God to disciple others and this is to be our blueprint of discipleship. We are to teach others God’s Word, but we are also to testify to how God has been kind to us. We are to talk about His provision, His protection, and His power. We are to celebrate who He is and what He has done. 

What are some of the “stones of remembrance” that you can share with others to point them to who God is and what He has done? 


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We will publish the reading plan again next week


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