Day 8 - Advent Devotional

Read:
​Joshua 6:1-21
Now Jericho was strongly fortified because of the Israelites — no one leaving or entering. The Lord said to Joshua, “Look, I have handed Jericho, its king, and its best soldiers over to you. March around the city with all the men of war, circling the city one time. Do this for six days. Have seven priests carry seven ram’s-horn trumpets in front of the ark. But on the seventh day, march around the city seven times, while the priests blow the trumpets. When there is a prolonged blast of the horn and you hear its sound, have all the troops give a mighty shout. Then the city wall will collapse, and the troops will advance, each man straight ahead.” So Joshua son of Nun summoned the priests and said to them, “Take up the ark of the covenant and have seven priests carry seven trumpets in front of the ark of the Lord .” He said to the troops, “Move forward, march around the city, and have the armed men go ahead of the ark of the Lord .” After Joshua had spoken to the troops, seven priests carrying seven trumpets before the Lord moved forward and blew the trumpets; the ark of the Lord ’s covenant followed them. While the trumpets were blowing, the armed men went in front of the priests who blew the trumpets, and the rear guard went behind the ark. But Joshua had commanded the troops: “Do not shout or let your voice be heard. Don’t let one word come out of your mouth until the time I say, ‘Shout! ’ Then you are to shout.” So the ark of the Lord was carried around the city, circling it once. They returned to the camp and spent the night there. Joshua got up early the next morning. The priests took the ark of the Lord , and the seven priests carrying seven trumpets marched in front of the ark of the Lord . While the trumpets were blowing, the armed men went in front of them, and the rear guard went behind the ark of the Lord . On the second day they marched around the city once and returned to the camp. They did this for six days. Early on the seventh day, they started at dawn and marched around the city seven times in the same way. That was the only day they marched around the city seven times. After the seventh time, the priests blew the trumpets, and Joshua said to the troops, “Shout! For the Lord has given you the city. But the city and everything in it are set apart to the Lord for destruction. Only Rahab the prostitute and everyone with her in the house will live, because she hid the messengers we sent. But keep yourselves from the things set apart, or you will be set apart for destruction. If you take any of those things, you will set apart the camp of Israel for destruction and make trouble for it. For all the silver and gold, and the articles of bronze and iron, are dedicated to the Lord and must go into the Lord ’s treasury.” So the troops shouted, and the trumpets sounded. When they heard the blast of the trumpet, the troops gave a great shout, and the wall collapsed. The troops advanced into the city, each man straight ahead, and they captured the city. They completely destroyed everything in the city with the sword — every man and woman, both young and old, and every ox, sheep, and donkey.

Think:
What is a dream you have that seems impossible? Write it down and ask God to accomplish it on your behalf! He may ask you to do some crazy things like he did with Joshua, but Joshua witnessed a miracle, and so can you!
 
Hope:
We have a leader today that was even greater than Joshua: Jesus! Jesus is a conquering king. Whatever obstacles you are facing today, the good news of Jesus is that He has overcome them already by His blood shed on the cross AND He has given you the same power that raised Him from the dead to live inside you: the Holy Spirit. So, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9 NLT)
 
Pray:
God, I know that you have put dreams in my heart. Give me faith to trust what you say and follow where you lead, even when it seems crazy! Let me give you the glory when the walls come tumbling down.
 
Apply:
Ask your youth pastor what he or she needs help with this week and go to the church to help. Tell him or her about the impossible dream that God has given you and ask for their prayers and advice.