The Jordan River Rules: Week 1

We are thrilled to have you join us! Every Tuesday morning at 9:00, now until August 6, we'll gather for a Summer Book Club-Style Bible Study. As a community of like-minded followers of Jesus Christ, we'll share our journeys, support each other, and find encouragement together.

Our focus will be on studying 10 God-given strategies for moving forward, as outlined in "The Jordan River Rules." Each week, we’ll explore one rule and discuss it in the comment section. If you haven't yet grabbed the book, you can get your copy here.

Can't make it on Tuesday mornings at 9:00? No problem! You can participate anytime during the week at your convenience. Simply read the week’s chapter and the corresponding blog post, then join the discussion in the comments. Don’t forget to invite a friend to join us! We look forward to growing together in faith!

WEEK 1: Realize God Means for You to Move Forward

“After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' assistant, ‘Moses My servant is dead. Now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them, to the people of Israel.’” Joshua 1:1-2

Life unfolds in stages, often marked by significant transitions. Joshua, the faithful servant of Moses, faced a pivotal moment as God spoke to him after the death of Moses. This passage, found in Joshua 1:1-5, holds timeless truths about God's guidance during life's new chapters.

1. God Leads Us in Stages: The concept of stages isn't new in the Bible. In Numbers 33, God led the Israelites in stages during their wanderings. In Joshua 1, they stand at the border of a new stage, mourning Moses and anticipating what lies ahead. Like them, we encounter bittersweet moments in new phases, representing both mourning and morning—a fresh start. Psalm 84:5-7 reassures us that our pilgrimage includes moving from strength to strength.
   
   "God has many ways of comforting us, yet new chapters are difficult. I’m aware my life is entering a new phase, and I’m reminded life unfolds in stages. The stages may be bittersweet; but, ...it’s important to keep a positive biblical attitude.
   
   ...three truths about God’s guidance: He leads us in stages; He leads us in steps; and He leads us in Person.
   
   New stages in life often involve mourning. But they also involve morning. They represent new days in our lives. Psalm 84:5-7 says: “Happy are the people whose strength is in You, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.... They go from strength to strength.”
   
   My life has passed through a series of stages... Each stage has bewildered me at first. But the Lord has given me strength for every stage. Everything is under His control and orchestrated in His timing.
   
   Many transitions are stressful and bring mixed emotions. It’s all right to feel sadness, regret, grief, confusion, or relief. But turn yourself around and head in a positive direction. Don’t get stuck in negative moods or hopeless inertia.
   
   The apostle Paul put it better: “But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead, I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God’s heavenly call in Christ Jesus. Therefore, let all of us who are mature think this way” ( Philippians 3:13-15).
   
   I’m determined to go forward.
   
   Prepare for what God is preparing for you. Your next stage in life is God-planned. The One who knows the way through the wilderness also knows the way into the Promised Land. —Robert Morgan
   
   
2. God Leads Us in Steps: Life, unfolding in stages, requires taking it one step at a time. Joshua 1:3 emphasizes that every place the sole of our foot treads, God has given us. It's about moving forward, stepping on the promises of God. While life's intensity varies, each step is purposeful. God orchestrates our days, and Ephesians 2:10 reminds us that we are His workmanship, created for good works He prepared for us.
   
   “Life unfolds in stages, but we take it in steps. As a follower of Jesus Christ, I’m convinced God has an agenda for my life with every detail prearranged from eternity past. That knowledge changes the way I rise each morning and retire each evening. It affects the way I plan my time, establish my priorities, spend my money, and think about my future. The psalmist prayed, “All my days were written in Your book and planned before a single one of them began” (Psalm 139:16). Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do.”
   
   …When Moses led the Israelites out of bondage and Joshua assumed control on the banks of the Jordan River, the Lord said to them, “I have given you every place where the sole of your foot treads, just as I promised” (Joshua 1:3). The only way of moving forward is putting your foot down—and making sure it lands on a promise. You can never claim Joshua 1:3 by standing still. You have to go forward, along the pathway of God’s promises….
   
   I do believe Psalm 119:105: “Your Word is a lamp for my feet and a light on my path.” As I’m facing a new stage in my life, here’s what it means for me. Every morning, I take time to read my Bible and pray. I ask the Lord to show me what He wants me to do that day, and I walk by faith, step by step, into the Promised Land of His good will for my life. You can do the same. So put your foot down, make sure to plant it on a promise, and take the next step!” —Robert Morgan
   
   
3. God Leads Us in Person: In the face of new phases, God reassures Joshua, "I will be with you." This promise echoes throughout Scripture, emphasizing God's constant presence. His promise never to leave or forsake us is a powerful assurance (Hebrews 13:5). In times of transition, our Heavenly Father watches over us. Whether in Bible study or daily tasks, we walk by faith, knowing God is with us.
   

“Whenever you enter a new phase, your Heavenly Father watches over you. He shows up in Person to lead you…. The God of Heaven is near…. God’s promise that He will never leave us or forsake us is very special. This remarkable combination of verbs, I will never leave you or abandon you, occurs several times in Scripture. You’ll find this phrase in Deuteronomy 31 in verses 6 and 8. Here it is again in Joshua 1:5. David quotes it in 1 Chronicles 28:20, and he turns it into a prayer in Psalm 27:9. Then the writer of Hebrews snatches it from the pages of the Old Testament and presents it this way: “Be satisfied with what you have, for He Himself has said, I will never leave you or abandon you” (Hebrews 13:5). In the Greek text of Hebrews, the word “leave” is preceded by a double negative: “Never, never will I leave you.” The word “abandon” is preceded by three negatives: “Never, never, never will I abandon you.” This Greek construction of Hebrews 13:5 is reflected in the final stanza of one of my favorite hymns, “How Firm a Foundation,” which says: The soul that on Jesus has leaned for repose, I will not, I will not desert to its foes; That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake, I’ll never, no never, no never forsake. Why on Earth, then, are you and I ever insecure about anything in our lives? We have rivers to cross, challenges to face, problems to confront, giants to fight, and promises to claim. But why should we be insecure, afraid, or discouraged? We have a repeated promise from God, and the final repetition of it is underlined by doubles and triples of grace. God leads us in stages, in steps, and in Person, and He will never leave us or forsake us. Remind yourself of these truths from Joshua 1:1-5, and don’t be afraid of the next stage or step. Whatever comes or wherever you may be, your Heavenly Father watches over you.” —Robert Morgan

And so, we must move forward with confidence. Life's transitions—graduations, weddings, births, job changes—bring mixed emotions. It's natural to feel sadness, regret, or relief, but the key is to move forward positively. Philippians 3:13-15 encourages forgetting what's behind, reaching forward, and pursuing the goal promised by God. Like mature believers, let's approach new stages with hope and anticipation.
 
Just as Joshua faced the Promised Land, God-planned stages await us. With each step, we plant our feet on His promises, confident that our Heavenly Father leads us personally. In the tapestry of life, God guides us through stages and steps, ever-present and faithful. As you navigate new chapters friend, remember God's promise: "I will never leave you or forsake you." Be encouraged, for your Heavenly Father watches over you. Whatever comes, your next stage is God-planned. Prepare for what God is preparing for you, and step forward with confidence.

I love this quote by Morgan: "The One who knows the way through the wilderness also knows the way into the Promised Land." How are you taking the steps to ​move forward?

Read The Jordan River Rules: Week 2 here.

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