God wants to renew your mind in His Word so you are transformed into His image. You make the decision. Don't pray, don't read the Word, don't assemble with the saints, watch television, read the newspaper. Before you know it you will find yourself disobeying God.

One of the greatest of the dangers of the Joshua age is that of being led into disobedience by the lust of our eyes. Remember this because the hour of temptation is upon us and there will be numerous opportunities to occupy ourselves with the enticing things and opportunities of the world system.

Achan, his family, and all he possessed were buried under a pile of rocks. This is the Valley of Achor. The Valley of Achor can become a door of hope for us, the gateway to the Presence of Christ, if we are willing to rise from the chastening we have experienced and come forth leaning on our Beloved.

There I will give her back her vineyards, and will make the Valley of Achor  a door of hope. There she will sing as in the days of her youth, as in the day she came up out of Egypt. "In that day," declares the LORD, "you will call me ‘my husband'; you will no longer call me ‘my master.'" (Hosea 2:15,16—NIV)

Assumptions, Taking Matters for Granted.

Moses sinned against God by striking the rock presumptuously when God told him to speak to it.

Joshua suffered a defeat during the invasion of Canaan by not bringing the Gibeonite delegation to the Lord in prayer. Instead Joshua assumed they were telling the truth. He saw their moldy food and took it for granted they indeed had come from a far country. Joshua had been commanded by the Lord to utterly slay all who were living in the land to be occupied by Israel, and so those who had traveled from afar were exempt from annihilation.

This bread of ours was warm when we packed it at home on the day we left to come to you. But now see how dry and moldy it is. And these wineskins that we filled were new, but see how cracked they are. And our clothes and sandals are worn out by the very long journey. The men of Israel sampled their provisions but did not inquire of the LORD. (Joshua 9:12-14—NIV)

"But did not inquire of the Lord."

Of all the lessons we need to learn today, one of the most important is to inquire of the Lord concerning every matter great and small.

If I may have the attention of the Christian people for one moment: The Lord Jesus Christ today is very close to you. He is at your elbow. Right now stop and get a sense of His Presence and closeness.

He is willing to guide you every step of the way. You do not have to make assumptions or take anything for granted. He will direct you if you will cease charging ahead in your self-assurance and ask Him what to do.

To be continued.