You have not passed this way before
Today's focusBefore crossing the Jordan, the people are told to follow the ark of the Lord, because they have not passed this way before, and to sanctify themselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among them.
Read
1And Joshua rose early in the morning; and they removed from Shittim, and came to Jordan, he and all the children of Israel, and lodged there before they passed over. 2And it came to pass after three days, that the officers went through the host; 3And they commanded the people, saying, When ye see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the priests the Levites bearing it, then ye shall remove from your place, and go after it. 4Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure: come not near unto it, that ye may know the way by which ye must go: for ye have not passed this way heretofore. 5And Joshua said unto the people, Sanctify yourselves: for to morrow the LORD will do wonders among you.
Reflection
As you stand at the threshold of a new year, you may feel the weight of the unknown. Like the children of Israel, you find yourself at a point where you must "remove from your place" and move forward. The road ahead is unfamiliar, and the passage reminds you why you must watch closely for God's leading: "for ye have not passed this way heretofore." You do not have to rely on your own maps or past experiences to navigate the days to come.
The instructions given to the people were clear. They were to "go after" the ark of the covenant, keeping their eyes on the presence of the LORD to "know the way" by which they must go. Before you step into the new territory of tomorrow, take time to "sanctify yourselves." This quiet preparation of the heart honors God's presence as your guide. When you follow His lead rather than rushing ahead on your own, you can move with quiet confidence, trusting that "the LORD will do wonders among you."
AI-written reflection on the passage above. Let Scripture itself be the main thing.
Reflect
As you face a year you have never walked before, what would it look like to keep your eyes on the Lord and follow where he leads?
Pray
Lord, I have not passed this way before, but you have. Prepare my heart and set me apart for you. I will follow where you lead in this new year.