In Joshua, chapter one, verse eight, refers to the first five books of the Bible, the Old Testament, which records God’s words, commandments, and revelation to Moses. Joshua was to be faithful to God’s word by talking about it, meditating on it, and obeying it fully. To meditate means to read quietly or to speak to yourself as you think. It involves reflecting upon God’s words and ways of applying them to every area of your life.
Those who know and follow God’s Word and the law will be prosperous and successful in that they possess the wisdom to live righteously and achieve God’s goal for their lives. The requirements for prosperity and success are: to be strong, courageous, and diligent: and to make God’s word the authoritative guide for all beliefs and actions. Study and meditate daily on God’s word and determine to seek the presence of God throughout your life. This message for Joshua provides us with general principles for successful living. However, we must be careful never to conclude that God is bound to furnish material prosperity to everyone who follows His conditions.
Such general principles are not guarantees, for they are subject to God’s higher choices for each of us. Sometimes He permits us to undergo suffering and adversity. Children of God are not eligible to direct how their life trials and trouble that will occur should play out. Our role is to overcome them as they come. Whatever God has for us, we must accept and believe He is working on our behalf.
Today some leaders strive on prosperity messages to their congregation, expecting to have success in that way. God is not a bank teller, and His kingdom is not a bank. Very few people reach this plateau because their hearts and minds are on carnal things. God knows everyone inside out, so we would be wasting our time trying to fool Him. The ones that receive material success are the believers who do the word and have priority on God and not themselves.