We are in the penultimate section of the book of Joshua, and it is a particularly powerful section of our book. I will miss this book, but I am going to greatly treasure these final two portions we have to walk through before we move on to 1st and 2nd Peter. With July 4th in mind, it is proper and fitting for us to be in prayer for this land in which God has placed us. Not one of us is in this country (or city, or church) by accident—God has a purpose for each of us and has placed us where He chooses (Acts 

-27). So, as we pray, we may praise God that He rules over all the nations as the King of Kings (Ps 22:27-28)! It is good for nations to serve the Lord (Ps 33:12), but it is not good for those nations who reject the Lord (Ps 2:1-12). We as the Church are given the tremendous task of discipling all the nations of the world (Matt 28:18-20), but we are also to especially care for those where we have been planted, the people who we are among (Jer 29:7). It is good for us to be a people who consistently pray that our nation (and indeed, every nation) might seek the Lord and worship Him (Rev 15:4).

On Finishing Well

The Book of Joshua primarily focuses on the story of Joshua, who succeeds Moses in leading the Israelites into the Promised Land after their 40 years of wandering in the desert. Throughout the book, God repeatedly instructs Joshua to "be strong and courageous." His strength comes from God as he conquers the land and establishes the tribes of Israel within it, relying on God's presence and guidance.