March 23
Today’s Reading
Joshua 15–17
Scripture Focus
“But the tribe of Judah could not drive out the Jebusites, who lived in the city of Jerusalem, so the Jebusites live there among the people of Judah to this day.”
Joshua 15:63 NLT
⸻
Reflection
God had already made His will clear long before this moment:
“The Lord your God will go ahead of you. He will fight for you, just as you saw him do in Egypt… He will drive out all the nations living there… You must drive them out completely.”
(Deuteronomy 1:30; 7:1–2)
God promised to go before them.
God promised to fight for them.
God promised to give them the land.
So why do we keep reading… they did not drive them out?
Because partial obedience is still disobedience.
They saw the promise… but they also saw the people.
They believed God… but they also trusted what they saw.
They started strong… but stopped short.
And what they failed to remove… remained.
This is not just history—this is a warning.
The New Testament reminds us that these things were written for our learning (Romans 15:4). There are “enemies” we are called to drive out—sin, the flesh, the patterns that oppose God (Galatians 5:16–17). And if we tolerate what God told us to remove, it will remain among us, influencing us.
Now contrast this with Caleb.
Caleb didn’t just believe God for some of the land—he believed Him for the mountain. Even at 85 years old, he said, “Give me this mountain!” (Joshua 14:12). That same spirit of faith didn’t stop with him—it was passed down.
We see it in his daughter, Achsah.
When she received her land, she didn’t settle for dryness. She boldly asked for more:
“Give me another gift… give me springs of water too.” (Joshua 15:19)
This wasn’t greed—this was spiritual insight.
She understood that land without water cannot produce.
Promise without provision cannot flourish.
Victory without sustenance cannot be sustained.
So she asked.
And she received both the upper and lower springs.
There is something powerful here for us:
We can inherit promises… but still live dry.
We can walk in victory… but lack fullness.
Unless we ask.
Caleb’s faith conquered ground.
Achsah’s faith secured sustaining life.
One generation took ground.
The next made it fruitful.
What a picture.
God is not only calling us to remove what shouldn’t be there…
He is also inviting us to ask for what we need to thrive.
Not partial obedience.
Not dry inheritance.
But full surrender… and full dependence.
⸻
Lesson for Me
If I don’t remove what God told me to remove, it will remain and affect my walk.
But if I walk in bold faith like Caleb and ask like Achsah, God will not only give victory—He will give the springs to sustain it.
⸻
Now it’s time to examine my heart…
Ask yourself:
•What have I allowed to remain that God has already told me to remove?
•Where have I settled for partial obedience instead of full surrender?
•Am I trying to live on “land” without asking God for the “springs”?
•Do I have the boldness to ask God for more of what I truly need spiritually?
•What step of obedience is God asking me to fully walk out today?
⸻
Prayer 🙏
Lord, You have already gone before me. You have already promised victory. Help me not to stop short or settle for partial obedience. Show me anything I have allowed to remain that needs to be removed. Give me the courage to fully obey You.
And Lord, like Achsah, I ask—give me the springs. Fill my life with what is needed to sustain what You have given me. Let my walk not be dry, but full, fruitful, and alive in You.
Teach me to trust You fully, obey You completely, and depend on You daily.
In Jesus’ name, amen.
⸻
Journaling Reminder
Sit quietly before Jesus. Listen for the Holy Spirit. Begin writing what He is speaking to your heart. Start with, “My little lamb…” or “Dear daughter…” and write until your thoughts begin to slow. Then read it back and treasure what He is showing you.
Today’s Reading
Joshua 15–17
Scripture Focus
“But the tribe of Judah could not drive out the Jebusites, who lived in the city of Jerusalem, so the Jebusites live there among the people of Judah to this day.”
Joshua 15:63 NLT
⸻
Reflection
God had already made His will clear long before this moment:
“The Lord your God will go ahead of you. He will fight for you, just as you saw him do in Egypt… He will drive out all the nations living there… You must drive them out completely.”
(Deuteronomy 1:30; 7:1–2)
God promised to go before them.
God promised to fight for them.
God promised to give them the land.
So why do we keep reading… they did not drive them out?
Because partial obedience is still disobedience.
They saw the promise… but they also saw the people.
They believed God… but they also trusted what they saw.
They started strong… but stopped short.
And what they failed to remove… remained.
This is not just history—this is a warning.
The New Testament reminds us that these things were written for our learning (Romans 15:4). There are “enemies” we are called to drive out—sin, the flesh, the patterns that oppose God (Galatians 5:16–17). And if we tolerate what God told us to remove, it will remain among us, influencing us.
Now contrast this with Caleb.
Caleb didn’t just believe God for some of the land—he believed Him for the mountain. Even at 85 years old, he said, “Give me this mountain!” (Joshua 14:12). That same spirit of faith didn’t stop with him—it was passed down.
We see it in his daughter, Achsah.
When she received her land, she didn’t settle for dryness. She boldly asked for more:
“Give me another gift… give me springs of water too.” (Joshua 15:19)
This wasn’t greed—this was spiritual insight.
She understood that land without water cannot produce.
Promise without provision cannot flourish.
Victory without sustenance cannot be sustained.
So she asked.
And she received both the upper and lower springs.
There is something powerful here for us:
We can inherit promises… but still live dry.
We can walk in victory… but lack fullness.
Unless we ask.
Caleb’s faith conquered ground.
Achsah’s faith secured sustaining life.
One generation took ground.
The next made it fruitful.
What a picture.
God is not only calling us to remove what shouldn’t be there…
He is also inviting us to ask for what we need to thrive.
Not partial obedience.
Not dry inheritance.
But full surrender… and full dependence.
⸻
Lesson for Me
If I don’t remove what God told me to remove, it will remain and affect my walk.
But if I walk in bold faith like Caleb and ask like Achsah, God will not only give victory—He will give the springs to sustain it.
⸻
Now it’s time to examine my heart…
Ask yourself:
•What have I allowed to remain that God has already told me to remove?
•Where have I settled for partial obedience instead of full surrender?
•Am I trying to live on “land” without asking God for the “springs”?
•Do I have the boldness to ask God for more of what I truly need spiritually?
•What step of obedience is God asking me to fully walk out today?
⸻
Prayer 🙏
Lord, You have already gone before me. You have already promised victory. Help me not to stop short or settle for partial obedience. Show me anything I have allowed to remain that needs to be removed. Give me the courage to fully obey You.
And Lord, like Achsah, I ask—give me the springs. Fill my life with what is needed to sustain what You have given me. Let my walk not be dry, but full, fruitful, and alive in You.
Teach me to trust You fully, obey You completely, and depend on You daily.
In Jesus’ name, amen.
⸻
Journaling Reminder
Sit quietly before Jesus. Listen for the Holy Spirit. Begin writing what He is speaking to your heart. Start with, “My little lamb…” or “Dear daughter…” and write until your thoughts begin to slow. Then read it back and treasure what He is showing you.
Type your new text here.
Type your new text here.