Joshua 1:8 reveals one of God’s most amazing strategies for His children to be successful in life. If we have ever had any doubts that the Lord desires us to be prosperous and successful, this verse should put those misgivings to rest. Let’s take a close look at this divine strategy, and some of its practical applications.

First, we are told to not allow the Word of God to depart from our mouths. In other words, we are to SPEAK the Word continually. Years ago, the Lord showed me Job 22:28 (NKJV), which says: "You will also declare a thing and it will be established for you." And He made me realize that through my spoken words, I was calling forth and establishing either good things or bad. He said that if I would get into agreement with Him by speaking out His Word and promises, I would see the blessings of God flow into every area of my life. I can tell you from personal experience that this principle is powerful, and it works. For instance, when we need healing in our bodies, it’s best if we don’t focus on our healing needs, but on God’s promise of healing. One way we can do that is to lift our hands in praise and say, "Thank You, Lord, that I am healed by Your stripes!" (Isaiah 53:5) By doing this, we are speaking the Word and praising God at the same time. The Bible says that hearing the Word of God increases our faith. (Romans 10:17) And hearing the Word out of our own mouths is one of the most effective ways to build our faith and dispel doubt. If your finances are a mess today, don’t keep talking about your money problems. Get into agreement with God and His desire to provide for you by saying, "There is no lack in my household, for my God abundantly supplies all my needs according to His riches in glory!" (Philippians 4:19)

Next, Joshua 1:8 says that we are to meditate on the Word day and night. That means that we are to THINK about it all the time. Why is this so important? Because if we don’t fill our thoughts with God’s Word and promises, we will think like the world, instead of like God. For us to receive all the good things that God has in store for us, we have to see things from His perspective. That’s one reason why the Bible says that we must have our mind renewed, and we must not allow the world to squeeze us into its own mold. (Romans 12:2) The best way to renew your mind is with the Word of God. Memorize it and meditate on it continually, and revelation from heaven will begin flowing into your life. Then you will not have a world’s view of things, but a heavenly view, and you will begin to truly believe that there’s nothing that God can’t or won’t do to help you fulfill your God-given purpose and potential. The world may see you as having very little talent, ability, or potential. But God’s view of you is entirely different. He has equipped and anointed you to be a world-changer for Christ. And if you will begin seeing yourself from His perspective, and get into agreement with His agenda for you, opportunities will begin coming your way, and doors will open for you. So when negative thoughts come into your head, replace them with the Good News of God’s Word. Say, "Everything I lay my hand to prospers and succeeds!" (Deuteronomy 28:8)

Lastly, and most importantly, we must DO the Word of God. As Joshua 1:8 shows, speaking the Word and meditating on the Word enables us to be doers of the Word. James wrote: "Prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves." (James 1:22 NASB) Like Joshua, James makes a connection between being a doer, and being blessed. (James 1:25) Jesus, too, spoke about the importance of being a doer. When He was teaching His disciples, He said: "Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them." (John 13:17 NIV) It’s in actually DOING the Word, and carrying out its instructions, that positions us to receive from God. We need to remember that the Lord didn’t give us His Holy Spirit just so that we could live in mediocrity and defeat. He gave us His Spirit so that we could be empowered with the same power that raised Christ from the dead, and live the abundant, victorious, overcoming lives that He called us to. (Ephesians 1:19-20) God has given you His strategy for success. Are you ready to begin applying it to your own life today?

Prayer: Lord, teach me how to speak Your Word in power over my life and circumstances. Remind me to meditate on Your Word day and night, so that I can perceive and discern Your awesome plans for me. Make me persistent in applying these principles, so that I can become a doer of Your Word. Thank You that my prosperity and success will enable me to bless others, and to glorify You!