(I wrote this (finally) after over a month of feeling frozen. I’m still thawing out to some degree, but I was able also to write about that in this post “Squatting in My Own Life.” If you’ve ever felt stuck, frozen, paralyzed in your life, I think you’ll be encouraged by that post.)
There are days when it feels easier to drift.
To go through the motions.
To keep our heads down.
To settle for “close enough” when it comes to faith.
We’re living in a time where distractions are constant, commitments pull hard, and culture often whispers that compromise is safer than courage.
But Joshua’s final words in chapters 23 and 24 give us a different vision. A stronger one. A braver one.
“But you shall cling to the LORD your God just as you have done to this day.”
~ Joshua 23:8
The Hebrew word for cling here is דָּבַק (dāvaq) – a word that carries the meaning of sticking fast, being bound, welded together. It’s the same word used in Genesis when a man is told to “cleave to” his wife. It’s not passive. It’s covenantal. It’s personal.
In a world that pulls us in a thousand directions, this is the call: Cling.
Not casually. Not conditionally. But with your whole heart.
Then Joshua reminds the people to serve the LORD.
“Now therefore fear the LORD and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness.”
~ Joshua 24:14
The Hebrew is עָבַד (ʿāvad) – a word that means both work and worship. It’s the posture of the whole life, not just the Sunday morning part. It’s the altar and the field, the sanctuary and the supper table.
Serve Him with your everyday.
Not to earn His favor but because His favor has already been poured out.
And finally, Joshua calls Israel to fear the LORD.
Not with terror, but with reverence.
With יָרֵא (yārēʾ) – a holy awe.
The kind of awe that quiets the soul and steadies the hands.
The kind that knows God is holy, and we are His.
These three words have lingered with me as this study ends:
Cling. Serve. Stand in awe.
They are simple. But not easy.
And they are exactly what we need in this moment.
- When the noise grows louder…cling.
- When the pressure to self-promote creeps in…serve.
- When you feel small, lost, or unseen…stand in awe.
Not of yourself. Not of your circumstances. But of the God who has never failed you.
The One who parted the Jordan.
Who kept every promise.
Who fulfilled First Fruits with an empty tomb.
And who still says today, “Choose Me.”
If your heart needs a reset or your faith needs a fresh breath, I invite you to listen to the final message in our Joshua: Strong & Courageous series. You’ll hear more about these Hebrew words, the beauty of God’s calendar, and the invitation that still stands:
“As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”
~ Joshua 24:15
→ Listen or watch the full message here
And may this be the season you choose again to cling, serve, and stand in awe.
As always, I appreciate your thoughts and comments. Leave a note below and be sure to join the mailing list and stay in touch!
You might enjoy…
Is it Ok to Be Done Peopling?
Letter to a Grieving Friend
Exactly What You Need
A Different Kind of Home
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