Then Joshua rose early in the morning; and they set out from Acacia Grove and came to the Jordan, he and all the children of Israel, and lodged there before they crossed over. So it was, after three days, that the officers went through the camp; and they commanded the people, saying, “When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, and the priests, the Levites, bearing it, then you shall set out from your place and go after it. (Joshua 3:1-3)
LORD, help us to move as you move — to be in step with you.
Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure. Do not come near it, that you may know the way by which you must go, for you have not passed this way before.” (Joshua 3:4)
Holy Father, help us know your holiness and stand in awe of you.
And Joshua said to the people, “Sanctify yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.” (Joshua 3:5)
Holy Spirit, sanctify us and do your wonders among us. Renew in our day the wonders of your Pentecost.
Then Joshua spoke to the priests, saying, “Take up the ark of the covenant and cross over before the people.” So they took up the ark of the covenant and went before the people. (Joshua 3:6)
Jesus, help us go forward as a covenant people.
And the Lord said to Joshua, “This day I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. You shall command the priests who bear the ark of the covenant, saying, ‘When you have come to the edge of the water of the Jordan, you shall stand in the Jordan.’” (Joshua 3:7-8 )
Lord, help us come to the Jordan — to cross over into the land of your promise.
So Joshua said to the children of Israel, “Come here, and hear the words of the Lord your God.” And Joshua said, “By this you shall know that the living God is among you, and that He will without fail drive out from before you the Canaanites and the Hittites and the Hivites and the Perizzites and the Girgashites and the Amorites and the Jebusites: (Joshua 3:9-10)
Father, help us know you by your deeds.
Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth is crossing over before you into the Jordan. Now therefore, take for yourselves twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one man from every tribe. (Joshua 3:11-12)
Holy Spirit, raise up men and women out of every congregation in this diocese who will answer your call.
And it shall come to pass, as soon as the soles of the feet of the priests who bear the ark of the Lord, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of the Jordan, that the waters of the Jordan shall be cut off, the waters that come down from upstream, and they shall stand as a heap.” (Joshua 3:13)
Father, thank you for making a way through the Jordan for us — thank you for sending your son Jesus.
So it was, when the people set out from their camp to cross over the Jordan, with the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people, and as those who bore the ark came to the Jordan, and the feet of the priests who bore the ark dipped in the edge of the water (for the Jordan overflows all its banks during the whole time of harvest), that the waters which came down from upstream stood still, and rose in a heap very far away at Adam, the city that is beside Zaretan. So the waters that went down into the Sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, failed, and were cut off; and the people crossed over opposite Jericho. Then the priests who bore the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firm on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan; and all Israel crossed over on dry ground, until all the people had crossed completely over the Jordan. (Joshua 3:14-17)
Holy Spirit, help all the priests of this diocese to stand firm.
And it came to pass, when all the people had completely crossed over the Jordan, that the Lord spoke to Joshua, saying: “Take for yourselves twelve men from the people, one man from every tribe, (Joshua 4:1-2)
Jesus, guide Bishop Bill and the leaders of this diocese as they call men and women into your service.
and command them, saying, ‘Take for yourselves twelve stones from here, out of the midst of the Jordan, from the place where the priests’ feet stood firm. You shall carry them over with you and leave them in the lodging place where you lodge tonight.’” (Joshua 4:3)
Father, help us come to those places where you have done your mighty deeds and pick up our memorial stones to remember your deeds.
Then Joshua called the twelve men whom he had appointed from the children of Israel, one man from every tribe; and Joshua said to them: “Cross over before the ark of the Lord your God into the midst of the Jordan, and each one of you take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel, (Joshua 4:4-5)
Jesus, help each man and woman that you call into your service to answer the call and carry their memorial stones.
that this may be a sign among you when your children ask in time to come, saying, ‘What do these stones mean to you?’ Then you shall answer them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord; when it crossed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. And these stones shall be for a memorial to the children of Israel forever. ” (Joshua 4:6-7)
Father, please bless the ministry to the youths and children of this diocese so that when they ask what is the meaning of our memorials, that we can point them to you and what you have done for us through your son’s death and resurrection and by sending the Holy Spirit to us.
And the children of Israel did so, just as Joshua commanded, and took up twelve stones from the midst of the Jordan, as the Lord had spoken to Joshua, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel, and carried them over with them to the place where they lodged, and laid them down there. Then Joshua set up twelve stones in the midst of the Jordan, in the place where the feet of the priests who bore the ark of the covenant stood; and they are there to this day. (Joshua 4:8-9)
Jesus, help us build memorials to your deeds rather than our own. Help us to be living memorial stones to your great deeds. Thank you.
So the priests who bore the ark stood in the midst of the Jordan until everything was finished that the Lord had commanded Joshua to speak to the people, according to all that Moses had commanded Joshua; and the people hurried and crossed over. Then it came to pass, when all the people had completely crossed over, that the ark of the Lord and the priests crossed over in the presence of the people. And the men of Reuben, the men of Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh crossed over armed before the children of Israel, as Moses had spoken to them. About forty thousand prepared for war crossed over before the Lord for battle, to the plains of Jericho. On that day the Lord exalted Joshua in the sight of all Israel; and they feared him, as they had feared Moses, all the days of his life. Then the Lord spoke to Joshua, saying, “Command the priests who bear the ark of the Testimony to come up from the Jordan.” Joshua therefore commanded the priests, saying, “Come up from the Jordan.” And it came to pass, when the priests who bore the ark of the covenant of the Lord had come from the midst of the Jordan, and the soles of the priests’ feet touched the dry land, that the waters of the Jordan returned to their place and overflowed all its banks as before. Now the people came up from the Jordan on the tenth day of the first month, and they camped in Gilgal on the east border of Jericho. And those twelve stones which they took out of the Jordan, Joshua set up in Gilgal. Then he spoke to the children of Israel, saying: “When your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, ‘What are these stones?’ then you shall let your children know, saying, ‘Israel crossed over this Jordan on dry land’; (Joshua 4:10-22)
Lord, when our children ask us questions of life, help us point to you and what you have done for us — how you have enabled us to cross our “Jordans” with dry feet.
for the Lord your God dried up the waters of the Jordan before you until you had crossed over, as the Lord your God did to the Red Sea, which He dried up before us until we had crossed over, that all the peoples of the earth may know the hand of the Lord, that it is mighty, that you may fear the Lord your God forever.” (Joshua 4:23-24)
Jesus, please help us proclaim your deeds to the whole world. Send us forth in your service — that others may know your mighty deeds and fear and love you. Thank you.
Praying the Nicene Creed, a word received 12/29/07: Each day I want you to take a phrase from the Nicene Creed and pray that phrase. My people need to hear what is true and make it their own.
I believe in one God,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, thank you for being one and thank you for your love for one another. Please help me, help your people live in the reality of your unity and love. Thank you.
the Father Almighty,
Father, thank you for being a father to me. Thank you that by your might you have made your son Jesus known to us so that we can become your children.
maker of heaven and earth,
Thank you, Father, for your creation. Please help us by your Holy Spirit to be better stewards of your creation.
and of all things visible and invisible;
Father, we know that we are surrounded by your angelic hosts and that whole company of heaven, that cloud of witnesses that has gone before us. Help us to be steady in you till we reach that place of rest. Thank you.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ,
Father, guide us by your Holy Spirit so that every other “lord” in our lives is brought under the sovereign rule of Jesus and he becomes our one Lord. Thank you.
the only begotten Son of God,
Father, thank you for sending your one and only son to us so that we might become your children.
Thursday: 69:1-23(24-30)31-38 * 73; Jeremiah 22:13-23; Romans 8:12-27; John 6:41-51
Friday: 95 & 102 * 107:1-32; Jeremiah 23:1-8; Romans 8:28-39; John 6:52-59
Notes from the Front Line
***** The Essential One Hundred Challenge
The Bible reading plan people love to complete
Scripture Union’s Bible Reading Method™
Pray: before you read, asking God to help you understand.
Read: the Bible passage for the day, perhaps more than once.
Reflect: on the passage. Write your thoughts in a journal.
Apply: what God teaches you from His Word to your life.
Pray: again, asking God to help you live out His Word.
The Law and the Land
#24 Crossing the Jordan Joshua 3:1-4:24
***** Subject: Noel Dawes update Wed 6th 8.45pm
From: Nigel W D Mumford+
Dear Souls
I have just spoken with Meryl. Noel is out of surgery but the tests were inconclusive.
He is being transferred to Latham where at 6.30am Friday morning he will have an
MRI on his heart.
Please keep prayer for Noel and for Meryl who is doing very well but is very tired. She is
keeping her British stiff upper lip. Noel’s spirits are good.
Please pray specifically that his heart will be fine and that the Lord will heal him of what
ever is going on. Thanks be to God.
Thank you.
Be well, do good works and for the sake of God love one another,
God bless you, Fr, Nigel+
Albany Intercessor
Posted by anglicanprayer 
