Joshua 14:10-13  “Now, as you can see, the LORD has kept me alive and well as he promised for all these forty-five years since Moses made this promise—even while Israel wandered in the wilderness. Today I am eighty-five years old. I am as strong now as I was when Moses sent me on that journey, and I can still travel and fight as well as I could then. So give me the hill country that the Lord promised me. You will remember that as scouts we found the descendants of Anak living there in great, walled towns. But if the LORD is with me, I will drive them out of the land, just as the LORD said.” 
So Joshua blessed Caleb son of Jephunneh and gave Hebron to him as his portion of land.
(NLT)

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God made a promise to Joshua and Caleb. Caleb came to collect his portion. He and Joshua had been among the twelve men who had spied out the land forty years earlier and were ready to trust God and enter the land. The ten other explorers scared everyone to death. They died with the other scaredy-cats on the other side of the river.

Joshua and Caleb were both old men now, and both of them were ready for a fight as long as it was God’s fight. Caleb said, “Today I am eighty-five years old. I am as strong now as I was when Moses sent me on that journey, and I can still travel and fight as well as I could then.” 

Caleb also said, “You will remember that as scouts we found the descendants of Anak living there in great, walled towns. But if the LORD is with me, I will drive them out of the land, just as the LORD said.” 

The secret to Caleb’s success was those six little words, “if the LORD is with me.”

When you read elsewhere, “Be strong in the LORD and in his mighty power,” you might remember Caleb. (See Ephesians 6:10-12.) God’s strength is always available when we are on mission with God. He never sends us without equipping us. He is always with us which means we have all we need. (See Psalm 23:1: The LORD is my shepherd; I have all that I need.)

Where is God sending you today? What do you need to accomplish his purpose? How will you lean into his wisdom, strength, and provision?

The first Monday after springing forward can feel a bit sluggish. Even days like this one can be purposeful and productive in God’s strength and for God’s mission. 

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I will go with God in his purpose and strength today.

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Our Father, last night’s aches and pains did not permit the kind of rest I wanted. My body is also adjusting to the clock’s forward leap. I’ve got a Monday task list that feels like a taskmaster with a whip. Lead me through this day. Place your thoughts in my mind and your words in my mouth. Give me strength equal to the responsibilities before me. Make me fruitful and effective despite my limitations. Amen.