In this devotional from the Joshua series, Pastor Mike Woodruff sets the scene for one of the most pivotal moments in the entire book — not the famous battle itself, but the quiet, charged encounter that happens the night before.

The Israelites have crossed the Jordan and are now in the land. Three spiritually significant moments mark this transition: the men are circumcised, reestablishing the Abrahamic Covenant; Passover is celebrated, remembering God's deliverance; and the manna stops. Forty years of supernatural provision comes to an end. The wandering is over. The real work begins.

Then we find Joshua alone at night — walking, thinking, praying, maybe panicking. The river crossing is yesterday's miracle. Now he's staring at Jericho's walls with an untested army and not enough food. And out of the darkness, a man appears with a drawn sword.

"Are you for us or for our enemies?" Joshua asks.

The answer stops everything: "Neither. But as commander of the army of the Lord, I have now come."

This is what theologians call a Christophany — an appearance of Jesus before the incarnation. And Joshua's response is immediate: he falls on his face. Because he understands in that moment that he was never going to recruit God onto his side. God doesn't take sides. God shows up to take over.

Pastor Mike leaves us with a challenge that cuts straight to the heart: before we wage war on whatever battle lies ahead of us, we need to do what Joshua did. Pause. Look up. Recognize who's really in charge. And worship before we fight.

📖 Series: Joshua — A Devotional Study 🎙️ Pastor: Mike Woodruff 📌 Scripture Focus: Joshua 5:13–15

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In this devotional from the Joshua series, Pastor Mike Woodruff opens with a disarming story — a four-year-old lying awake, convinced wolves were lurking outside the window. No wolves were ever there, of course. But the fear was real. The only thing that changed when his mom came in wasn't the situation — it was who he chose to trust.

That simple childhood memory becomes a powerful lens for understanding one of Joshua's central themes. Joshua faced enormous challenges — a river crossing, battle after battle, leadership crisis after leadership crisis. And yet the message he kept receiving wasn't "don't be afraid." It was "be strong and courageous" — because God was with him. The fear was real. The call was to trust anyway.

Pastor Mike turns the question on us: What's your Jordan River? What feels uncrossable right now? Financial pressure, relational tension, fear of losing a job, parenting stress — whatever it is, the invitation is the same. Name it. Admit it to yourself and maybe to a trusted few. And then hand it over to God.

As Dallas Willard said, faith isn't wishful thinking — it's confidence grounded in reality. It's trusting that God is who He says He is, and that He will do what He says He will do.

Fear looks out the window for wolves. Faith chooses to trust the Father.

📖 Series: Joshua — A Devotional Study 🎙️ Pastor: Mike Woodruff 📌 Scripture Focus: Joshua 1 | "Be strong and courageous"

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In this devotional from the Joshua series, Pastor Mike Woodruff reflects on the miraculous crossing of the Jordan River and what happened immediately after. Just as God parted the waters for the priests carrying the ark — a stunning echo of Moses and the Red Sea — the Israelites were commanded to do something easy to overlook: build altars.

Two piles of stones. One hidden beneath the Jordan's current, seen only by God. One standing on the Promised Land's shore, built from twelve stones representing every tribe of Israel. Both meant to answer a future question: What happened here?

Pastor Mike challenges us to ask ourselves — do we have our own altars? Tangible reminders of the moments God showed up, provided, and carried us through. A journal entry. A framed verse. A rock from a meaningful place. A regular practice. Something that stops us, points us back, and says: remember what God has done.

The Christian life calls us forward in faith and obedience — but never at the cost of forgetting. Scripture repeats the word remember over and over for a reason. Remembering builds the courage to keep going.

📖 Series: Joshua — A Devotional Study 🎙️ Pastor: Mike Woodruff 📌 Scripture Focus: Joshua 3:15–17 | Psalm 114

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