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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The Israelites are on the banks of the Jordan River—the same spot where their parents stood 40 years earlier. But this time, they're looking forward in faith. Two million people, plus animals, all organized and ready. The priests lead with the Ark of the Covenant. The river is at flood stage, dangerous, muddy, and impossible to see through. And the people don't know how to swim.

It's a moment that requires courage. A step of faith into the unknown.

But in this installment of our "Joshua" devotional series, Pastor Mike Woodruff shifts our focus. Yes, there are big, bold moments that define our spiritual lives—inflection points that change our trajectory. But more often than not, it's not the big events that matter most. It's the small steps. The daily faithfulness. The ongoing trust. The perseverance that is steady.

As Eugene Peterson put it, what we need is a long obedience in the same direction.

Pastor Mike turns to Hebrews 2:1: "We must pay careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away." The operative word is drift. Not rebellion. Not defiance. We lose our focus through inattention and distraction. It's a slow fade. That's what holds us back—not a lack of courage, but a lack of clarity and a loss of focus.

So here's the question: What's holding you back from deeper growth in Christ? Is it a lack of courage? Or is it a lack of clarity? Most of us don't get stuck because we're afraid of the big leap. We get stuck because we neglect the things that matter. We drift.

Don't let distraction rob you of the next step. Keep the main thing the main thing. Long obedience. Same direction. One small step at a time.

"As soon as the priests who carry the Ark of the Lord—the Lord of all the earth—step foot in the Jordan, its waters flowing downstream will be cut off and stand up in a heap." — Joshua 3:13

Here it is. The moment of decision.

The priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant are told to step into the Jordan River—still at flood stage, still dangerous, still impossible. They don't know how to swim. There's no promise of safety. No backup plan. Just faith.

And what happens? As soon as their feet hit the water, the river piles up. Not a slow recede. Not a gradual easing. A sudden, miraculous stop. Dry ground appears, just like the Red Sea. And two million people cross over into the Promised Land—not because the river got easier, but because God made a way.

This passage suggests something profound: sometimes we have to believe in the miracle before we see it. Sometimes we have to step into the unknown when everything in us wants to stay put. Trusting God is the better move.

This was a make-or-break moment for Joshua. He'd only been on the job a few days. If he fails here, he's done. But he doesn't fail. God is there. The people obey. And it works.

Pastor Mike Woodruff reflects on the classic book In His Steps—about people who decided to live as if they would do whatever Jesus would do. That's the question for you today: What would it look like if you really decided to trust and obey?

The current might look strong. The water might look deep. But God is faithful, and God is able. Take the next step. Step in before the water parts.

"Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you." — Joshua 3:5

Before the miracle comes the moment of preparation. Joshua stands before nearly two million people and tells them to get ready—not just logistically, but spiritually. Clean your hearts. Examine your lives. Confess your sin. Rededicate yourselves. Because God is about to show up and lead you forward.

The word "consecrate" means to set apart for a sacred purpose. Israel is preparing to step into the Jordan River and enter the Promised Land. God wants their hearts aligned with Him before He parts the waters.

Pastor Mike Woodruff shares a personal story of sailing across Lake Michigan with his two boys when a sudden storm appeared on the horizon. He woke them up, had them put on life preservers, and said, "If you have unconfessed sin, now would be a good time to bring that before the Lord." That's the spirit of this passage. Things are about to get real. Are you ready? Are you right with God?

The priests go first, carrying the Ark of the Covenant—representing God's law, God's leadership, and God's provision. And just as the Ark foreshadowed God's presence leading His people, Jesus is the true and better Ark. He perfectly fulfills the law, perfectly leads us, and gives Himself as the bread of life.

So here's the question: What is your East Bank? What is God calling you to step into? And before you take that step, have you consecrated yourself? Have you prepared your heart?

The miracle is coming. But first comes the moment of preparation.

"Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give them." — Joshua 1:2

Some decisions can't be delayed. You're either going to take the job or not. Forgive the person or not. Step into something new or stay where you are. In this installment of our "Joshua" devotional series, Pastor Mike Woodruff reminds us that the moment comes when we have to choose: trust or fear, obey or stall, move forward or retreat.

The Israelites are back on the east bank of the Jordan—the same spot where their parents stood 40 years earlier. Their parents saw giants and fortified cities and refused to cross. That decision cost them four decades in the wilderness. Now it's the children's turn. And this time, Joshua sends just two spies into the land. They return with a good report: "The Lord has surely given the whole land into our hands."

Game time.

The Jordan is at flood stage—wide, fast, and dangerous. The Israelites have spent 40 years in the desert; they don't know how to swim. And there are two million of them, with children, elderly, goods, and livestock. Crossing isn't a small ask. It's a giant step of faith.

So here's the question for you today: Where are you camped? What river are you standing on the bank of? What step forward is God asking you to take that feels too risky, too big, too impossible?

If we're going to follow Jesus, we have to be willing to get wet. The river represents risk. The step forward requires faith. Don't stay on the east bank forever. Get ready to cross.

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of any kind, because you know that the testing of faith produces endurance. (James 1:2-3)

Let's be honest—trials don't feel like gifts. They feel like chaos, disruption, and heartache. Something to be endured, not embraced. But the Book of Joshua highlights a different perspective: even in hardship, even in the middle of the desert, trials can be good because God is at work.

In this installment of our "Joshua" devotional series, Pastor Mike Woodruff reflects on second chances—and what it takes to actually grow through them. Israel stood at the Jordan River, frozen, 40 years earlier. They paid a high price for their fear. But now, mercifully, God gives them another chance. Yet a second chance only works if you take advantage of it. That means facing your mistakes, learning from them, and pressing ahead.

Pastor Mike recalls Peggy Noonan's hopeful writing during COVID—that we might emerge better, more reflective, more thankful. But years later, that's not what we've seen. Most people didn't emerge stronger. They numbed out, grew more anxious, or settled into soul-dulling patterns. Trials are an opportunity. They're a moment when God has our attention—whispering, sometimes shouting, "Come closer. Let me shape you."

You don't have to pretend to enjoy the trial. But you can see it as a sacred moment to grow in maturity, grit, and resilience. The question isn't whether we'll face trials. The question is: when we face them, will we grow through them?

Deepest spiritual roots tend to come in times of drought. God doesn't promise to make your life easy—He's more concerned with your character than your comfort. So may the trials you're facing today leave you more humble, more honest, more grateful, and more Christ-like.

Don't miss the opportunity to grow.