Joshua 3

• 1. Early the next morning Joshua and all the Israelites left Acacia and arrived at the banks of the Jordan River, where they camped before crossing.
• 2. Three days later, the Israelite leaders went through the camp
• 3. giving these instructions to the people: "When you see the Levitical priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD your God, follow them.
• 4. Since you have never traveled this way before, they will guide you. Stay about a half mile behind them, keeping a clear distance between you and the Ark. Make sure you don't come any closer."
• 5. Then Joshua told the people, "Purify yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do great wonders among you."
• 6. In the morning Joshua said to the priests, "Lift up the Ark of the Covenant and lead the people across the river." And so they started out.
• 7. The LORD told Joshua, "Today I will begin to make you great in the eyes of all the Israelites. Now they will know that I am with you, just as I was with Moses.
• 8. Give these instructions to the priests who are carrying the Ark of the Covenant: `When you reach the banks of the Jordan River, take a few steps into the river and stop.'"
• 9. So Joshua told the Israelites, "Come and listen to what the LORD your God says.
• 10. Today you will know that the living God is among you. He will surely drive out the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites, and Jebusites.
• 11. Think of it! The Ark of the Covenant, which belongs to the Lord of the whole earth, will lead you across the Jordan River!
• 12. Now choose twelve men, one from each tribe.
• 13. The priests will be carrying the Ark of the LORD, the Lord of all the earth. When their feet touch the water, the flow of water will be cut off upstream, and the river will pile up there in one heap."
• 14. When the people set out to cross the Jordan, the priests who were carrying the Ark of the Covenant went ahead of them.
• 15. Now it was the harvest season, and the Jordan was overflowing its banks. But as soon as the feet of the priests who were carrying the Ark touched the water at the river's edge,
• 16. the water began piling up at a town upstream called Adam, which is near Zarethan. And the water below that point flowed on to the Dead Sea until the riverbed was dry. Then all the people crossed over near the city of Jericho.
• 17. Meanwhile, the priests who were carrying the Ark of the LORD's covenant stood on dry ground in the middle of the riverbed as the people passed by them. They waited there until everyone had crossed the Jordan on dry ground.

Psalms 128

• 1. How happy are those who fear the LORD--all who follow his ways!
• 2. You will enjoy the fruit of your labor. How happy you will be! How rich your life!
• 3. Your wife will be like a fruitful vine, flourishing within your home. And look at all those children! There they sit around your table as vigorous and healthy as young olive trees.
• 4. That is the LORD's reward for those who fear him.
• 5. May the LORD continually bless you from Zion. May you see Jerusalem prosper as long as you live.
• 6. May you live to enjoy your grandchildren. And may Israel have quietness and peace.

Isaiah 63

• 1. Who is this who comes from Edom, from the city of Bozrah, with his clothing stained red? Who is this in royal robes, marching in the greatness of his strength? "It is I, the LORD, announcing your salvation! It is I, the LORD, who is mighty to save!"
• 2. Why are your clothes so red, as if you have been treading out grapes?
• 3. "I have trodden the winepress alone; no one was there to help me. In my anger I have trampled my enemies as if they were grapes. In my fury I have trampled my foes. It is their blood that has stained my clothes.
• 4. For the time has come for me to avenge my people, to ransom them from their oppressors.
• 5. I looked, but no one came to help my people. I was amazed and appalled at what I saw. So I executed vengeance alone; unaided, I passed down judgment.
• 6. I crushed the nations in my anger and made them stagger and fall to the ground."
• 7. I will tell of the LORD's unfailing love. I will praise the LORD for all he has done. I will rejoice in his great goodness to Israel, which he has granted according to his mercy and love.
• 8. He said, "They are my very own people. Surely they will not be false again." And he became their Savior.
• 9. In all their suffering he also suffered, and he personally rescued them. In his love and mercy he redeemed them. He lifted them up and carried them through all the years.
• 10. But they rebelled against him and grieved his Holy Spirit. That is why he became their enemy and fought against them.
• 11. Then they remembered those days of old when Moses led his people out of Egypt. They cried out, "Where is the one who brought Israel through the sea, with Moses as their shepherd? Where is the one who sent his Holy Spirit to be among his people?
• 12. Where is the one whose power divided the sea before them, when Moses lifted up his hand, establishing his reputation forever?
• 13. Where is the one who led them through the bottom of the sea? They were like fine stallions racing through the desert, never stumbling.
• 14. As with cattle going down into a peaceful valley, the Spirit of the LORD gave them rest. You led your people, LORD, and gained a magnificent reputation."
• 15. LORD, look down from heaven and see us from your holy, glorious home. Where is the passion and the might you used to show on our behalf? Where are your mercy and compassion now?
• 16. Surely you are still our Father! Even if Abraham and Jacob would disown us, LORD, you would still be our Father. You are our Redeemer from ages past.
• 17. LORD, why have you allowed us to turn from your path? Why have you given us stubborn hearts so we no longer fear you? Return and help us, for we are your servants and your special possession.
• 18. How briefly your holy people possessed the holy place, and now our enemies have destroyed it.
• 19. LORD, why do you treat us as though we never belonged to you? Why do you act as though we had never been known as your people?

New Living Translation: 182 of 365 days.