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We've Never Been This Way Before: Five Day Devotional

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Here are a few additional resources to guide your quiet time this week:


Day 1: Following God's Presence

Based on the Message: "We've Never Been This Way Before" by Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.


"When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the Levitical priests carrying it, you are to move out from your positions and follow it. Then you will know which way to go, since you have never been this way before. But keep a distance of about two thousand cubits between you and the ark; do not go near it." - Joshua 3:3-4

Devotional: Life often leads us down unfamiliar paths. Just like the Israelites standing at the edge of the Jordan River, we frequently find ourselves facing territories we've never traversed before. Whether it's a new job, relationship, ministry opportunity, or season of life, the unknown can feel intimidating. In these moments, our natural instinct might be to forge ahead based on our own understanding or to retreat in fear. But Joshua 3:3-4 offers us a different approach. The Israelites were instructed to follow the Ark of the Covenant—the physical representation of God's presence—at a distance. Why? Because they had "never been this way before." This principle remains true for us today. When facing new territory, we need God's presence to go before us. He sees what we cannot see. He knows what we cannot know. His wisdom far exceeds our limited perspective. Rather than rushing ahead or standing still in fear, we're called to follow God's presence at a respectful distance—close enough to be guided, but not so close that we overtake His leading. This requires patience, trust, and a willingness to move at God's pace rather than our own. Today, consider the new territories in your life. Are you trying to navigate them in your own strength? Or are you allowing God's presence to go before you, preparing the way and guiding your steps?


Quote: "God "knows what I don't know." For every new venture we must give space for the presence of God to go ahead of us, to show us what we don't know and lead us where we can't go in our own strength." - Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.

Question: In what area of your life do you need to step back and allow God's presence to go ahead of you rather than trying to figure everything out on your own?


Prayer: Heavenly Father, forgive me for the times I've rushed ahead without seeking Your guidance. Help me to recognize Your presence going before me in every new territory I face. Give me the patience to follow at Your pace and the trust to believe that You know what I don't know. Thank You for never leaving me to navigate unfamiliar paths alone. Amen.


Day 2: The Power of Consecration

Based on the Message: "We've Never Been This Way Before" by Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.


"Joshua told the people, 'Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do amazing things among you.'" - Joshua 3:5

Devotional: Before the Israelites could cross the Jordan River and enter the Promised Land, Joshua gave them a specific instruction: "Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do amazing things among you" (Joshua 3:5). This wasn't just a suggestion—it was a prerequisite for experiencing God's miraculous power. Consecration means setting ourselves apart for God's purposes. It involves intentionally separating ourselves from distractions, sin, and worldly influences to focus wholly on God. It's the sacred space between receiving God's direction and taking action. Too often, we hear from God and immediately spring into action without this crucial middle step. We get excited about the vision or direction and rush ahead without properly preparing our hearts. But Joshua understood that consecration positions us to experience God's power in unprecedented ways. When we consecrate ourselves, we're essentially saying, "God, I recognize that this new territory requires more than my human effort. I need Your supernatural intervention. I'm setting myself apart to seek Your face, hear Your voice more clearly, and align my heart with Your purposes." Consecration isn't about earning God's favor—it's about positioning ourselves to receive what He already wants to give. It's creating space for God to work in and through us in ways that exceed our natural capabilities. As we as a church stand at the edge of our own "Jordan River," what might consecration look like for you today?


Quote: "When God speaks to you about something, don't just jump up and go do it. Spend time in consecration to get additional details as to how He wants you to do what He's told you to do." - Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.

Question: What specific steps of consecration might God be calling you to take before moving forward into the new territory He's showing you?


Prayer: Lord, I consecrate myself to You today. I set myself apart from distractions and worldly influences to focus wholly on Your purposes. Cleanse my heart, renew my mind, and prepare me for the amazing things You want to do. Help me not to rush ahead without this crucial step of preparation. I want to experience Your supernatural power as I enter new territory. In Jesus' name, amen.


Day 3: Presence Over Property

Based on the Message: "We've Never Been This Way Before" by Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.

"And the LORD said to Joshua, 'Today I will begin to exalt you in the eyes of all Israel, so they may know that I am with you as I was with Moses.'" - Joshua 3:7

Devotional: In our journey of faith, we often place tremendous value on tangible things—buildings, resources, positions, and possessions. While these things can be blessings, they're not where true power lies. As the Israelites prepared to enter the Promised Land, their focus wasn't on the property they would acquire but on following God's presence represented by the Ark of the Covenant. The Ark contained three significant items: the Ten Commandments (God's Word), a pot of manna (God's provision), and Aaron's rod (God's leadership). These elements remind us that when facing new territory, we need God's guidance through His Word, His supernatural provision, and His divinely designated leadership. When we prioritize God's presence over property, miraculous things happen. Walls fall down. Impossible situations become possible. The Jordan River parts. As Joshua and the Israelites discovered, the power wasn't in the land they were about to possess but in the God who was leading them there. This truth remains relevant today. Whether we gather in cathedrals or classrooms, stadiums or street corners, what matters most is not the venue but whether God's presence is there. His presence transforms ordinary spaces into sacred encounters. His presence works ahead of us, preparing hearts and circumstances before we even arrive.


Quote: "The power of New Vision is not in property, it's in presence. We've been in gymnasiums and the presence of God has shown up. You could put us on a street corner or put us in the park... one way or the other, we're gonna find the presence of God because we are the people of God." - Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.

Question: In what ways are you willing change in order to prioritize pursuing God's presence in this current season?


Prayer: Heavenly Father, forgive me for the times I've valued possessions over Your presence. Help me to recognize that true power comes not from what I have but from who goes before me. As I face new territories, may I seek Your Word for guidance, trust in Your provision, and submit to Your leadership. Thank You that Your presence transforms ordinary circumstances into extraordinary encounters. May I never settle for less than Your presence in my life. Amen.


Day 4: Divine Delays

Based on the Message: "We've Never Been This Way Before" by Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.


"After three days the officers went throughout the camp, giving orders to the people: 'When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the Levitical priests carrying it, you are to move out from your positions and follow it.'" - Joshua 3:2-3

Devotional: Waiting is perhaps one of the most challenging aspects of our faith journey. When God gives us a vision or direction, we naturally want to see it fulfilled immediately. But often, there's a gap between the promise and its fulfillment—a period of waiting that can test our patience and resolve. The Israelites experienced this as they prepared to cross the Jordan. There was a three-day waiting period between receiving instructions and actually crossing over. This wasn't a random delay but a purposeful preparation time orchestrated by God. God uses delays for specific reasons. Sometimes, He's preparing us for what lies ahead. Other times, He's aligning circumstances or people that need to be in place. And occasionally, He's testing our obedience and commitment to His timing rather than our own. During these waiting periods, it's tempting to grow weary or take matters into our own hands. But Joshua 3:1-2 shows us that even in the waiting, there was movement and preparation. The officers went through the camp, giving instructions. The people were getting ready. The waiting wasn't passive—it was purposeful. When you're in a season of divine delay, remember that God is still working, even when you can't see it. The delay isn't a denial; it's a development period. Instead of viewing it as wasted time, see it as preparation time. Use it to deepen your faith, refine your character, and align your heart more fully with God's purposes.


Quote: "God uses delays for a reason. He sometimes allows delays in order for us to get ready." - Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.

Question: What divine delay are you currently experiencing, and how might God be using this waiting period to prepare you for what lies ahead?


Prayer: Lord, I confess my impatience with Your timing. Help me to trust that Your delays are not denials but are purposefully designed for my development. During this waiting period, help me to stay faithful, to continue serving, and to grow in my relationship with You. Give me eyes to see how You're working behind the scenes and the faith to believe that in due season, I will cross over into the territory You've promised. Thank You for Your perfect timing. Amen.


Day 5: Finishing What We Start

Based on the Message: "We've Never Been This Way Before" by Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.


"Now the Jordan is at flood stage all during harvest. Yet as soon as the priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water's edge, the water from upstream stopped flowing." - Joshua 3:15-16a

Devotional: Beginning something new often comes with excitement and enthusiasm. Starting a new project, ministry, relationship, or spiritual discipline brings a rush of motivation. But as time passes and challenges arise, our initial fervor can fade. Many of us are great starters but struggle to be consistent finishers. The Israelites' journey into the Promised Land teaches us about the importance of following through. They didn't just begin their journey with obedience; they maintained it throughout the crossing. They followed the Ark (God's presence) the entire way, not just at the beginning. They obeyed Joshua's instructions completely, not partially. Finishing well requires continued attentiveness to God's voice. It's not enough to hear what God said yesterday; we must listen for what He's saying today. His guidance is ongoing, not just a one-time direction. As the quote reminds us, "Listening to the voice of God is not about what he said, it's about what he's saying." Perseverance in following God's leading brings us to the fulfillment of His promises. The Israelites didn't just step into the Jordan; they crossed all the way over to the other side. Their complete obedience led to complete fulfillment. Whatever God has called you to—whether it's a ministry, a relationship, a career path, or a personal growth journey—commit to following through. Don't allow weariness, distraction, or discouragement to keep you from finishing what God has started in you. Remember, "in due season you will reap a harvest if you do not give up."


Quote: "Many of us are used to starting things, but we don't finish. Part of the reason why is because we fail to continue following the voice of God because we grow weary in well doing." - Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.

Question: What God-given assignment are you at risk of abandoning before completion, and what specific steps can you take to renew your commitment to finishing well?


Prayer: Heavenly Father, forgive me for the times I've started things in Your name but failed to follow through. Give me the perseverance to continue following Your voice, not just at the beginning but throughout the entire journey. When I grow weary, strengthen me. When I get distracted, refocus me. When I face obstacles, empower me to overcome them. Thank You for Your faithfulness to complete the good work You've begun in me. Help me to be equally faithful in responding to Your ongoing guidance. In Jesus' name, amen.

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