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Porto Venere, La Spezia, Italy. Photo by Charles F. Stanley.
Daily Devotion

God’s Pathway to Success

The Lord’s definition of success may not be what you expect.

January 22, 2026

Joshua 1:7

To most people, the word success means “wealth” or “power.” If you stopped the average person on the street and asked whether he is successful, there’s a good chance he might mention his career or investments. Many people simply have no other frame of reference for the concept. But material wealth has nothing to do with spiritual success.

The Lord calls His children to live triumphantly. If the pursuit of success were sinful, how could the Lord have made the promise found in Joshua 1:7? Was He promising money or fame? No. The Lord was promising success as He defined it for His servant.

For Joshua, this meant military victory, steadfast faith, and the fulfillment of God’s promise to Moses (Ex. 6:7-8). Joshua wasn’t concerned with money or fame; rather, he was intensely focused on accomplishing the Lord’s goals for him. Armed with the power of the Word, Joshua followed God’s marching orders, which is why he is seen as a success.

Don’t be confused. Wealth, fame, security, and power have nothing to do with succeeding spiritually. Family, relationships, integrity, faithfulness—these are the things that matter. They are the ways our heavenly Father wants us to succeed.

Bible in One Year: Exodus 19-21

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