Joshua 1:8 - Meditation plus Obedience equals Success

Josh 1:8 (NLT)  Study this Book of the Law continually. Meditate
on it day and night so you may be sure to obey all that is written
in it. Only then will you succeed.

Joshua was to do three things with regard to the Scriptures:
(a) The Law was not to depart from his mouth; he was to talk
about it;
(b) He was to meditate on it day and night, to think about it;
(c) He was to do everything written in it, to obey its commands
fully and to act by it.
[Bible Knowledge Commentary]

Success is knowing and doing what God says. Many people think
that prosperity and success come from having power, influential
personal contacts, and a relentless desire to get ahead. But the strategy
for gaining prosperity that God taught Joshua goes against such
criteria. He said that to succeed, Joshua must (1) be strong and
courageous because the task ahead would not be easy, (2) obey God's law,
and (3) constantly read and study the Book of the Law-God's Word. To
be successful, follow God's words to Joshua. You may not succeed by
the world's standards, but you will be a success in God's eyes-and
his opinion lasts forever. [Life Application SB]

The Way Of Success: A successful mission in the service of the
Lord is dependent upon courage, meditation, and obedience. Joshua was
instructed by God to be strong and courageous. His was not an easy task,
for he not only had to confront the ungodly inhabitants of the
Promised Land, but he would have to provide leadership for his own
fearful and complaining people. He was told to do all that was required
in the Law. He was not to turn from it either to the right or the
left. This would not be easy. It never is. It can only be accomplished
by constant meditation day and night. By meditating in the Word of
God, that Word becomes established in our hearts and minds. It molds
our character and guides our footsteps. If we are careful to do all
that is written, then our way will be prosperous and we will have
success. [Daily Devotional Bible]

Obedience to the law of life is still the key to success, for it
attunes us to the harmony of heaven. Created in God's image, we were
formed to live in harmony with God's laws. Obedience to them assures
both physical and spiritual success. [SDA Commentary]

How strange to equate success with obedience.  For many, success
is controlling others; for Joshua it meant being controlled by God.
 God told Joshua that to succeed he must obey the rules for
living found in God's law. Often we can't see what the results or
future benefits of following God will be.  When we are not sure what to
do, obedience to what God has revealed in the Scriptures is the only
sure step we can take.  Resolve to set aside time each day to read
and think about God's word.  Remind yourself of God's words day and
night.  Act today on what you know God has said, and God will assure
your success in carrying out his purposes.  [Life Application SB]

This command is based on God's power through His Word. [Bible
Knowledge Commentary]

Notice that courage is demanded in the Christian life (vv. 6-7,
9), but this courage is supplied by the Word of God (v. 8). [Wiersbe
Expository Outlines]

Total obedience to all the law, which is to be the focus of the
people's thinking day and night. Only by this discipline can the people
survive and be assured of God's presence wherever [they] go. [Cambridge
Annotated SB]

To know God's revealed Word requires reading it daily and
relying on the strength of God's presence to practice the Word.
[Disciple SB]

Meditation on the word of God was to focus on obedience. From
that obedience came the automatic presence of God to save. [New Bible
Companion]