Be Strong & Courageous

 

Today we start in the book of Joshua.  Moses has passed away and the people are getting ready to cross over the Jordan.

 

Scripture:  “As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.  [So] be strong and courageous … Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”  Joshua 1:5-6, 9

 

This came from our daily reading in Joshua 1 and Psalm 37

 

Observation/Application:  Here in the opening of the Book of Joshua we see the people are about to see God’s promises fulfilled to them and their territory being expanded.  God also renews to them His promise to be with them and not leave them.  Here is a good application or reminder to us: Even when God fulfills His promises to us, He will not leave us there alone to live out those promises.  Say God promises you children or healing or a ministry or to provide for you through a new venture.  God is not going to walk you into those new places and leave you to fend for yourself – He is still with you leading and guiding and protecting and providing for you just as He was before when you were barren, sick and without a job!  Perhaps sometimes we feel closer to God when we are going through those hard(er) times because that is when WE need Him most.  That’s when we are on our knees crying out, but when times are “good” and we are hanging out in the “Promised Land” with our sunglasses on beside the spring water drinking our milk and honey we might (hopefully not) but we might forget, God is still there and He still wants us on our knees talking to Him!  God also reminded them that it was important to remember the Good Book, The Book of the Law, what is known today as our Bibles.  We are to be thinking about it DAY and NIGHT.  This is what will make us successful and prosperous (not necessarily, but not impossible either, as the world defines these two words, but in God’s eyes).

 

Lastly, the words, “be strong and courageous” are used four times in this chapter alone.  These are important words.  Taking the Promised Land was not going to be an easy task.  There would be battles to be won, cities to go to war with and other obstacles that would stand in their way.  God wanted them ready!  Today is no different whether it is physical things we are dealing with, emotional struggles, spiritual battles or even struggles with other people we can take these words I think and apply them to our lives to be strong and courageous, to remember God is with us and to spend our days and nights in the Word strengthening our lives in Him.

 

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, You are such a good God!  You give us good things and You ALWAYS keep Your promises.  And just as You brought the Children of Israel into a good land, Your Word encourages us that You have good things in store for us as well.  Father help us to run the race with endurance and patience, to be strong and courageous and to remember that You are always with us and that You never leave us, nor forsake us.  God sometimes we (I) let my flesh be stronger – I say or do things out of my flesh instead of allowing You to be strong within me – letting Your Holy Spirit control the things I say or do.  Help me, help us, LORD to live out of a place where Your Holy Spirit is in control; where our responses are full of the sweet fruit of Your Holy Spirit – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.   Help us to put on the full Armor of God and be ready to fight the good fight, again, not in our own fleshly strength (which gets weak and tired), but by the power of Your Holy Spirit.  Thank you that You are always with us.  May we trust You in every detail of our life that You are using it to do Your good work in us.  Through Christ, who is our example, I pray, Amen & Amen.

 

Encouragement from Psalm 37 to meditate on today

 

Do not fret – do not be discouraged

Trust in the Lord and do good

Dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture

Take delight in the Lord,
    

and he will give you the desires of your heart

Commit your way to the Lord;

trust in him and He will do this

Be still before the Lord

and wait patiently for Him

Refrain from anger

Do not fret – do not be discouraged

Those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land

A little while, [wait] and the wicked will be no more

Better the little that the righteous have

than the wealth of many wicked

The blameless spend their days under the Lord’s care,

    and their inheritance will endure forever

The Lord makes firm the steps

of the one who delights in him

Hope in the Lord

and keep his way

And take refuge in Him

Amen