“Be strong and courageous, for you are the one who will lead these people to possess all the land I swore to their ancestors I would give them. Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do. Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:6-9
If God intends to work all things together for good.
If what I believe determines my direction.
If I am to trust God with all my heart.
If God has wisdom that brings honor and peace.
If I am to rejoice, to pray, and be thankful in all circumstances.
And if I choose to know the truth.
If I am either a tree planted in the desert, or a tree planted by the water…
I will need to look at what I spend my time drinking in, and feeding on.
What am I reading? What am I looking at? What am I listening to?
This is why I want to post each day because it keeps me in God’s word. It keeps me actively searching for a word from God to give me His wisdom, His truth, His living water each day.
Joshua was facing the most intense circumstances he had ever faced. As the new leader for the Israelites he had the responsibility to take them into the Promised Land. Up until now Moses had done this and Joshua had seen the difficulties involved…trapped between the Egyptians and the Red Sea, grumbling and complaining because of no water or food, unbelief, rebellion… Now God called him to be their leader and take them into the very land he had spied out 40 years ago when he was confident that with God’s help they could take the land.
Where was that confidence now?
Did Joshua have second thoughts as he was now the one in charge? The walled cities and the giants now were reality and he was the one to lead.
Faith can be an interesting thing. I can say I believe God is able to do the impossible, but when staring at the impossible right in front of me is a different story!
God is so loving and compassionate!
God gave Joshua a pep talk!
God knew Joshua’s fear and spoke His words of encouragement to him. God told Joshua who he was, “You are the one who will lead these people…”
Then God told Joshua what to do, to meditate on the book of instruction day and night, to obey all the instructions, not turning to the left or the right.
God told Joshua not to be afraid, but to be strong and courageous.
And God promised Joshua what He would do!
God promised that Joshua would be prosperous and successful in everything he did!
And God promised that He would be with him wherever he went!
God knows that I can’t live life on my own. God knows I need His truth, His wisdom, and His power to gain victory over the walled cities and giants I face in life. He knows life requires that I am strong and courageous. This is why He has preserved His word for thousands of years.
God’s word to me is the same as to Joshua. And I am wise to heed it.
So, I find what I take in each day will either make me strong and courageous, or it will make me fearful and weak.
This is the choice I make every time I choose what I will read, watch, or listen to.
