Be Strong and Courageous

Joshua 1:9

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Over the years after having been saved in prison, this verse has been one of my very favorites. Jehovah God Himself is talking to Joshua just before he is to lead the Israelites into the promised land.

I believe God is purposefully reminding Joshua that it has actually been God commanding them while they were in the wilderness. I believe God wants them to remember His faithfulness to them as He led them. In His faithfulness and ability, we can be strong and courageous.

Of our own selves, it is hard to consistently have faith in our own strength or courage. In fact, as we continue our Christian journey, we really learn the truth of what Jesus told Paul, that is, “His strength is made perfect in weakness!” See 2 Corinthians 12:9.

The more we learn to believe and receive God’s unconditional love for us, we will have increasingly greater success overcoming the fear with which the enemy wants to attack us. The Bible says perfect love casts out fear! See 1 John 4:18.

God urges us to remember Who has been leading us, and how much He loves us. We do not have to be afraid or discouraged. In Him, we have great strength and courage! We can trust Him to be with us wherever we go and whatever we do.

TODAY’S CHALLENGE:

Tell the Father any areas of fear, anxiety or concern you have today. Think about how faithful He has been. Remember that you have the Father, Son and Holy Spirit with you wherever you go today.

Dive Deeper: Study Joshua 1; 2 Corinthians 12:9-10; 1 John 4:18; Ephesians 6:10; Micah 3:8; Zechariah 4:6.