Help me Lord, help me to be strong and courageous!
(Joshua 1:9 ESV) '9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
Scripture Thought:
This is one of my favorite scriptures! The Lord is now talking to Joshua, who has taken over leadership from Moses for the tribes of Isreal. Moses was a revered leader and loved by the people. He was loved so much by his people that God did not want the people to know where Moses was buried. This was most likely because they would have probably worshiped him and participated in idol worship. I am only bringing this up because I want you to understand how much Moses was loved, and now Joshua is in charge, Moses is dead, and now Joshua needs to lead the great mighty nation of Israel.
Joshua has been with Moses for some time as the military leader but not as the head of the people. In Joshua chapter 1, God is encouraging Joshua and making sure Joshua knows that he has the Lord's backing. That is why in (Joshua 1:5 ESV) '5 No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you.' With the Lord's backing, Joshua is also commanded by God several times to be strong and courageous and not to be frightened and dismayed (to feel anxious or distressed).
This is important to note; God is getting ready to send Joshua into battle after battle and war after war. God knows Joshua must believe that He is with him to do this work and also have enough courage to go into these situations where there are bigger and stronger armies that he will be facing. God promises to be with Joshua just like He was with Moses, and because Joshua knew how God was with Moses, He could trust that God was going to deliver him through all of these hardships and battles. So the Lord was telling and teaching Joshua to rely upon Him just like Moses did.
My Thoughts:
What we take from this as Christians is that God protects and encourages His people (those that belong to Him through Jesus Christ) to be strong and courageous through all the battles and wars they will have to go through in their lifetime. Whether the battles be physical, health, relationships, family, financial, etc. God will be there with us, strengthening us and developing us as we move forward with Him. His promise to never leave us or forsake us is also repeated in the New Testament, in Hebrews 13:5, to ensure that we know that God doesn't change, He loves His children, and he wants us to have enough faith and trust in Him to overcome the challenges that come our way. This lets us know as His children; we don't have to be afraid of the challenges before us, that He will be with us, and that we just need to step out and be courageous.
Challenge:
Seek God continually in your life. Seek to know Him and His Word better on a consistent basis because this will give you a better understanding of who He is as you develop a greater relationship with Him. Continue to read and pray, and ask for strength in the area of humility.
Prayer:
Ask your Heavenly Father to help you to understand His Word and give you the wisdom and understanding needed to act upon it.
Action:
Leave a comment, thought, or opinion in the comments section. We would like to hear from you! Please like and share with friends, family, and people you believe will benefit from this devotion.
Take Care Family,
Pastor Charles
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