Be Strong and Courageous

June 22, 2019

“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 1:7-9

I love this chapter, it shows the faithfulness of God. He is telling us to be strong and courageous and then He tells us how. Joshua had walked with Moses, he had seen first hand all that God had done. Now God was promising to be with Joshua, to give him everyplace where he set his foot. That is the kind of territory I want. And that is the kind of territory God gives us, but we must be strong and courageous.

The way we do that is to obey the Word of God. Do not deviate from it by adding or subtracting. His Word does not need our editing skills. There is power in the purity of His word, but we live in a world where the Word is modified to meet the needs of man. Man must always put his 2 cents in. But God tells us to hold fast to this word and never let it depart from our mouth. This is so God’s Word can flow freely in and through us. So it can take up root in our hearts and renew our minds. God’s Word is the truth and it is light in a word that is dark and tries to squash the light. That is why we have to be strong and courageous and hold His Word close. God’s word does not return to Him void. I love how in Isaiah 45:23 it says “I make this solemn vow; I have spoken a word—faithful and true—and it will not return; it will be done. My words have wings; they will be accomplished…” His word does have wings and if we just can hold fast to it in the midst of everything and stand strong and courageous, He will prosper us. If we hold tight to His Word and do not let it depart from our mouths it is the power that allows us to take every place we step our feet because we are in alignment with God. It is my prayer that every one of us who call on the name of the Lord shall stand strong and courageous, grounded in the Word of God.