Prayer
– Lord, the world is a scary place—and it is getting more alarming every day.
As we read and study Your word, give us wisdom to obey and show us how to apply
it to our lives. Thank you that You are with us wherever we go.
"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 (Underlined for
emphasis.)
Meditate.
Consider God’s guidance in scripture.
Don’t
turn to the right or the left—just follow God’s instructions to the letter.
Don’t stray off His path.
The world
can be a scary place—but God has promised to be with us wherever we go. Joshua
was about to lead the children of Israel into the Promised Land. A place
inhabited with people who didn’t just want to give up their territory. Joshua
and the Israelites had to fight for it, with God’s help. Joshua was also told
by God three times in this passage to be strong and courageous. God
didn’t say be wimpy and scared. No. Stand up—be strong. Be courageous—not
cowardly. Good advice for us all. We need to make good choices on where we go
and with our attitude as we go there. Be strong and of good courage.
Do you
want to be prosperous and successful in everything you do? God gives us His guidelines.
Of course, they had the Ten Commandments, but additionally here God told Joshua
to obey those instruction and not to deviate from them. It is important to
study them daily—meditating on them day and night. Obedience is the key. Is
this a prosperity gospel? I don’t think God intended it for that, nor can we
hold Him to that as a promise. We’d might just be disappointed, since God
blesses those He want to bless. But God did give Joshua that command—Be
strong and courageous. Don’t be afraid or discouraged. We can count on God
always being with us…and isn’t that more important than all the riches we could
accumulate in prosperity?
Some of
Jesus’ parting words to His disciples tells us that He knew that the Father God
was with Him. He will be with us always, too.
Zander at Trident Technical College graduation
You will be scattered…but you are not alone.
Be strong and courageous.
Jesus asked, "Do you finally
believe? But the time is coming—indeed it's here now—when you will be
scattered, each one going his own way, leaving me alone. Yet I am not alone
because the Father is with me. I have told you all this so that you may have
peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take
heart, because I have overcome the world." John 16:31-33
Verse
of Salvation ~ But LORD, be merciful to us, for we have waited for you. Be our
strong arm each day and our salvation in times of trouble. Isaiah 33:2 NLT
© 2024 Text, photos, and illustrations by Mickey M. Hunacek. All
rights reserved.
All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless
otherwise noted.
New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale
House Foundation.
Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream,
Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm.
Books by Mickey M.
Hunacek
Available as e-books or paperbacks at Amazon.com
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