Are you growing in courage and wisdom ? Joshua's life and find out how God helped him build an overcoming life full of courageous faith.
You don’t get courage from looking deep within yourself. It doesn’t come from being mad at the world or from keeping your head down in the world. It comes from experiencing God.” - Matt Chandler
The events of the book of Joshua span about twenty-five years, starting soon after the death of Moses (Joshua 1:1) around 1406 BC. The author is Joshua, and The Book of Joshua records the culmination of Israel’s journey to the Promised Land. Moses, their previous leader, has died, and Joshua is stepping up as his successor. God encourages Joshua in his new role and challenges him to stir his courage in Joshua Chapter 1. "After the death of Moses, the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua, son of Nun, Moses’ aide: "Moses, my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites." And God continues: "Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them. Be strong and very courageous."
In this blog, we’ll be exploring the two heavenly virtues. Courage and wisdom. These are skills that we all need for life. Courage is the ability to confront fear, uncertainty, and intimidation. It's the strength of character that enables us to endure adversity. In today’s tension-filled culture, we regularly find ourselves requiring this virtue. C.S. Lewis wrote: “Courage is not simply one of the virtues but the form of every virtue at the testing point.” Courage is the very thing that holds our faith, hope, and love together as we navigate rough times. It’s critical.
As God commissions Joshua in today’s passage, He gives him what is essentially a movie-level team talk. This is the “comeback” moment. The speech at halftime that changes everything. You can almost imagine the epic soundtrack swelling up behind God’s words as He exhorts Joshua to step into Canaan. There’s much we can learn.
God’s advice centers around one repeated phrase: “Be strong and courageous.” The message is clear. "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.” Stepping into God’s promise won’t happen by accident. It will require fortitude. Today, we will not “accidentally” do God’s will. Rather, we need Spirit-filled intention and courage to see God’s kingdom come into our lives. If we’re to experience God’s promises, we must step out boldly. We cannot sit back! Thankfully, God didn’t only instruct Joshua to be courageous. He also told him where to find courage. Here are three tips:
God spoke to Joshua: “Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you…” (verse 7). Slow down and soak it in! The Bible, with all its truth and promises, is a wellspring of courage. It gives us an eternal perspective and reminds us of who our almighty God is. As you contemplate God’s living word, you’ll discover strength to face tough circumstances.
God tells Joshua that obedience is the root of courage and the path to success. Resolve to do life God’s way. Choose what is right, even when you feel like running. Stand firm in pursuing good, even if it means rejection. Tell the truth when you’re tempted to lie. Choose God today and watch your courage multiply.
The world tells us to find courage by looking inward, but the Bible tells us to find courage by looking upward. As God tells Joshua, “the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go,” we learn this is our ultimate source of strength. When you realize God’s with you, you’ll find courage to persevere. Jesus is everything you need!
So take heart today. Breathe in deeply, inhaling the strength that comes from God’s presence. Then breathe out slowly, exhaling all your fear and anxiety. Choose courage this week. Let’s pray: Dear God, thank you for always being with me. In your presence and through your word, I can find courage. Help me to be strong today. Where there is fear in my life, show me how to replace it with faith. In areas and circumstances which are difficult, give me the strength to do the right thing rather than the easy thing.In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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