I am not one who likes to hear “take it easy, sit, rest, don’t overdo”. It’s only been a week since my procedure and I’m mentally ready to be back at it but physically my body and my surgeon are saying “not yet”. Y’all need to be praying for Dave – he’s the one that has been tasked with keeping me in line.
So, is it any wonder that these verses came alive to me this morning?
“I have given you every place where the bottom of your foot steps, as I promised Moses… 5 No man will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. I will be with you just as I have been with Moses. I will be faithful to you and will not leave you alone. 6 Be strong and have strength of heart. For you will bring the people in to take this land which I promised to their fathers to give them. 7 Only be strong and have much strength of heart. Be careful to obey all the Law which My servant Moses told you. Do not turn from it to the right or to the left. Then all will go well with you everywhere you go. 8 This book of the Law must not leave your mouth. Think about it day and night, so you may be careful to do all that is written in it. Then all will go well with you. You will receive many good things. 9 Have I not told you? Be strong and have strength of heart! Do not be afraid or lose faith. For the Lord your God is with you anywhere you go.” Joshua 1:3-9 NLV
Do you see the point the Lord is making in His instruction to Joshua? Be strong and have strength of heart, in other words, be courageous. It’s repeated three times in six verses.
What a message!
Joshua was tasked with leading the children of Israel, well over a million people, across the Jordan River and into the land God had promised Abraham they would possess. This would be no easy task. Some folks think that when we follow the Lord life will be lived on easy street. Not at all. We will have tests, trials, struggles and challenges but we never have to face any of those things on our own.
Look at verse nine above – “For the Lord your God is with you anywhere you go”. In the book of Hebrews we have God’s promise that He will never leave us, we won’t be forsaken or abandon. We will never be without the Lord’s help. With a promise like that we can stand strong and be courageous! We’re not in this alone.
Our strength of heart, courage, comes when we stay focused on God’s word. The Lord is telling Joshua to meditate, ponder, strongly think on His word day and night. Don’t deviate from what the Word says. Follow the course that God has planned, listen and obey. This instruction comes with a promise of “be careful to do all that is written in it. Then all will go well with you. You will receive many good things.”
Fear is one of the biggest obstacles that we battle. It starts very early in life – taking the first step, jumping into a swimming pool, learning to ride a bike. The thing that helps us overcome these fears is a loving parent standing there and saying “don’t worry, I’ll catch you”. Love gives victory over fear.
The words “fear not” are used 71 times in the King James Bible, “courageous/courage” 30+ times, “be strong” 40 times, and “trust in the Lord” 26 times. If we focused on only two of these verses each day we would have three months worth of instruction on worry-free living. We should take time to hear what our loving Father is saying to us.
“You will keep the man in perfect peace whose mind is kept on You, because he trusts in You.” Isaiah 26:3 NLV
The Lord knew that I would be going through this time of recovery and rest. He knew it would be challenging to say the least. It gives me lots of time to pray and to meditate on His word. I expect to be stronger and more courageous than ever when my time of rest is over. I will keep my mind focused on Him.
I’m praying for you! Be strong and courageous.
Praying for you and Dave. It’s not easy to sit still, but what a blessing to have this time to go deeper in your relationship with the Father. Love you my friend.
Thank you for your prayers and your encouragement.