Be Strong and Courageous

“Be Strong and Courageous” and “I am with you” are two phrases repeated over and over in the book of Joshua.

I’m here today to remind you that you weren’t designed to rely on your own strength or ability.

If you take even the shortest look at the great leaders of the Israelites journey out of Egypt, you'll see that they all had difficulties and weaknesses that could’ve easily disqualified the greatness that God had designed for them. BUT they were leaders of a great and historical time because they didn’t fight on their own, they let God fight for them.

This didn’t look like sitting back and doing nothing, and we know that full well because even Jesus said that we are co-laborers of the kingdom, but it didn’t mean a perfect control on the situation.

Being strong and courageous means to stand in the unique and personal walk that God has laid out for you, it means to hone your skills and talents and work for greatness but not for perfection.

We work out of the overflow of what God has planted in our lives and not out of our striving. We work because we have a passionate zeal for bringing His Kingdom into our entire lives and not because we want to elevate our own profile.

Having faith that God is with you means that you can boldly step into your calling and fight the daily battles that you encounter, but you can do it with grace.

You don’t fight out of attack, you fight from the battle already being won.

You fight with the sword of the Spirit and the Word of God, not out of offense and struggle.

You fight with a smile and you fight with kindness because you know that anything that lies before you is there to strengthen you and to bring Kingdom to earth.

Friend, remember today that even the great heroes of the faith had stumbles, even the great Moses and Joshua needed to be reminded again and again of who they were in God and of His promises. So that means for you today, that even if you have fallen and stumbled, even if you have doubted or not hold onto the truth, you can still stand up again and pick up God’s Word.

You can walk on with a purpose, knowing that God is above it all.

If you read the book of Joshua (which I would strongly encourage you to – I’m in Joshua now in my yearly reading plan) you will see the great (and comforting!) promises of the Word of God in pretty much every chapter!

Isn’t it good to know that you don’t have to know it all perfectly and that if you stumble and forget, if you act our of fear or doubt, you reach out your hand and take hold of God’s word again and again.

Here’s just a few parts of the first 10 chapters of Joshua where these phrases are spoken either by the Lord to Johsua or by Joshua to the people.

Be Encouraged, the Lord is with you and He will strength you and bring you courage!

(Joshua 1vs5 NIV)

“No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

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(Joshua 1vs6 NIV)

“Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them.”

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(Joshua 1vs7 NIV)

“Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.”

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(Joshua 1vs9 NIV)

“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.”

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(Joshua 1vs18 NIV)

“Whoever rebels against your word and does not obey it, whatever you may command them, will be put to death. Only be strong and courageous!”

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(Joshua 2vs11 NIV)

“When we heard of it, our hearts melted in fearand everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below.”

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(Joshua 4vs24 NIV)

“He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the Lord is powerful and so that you might always fear the Lord your God.”

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(Joshua 5vs15 NIV)

“The commander of the Lord’s army replied, “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so.”

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(Joshua 6vs27 NIV)

“ So the Lord was with Joshua, and his fame spread throughout the land.”

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(Joshua 8vs1 NIV)

“Then the Lord said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Take the whole army with you, and go up and attack Ai. For I have delivered into your hands the king of Ai, his people, his city and his land.”

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(Joshua 10vs8 NIV)

“The Lord said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid of them; I have given them into your hand. Not one of them will be able to withstand you.”

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(Joshua 10vs25 NIV)

“Joshua said to them, “Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Be strong and courageous. This is what the Lord will do to all the enemies you are going to fight.”

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(Joshua 11vs6 NIV)

“The Lord said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid of them, because by this time tomorrow I will hand all of them, slain, over to Israel. You are to hamstringtheir horses and burn their chariots.”

~ X ~