Courageous Heart

When you make a commitment to "step out" and say, "Here am I, send me," you are putting a target on your back that is being hunted by satan. So what do we do, quit? I think not. Our Almighty Father is right here with us, and he watches the steps of His children and leads us, if we will listen. It is so easy to get overwhelmed by life and all of its foibles, but we are exhorted by God Himself to have faith and keep on moving. So we do. God spoke these words to Joshua in Joshua 1: ⁶ “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. ⁷ 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. ⁸ 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. ⁹ 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.”

God calls Joshua, and His first instruction is to be strong and courageous. Then God follows up those words with a very personal message that was just for Joshua, where He says, "You are the one," and He meant for Joshua to follow through in faith to lead the people. God promises that the very land He swore to their ancestors was theirs. God did not speak some willy-nilly message that was for anyone, but a very personal message for Joshua alone. God gave Joshua his identity, and that identity needed to follow the call of God, no matter what! Everyone who follows God has that God called identity that always leads us to be strong and courageous, and so God tells Joshua again in verse 7.

If you are going to face opposition of any sort, it will require a courageous heart and a faith that is unshakeable, but the result will be amazing!! It will be God's result. God also continues telling Joshua to follow the instructions given to him by Moses. He was told to follow them exactly and not turn to the left or right. Stay centered and stay focused. God promised success for Joshua in "everything" he did, and then God told Joshua to keep his eyes on and study the book of instruction, and meditate on it day and night. Oh, how different our lives are when we follow the Word of God and lead others to do the same. The promise that follows is awesome, where God says Joshua will prosper and succeed in all he does. God then closes the instructions out with the words Be strong and courageous again.

God then addresses the fear He knew Joshua might be feeling by telling Joshua not to be afraid or discouraged. Why? Because God is WITH him. Do you believe God is with you? He is through the Holy Spirit. Be strong and courageous. Do you believe God's grace covers your sins? His grace covers our sins through Jesus. Do you believe God wants you to have a courageous heart? He must because he told Joshua three times to have that heart and He is calling each of us individually in the same way to be strong and courageous.

The Pilgrimage Continues,

David Warren