Be Strong and Courageous!

Jos 1:6 "Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. 7 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. 8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."

These words were spoken by God to Joshua just after the death of Moses as Joshua was preparing to assume the mantel of leadership and take the Israelites into the promised land across the river Jordan. I find God's "command" to Joshua to be invigorating. "Be strong and very courageous," God says.

These are comforting words we need to take to heart ourselves. So much of our life is spent at the place where we are "ready" to go over to something new and wonderful. But we stop. Why is that?

Fear, probably. Fear that once we're across we might make terrible mistakes. Fear that we might fail in our quest. Fear that we will die alone on some forgotten battlefield alongside all of those others who tried and failed miserably. Fear that our efforts will amount to nothing at all. And so, we remain on THIS side of the Jordan river. Waiting.

Do you hear a trumpet sound across the river? To what mission is God calling you? I know so many people who admit (in moments of complete self-honesty) that they're not satisfied with simply spinning life's wheels. They want more. In fact, they speak with certainty - in these moments - that God has more in store for their life. Sure, they can't identify the specific purpose or mission God for which God has set them apart. But deep down they know - there's something better than just waiting.

So what are we waiting for?

Are we waiting for our bodies to feel better? Are we waiting for just the right opportunity? Are we waiting for when we aren't quite so tired or fatigued? Are we waiting for the planets to align up just right? Are we waiting for just the right time of day? Are we waiting for the right amount of financial resources? What are we waiting for?

For Joshua and the Israelites, the time for wandering and waiting was over. It was time for action. The entire book of Joshua in the Old Testament is just that. A book of action where the Israelites renewed by God's strength - their confidence bolstered - strike out and take that which God had promised them.

"Do not be terrified, do not be discouraged." Naturally when faced with an unknown outcome we feel anxious. How many do we know who regularly lose sleep because of the "dread" they feel about life? I know many who do in our era of anxiety. In those times, we need constant reminders that God is still with us, standing alongside us as we move across the river into the promised land. Church. Worship. Small Groups. Daily prayer. Scripture Immersion. A mentor. All of these help us to know - to have confidence - that God stands with us in our life's mission.

Allow God to lead you. Listen for his voice as you cross the river. Allow the inner strength to be His strength and not yours alone. Renew yourself daily

Paul knew the wisdom of this. And he reminded a struggling church in Corinth of the need to find their strength for accomplishing their purpose in God. "2Co 4:16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. "

Let's fix our gaze on the eternal. Let's go across the river together. Let's receive together the promise of God.