Be strong and courageous

Joshua 1
6Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors 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. 8Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; 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. 9Have 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.”

In the passage above, Joshua is being put in charge by God and told to move into the territory God has promised the nation of Israel. They have wandered in the wilderness for forty years and have finally been allowed to go into the promised land.  Isn't that exciting?

Well, I think that would be exciting!  Finally getting to where you have wanted to go for forty years even when you had given up in despair (forty years!) and made lots of mistakes along the way. Still, you had seen miracles by God regularly and had been protected by God along the way.

So, you finally get what God says you deserve. Only one problem...He isn't giving it to you so easily. You have to conquer the people who are in that land first. WHAT??????  I came all this way. I made it. It took forty years! Now I have to fight to get what God says I deserve?

Be strong and courageous. That is what God tells Joshua and His people over and over again in the passage above. He tells them He will be with them. He will protect them. However, He also tells them that they have to do their part too. The Israelites must fight for what God has given them. 

God knows us. He knows that if He just gave us things easily, we wouldn't appreciate them. We would quickly start sinning again, even though we would know that God brought us to where we are. If He makes us work for what He wants to give us, He knows we will keep our focus on Him and then He can keep us on the right path.

Nothing is ever easy, but if we are strong and courageous in God, we will be able to do anything!

Father, please help us to keep our focus on you all through every day. Help us to be strong and courageous in doing what you want us to do. Help us to be strong and courageous in praying without ceasing for your assistance. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.