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. Keep
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. 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.
—Joshua 1:6-9 NIV
The
Israelites had wandered for many years knowing God's Promised Land waited. When
it was just within their grasp, they just couldn't face the giants in order to
get it. They sat for years knowing their blessing was just within reach. But
they also knew that they would have to fight for their promise. It would not
just be handed to them on a silver platter. But they were afraid.
Does this
sound like us? We can see our promise, but we just can't make the commitment to
reach it or the fear of what it will cost holds us back. Something stands in
the way that God wishes us to address, and the very thought of facing that
giant in our life keeps us from the joy that lies ahead. Blessings require
obedience and commitment. We want to be blessed, but many times we don't want
to pay the cost.
God told
His people then, and He tells His people now, to be strong and courageous, to
be obedient and committed. Know the Word. Fill your mind and heart with its
promise and the strength that it brings to receive His promise. Do not be
afraid, and never be discouraged. Reach out and make the commitment that is
needed to receive His promise. Disillusionment and discouragement will vanish
with commitment to Him.
“So do not throw away your confidence,” the writer to the Hebrews imparts. “It
will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done
the will of God, you will receive what he has promised” (Hebrews 10:35-36,
NIV).
Copyright 2017 Lynn Lacher
www.lynnlacher.com
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