It takes courage to try new things. Step out on faith. Have you ever experienced change that brings tremendous fear and a tiny bit of faith? That is backward to how God wants His children to face the challenges of life. All challenges. Financial, personal relationships, failures…all of them require courage to face. We should meet them head on with tremendous faith! We need God’s kinda faith. Fear is not from God. Fear is a tool the enemy wields at believers so that we will not step out on faith and meet the challenges that present themselves.
Moses has passed away. He had led the Israelites for forty years on the greatest desert experience ever recorded. As they wait to mourn the death of Moses in the accepted tradition, they were also planning to walk across the Jordan River and begin a new life in the Promised Land, God wanted for them. Thirty-nine years earlier the ancestors of this new waiting generation had the opportunity to enter Canaan. Instead of trusting God for their victory they let fear override their trust in the God who had cared for them since their departure from Egypt. There was a price to pay. They would continue wandering for the next thirty-nine years in the desert. They would wander there until every single member of the fearful generation had all died.
As they wandered, they taught their children about trusting God so when their time came they would not fail, would not miss their opportunity to have all that God desired for them. Joshua was commissioned to be their new leader. He was going to lead over two million people across the Jordan to take what God promised their parents and grandparents. God gave him some special instructions.
Three times God tells Joshua to be strong and of good courage. That part right there was the axis of success. If we are fearful, we will stay in one place, in a desert experience, never reaching the potential and success God desires for us. Sleep deprived and fearful.
Then He directs Joshua to be obedient to God’s laws. God will not bless us if we refuse to follow His direction on how to live our lives. He expects respect of His word and obedience from His children.
Finally, meditate day and night on His word. He has given us everything needed to live successful, faith filled lives, within the pages of His Holy Bible. We need to learn His word and meditate on it day and night. When that little fear bug starts to do what it does best, the word of God will send him away!
~Thought For Today~
We often let fear freeze us in place. We are scared to try new things and yet if we are staying in God’s word, prayerful and meditating, how can we fail? God promises to bring us through to victory. To shower us with His favor. Walk us through our desert experiences, across the river to His promise for our lives. Time to stop wringing our hands and being afraid. As the saying goes, it is time to let go and let God. It is obvious that weakness and fear are not traits God wants His children identified with.
~Scripture For Today~
Joshua 1:6-9
6 Be strong and courageous, for you shall give this people possession of the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. 7 Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have success wherever you go. 8 This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (NASB)
~Prayer For Today~
Hello Father! We pray that we put fear where it belongs…behind us. We pray that our faith, trust and obedience are placed in You. You are the source of our victory. You and You alone are our source of courage and strength. Forgive us of our sins. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
©2015 Kathy Ledbetter. All Rights Reserved.