The world is full of challenges and troubles. We don't know what exactly is going to happen next with everything. We as people don't really like change of any kind. We do know that in this world things change and they can change at lightening speed.
I was thinking about all the things that are happening in our world these days and all the challenges people face. Times are indeed tough. Things may not get easier. They may indeed go from bad to worse before all is said and done. I don't mean to sound horribly negative, but it is a very sad reality of this fallen world in which we live.
We need to take courage, but where do we find such courage to stand on and to cling to. I was thinking about Joshua in the Old Testament lately and all the challenges he faced in his life. Joshua was born in Egypt and he was a slave along with all the other Israelites. Joshua would eventually head up the Israelite army and lead them in battle. Joshua was also the assistant to Moses. Joshua saw how stiffed necked the Israelite people were. He saw how they rebelled and were disobedient to the Lord and to Moses.
Then one day the Lord came to Joshua and told Him that Moses was dead. Joshua already knew this of course, but the Lord was reminding Joshua of this and that Joshua was now to lead the Israelites across the Jordan River and into the Promised Land.
We can read of the Lord said to Joshua in the book of Joshua 1:1-9 which says,
"1 After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, the LORD said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide:
2 “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites.
3 I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses.
4 Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Mediterranean Sea in the west.
5 No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.
6 Be 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.
8 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.
9 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.”
I am not sure what was going through Joshua's mind when the Lord came to Joshua during this time. Moses was dead. Joshua had been with Moses a very long time and now he was gone. It was Joshua's responsibility to lead the Israelites and to obey the Lord. Joshua had some very big sandals to fill. Joshua was in dire need of courage.
You and I are in need of courage as well. There are daunting tasks on the horizon. There are difficult decisions to be made. There will be many challenges that will come against us, but we must cling to the Lord and take courage.
The Lord told Joshua several times to, "Be strong and courageous". The Lord is urging us to find our courage and strength in Him just as Joshua needed to and he did. We need to remember how faithful the Lord has been in the past to all of those who have trusted in Him. The Lord will still continue to help us just as He helped the Israelites even though they were very stiffed necked and rebellious.
We must remember the promises that the Lord has made to us by reading thinking on His Holy Word, the Bible. We must remember that the Lord will help us to do whatever He has called us to do. The Lord will equip us with everything we need to succeed in whatever He wants us to do.
The Lord will give us the strength and courage we need to accomplish His will for our lives. We must continue to seek Him and most importantly we need to trust Him. Things will get tough for us I am sure, but we must find our courage in the Lord and remember what He said to Joshua in Joshua 1:9 which says,
"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.”
The Lord will go wherever we go. He will never leave us and He will never forsake us. We must take courage in who He is. He is still God. He knows the beginning to the very end. There is nothing that surprises our God. There is nothing that come against us in our lives that catches God off guard.
The Lord will help us through the most difficult times in our lives. We must take courage and keep calling out to Him in prayer. The Lord loves us and He demonstrated that love to us by sending Jesus Christ to shed His blood for our sins. One Day Jesus will return and all of us who are trusting in Jesus for salvation will be with Him in Heaven for all eternity.
We believers in Christ must remember that this world is not our home for our Home is in Heaven with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The Lord Jesus is our hope and we can find our courage firmly planted in who He is. He is an Awesome God. We can trust Him to help us make difficult decisions.
Let us find our strength and courage in Jesus Christ our Lord.
Lord,
We praise Your name.
Help us to make wise decisions when voting.
We pray for all of our leaders to be drawn to You O Lord.
We pray that more people will come to know You before it is too late.
Bless us now.
In Jesus name,
Amen.
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