We’ve got your daily encouragement, written by Ryan Grinnell.
Bible Reading:
Joshua 1:1-9
“1 After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, 2 ‘Moses my servant is dead. Now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them, to the people of Israel. 3 Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you, just as I promised to Moses. 4 From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun shall be your territory. 5 No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you. 6 Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them. 7 Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success[a] 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 good success. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.’“
Word:
Courage is not something we are asked to have. Courage is something we’re commanded to have. It takes courage to ask Jesus to be the Lord of your life. It takes courage to walk with Him on a daily basis. Courage is needed in order obey what He says and to honor Him with our lives. But it’s also needed to speak to someone, start a new job, chase a dream, or begin a ministry.
In the first chapter of Joshua, God had to tell him three different times to “Be strong and courageous.” Why? Because God knew it was going to take courage to lead the Israelites, a nation of over one million people, into the land they were sworn to possess. Can you imagine following a leader like Moses, who led the people out of Israel, in the wilderness for forty years, and was the mouthpiece of God? Talk about big shoes to fill!
But Joshua was next in line. God called him to step up and do what He told him to. God saw Joshua as a leader before Joshua saw himself as that leader. You, my friend, as a believer, are a leader. You have courage. You have the Spirit of God living in you, and He is no coward. Your life is designed to make an impact on people in your sphere of influence and beyond.
If God calls you to it, He has already given you the courage to do it. But it takes your obedience to Him in order to find it and grow it. Your courage is like a muscle that needs to be worked. It’s there, small at first. But the more you use it the more it grows. You might be in a season right now of God calling you to do something bigger than what you’re used to. DO IT!
He isn’t suggesting that you step up; He’s commanding you to. If God had to tell Joshua three time to be strong and courageous, He’ll do the same for you. He won’t leave you. He won’t abandon you. He is with you, in you, and for you! So “BE STRONG AND COURAGEOUS!”
Prayer:
Father, you have given me a spirit of power, love, hope, and courage. Guide me as I step into what you are calling me to do. I can’t do it on my own. So I look to You for perfect guidance and the courage to do it. In Jesus name, amen.
Skillwork:
What is God calling you to be courageous in? Is there an area where He has been nudging you to step out and do something you are not comfortable with? Ask God to show you the area He wants to help you grow in. Then take action. Be courageous.
To receive the Faith Workout of the Day every morning, please sign up here.
