Fear Not! A Guide to Living a Fearless Lifeਨਮੂਨਾ

Be Strong and Courageous

“Then Moses called Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, ‘Be strong and of good courage, for you must go with this people to the land which the Lord has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall cause them to inherit it. And the Lord, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed’" (Deuteronomy 31:7-8, NKJV).

This passage was part of Moses’ farewell address to the people of Israel. He was passing the torch to his successor, Joshua. Next to Aaron, who had already passed away, Joshua was probably Moses’ most trusted friend. Joshua had seen God’s mighty hand at work through the exodus from Egypt, and yet Moses still had to verbally put courage into his soul and spirit.

Why would someone who had seen such miracles as the parting of the Red Sea and the drowning of the entire Egyptian army need a dose of courage? Because Joshua was human, just like us. I believe we are designed much like an hourglass in that both the good and bad stuff drain through us—the good stuff sometimes too fast and the bad stuff sometimes too slow. As soon as Moses died, God told Joshua three times in Joshua chapter one to be strong and courageous.

The point here is that if Joshua needed daily encouragement from the words of God, why would we need anything less? God’s word is there for us, just waiting to pump up our spirit. “Surely you have instructed many, and you have strengthened weak hands. Your words have upheld him who was stumbling, and you have strengthened the feeble knees” (Job 4:3-4, NKJV).

If we are what we eat, what kind of food have you fed your spirit today? Are you spiritually malnourished? Your spirit needs nourishment just like your body. Feast on this today: “but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint” (Isaiah 40:31, NIV).

“And the Lord, He is the One who goes before (insert your name here). He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed" (Deuteronomy 31:8, NKJV).

Prayer: Dear God, I need a shot of courage from You today. May You infuse both strength and courage into my body, soul, and spirit. I will feast on Your word today and be upheld by Your generous Spirit. Help me to be an encourager to those around me, like Moses was to Joshua. In Jesus name, amen.