The Key to Courage

By Sandy Ohlman

Joshua 1:1-9 (Message)
After the death of Moses the servant of God, God spoke to Joshua Moses’ assistant; “Moses my servant is dead. Get going. Cross this Jordan River, you and all the people. Cross to the country I’m giving to the People of Israel. I’m giving you every square inch of the land you set your foot on – just as I promised Moses. From the wilderness and this Lebanon east to the Great River, the Euphrates River – all the Hittite country – and then west to the Great Sea. It’s all yours. All your life, no one will be able to hold out against you. In the same way I was with Moses, I’ll be with you. I won’t give up on you, I won’t leave you. Strength! Courage! You are going to lead this people to inherit the land that I promised to give their ancestors. Give it everything you have, heart and soul. Make sure you carry out The Revelation that Moses commanded you, every bit of it. Don’t get off track, either left or right, so as to make sure you get tot where you’re going. Ponder and meditate on it day and night, making sure you practice everything written in it. Then you’ll get where you’re going; then you’ll succeed. Haven’t I commanded you? Strength! Courage! Don’t be timid; don’t get discouraged. God, your God, is with you every step you take.”

At least a few times in everyone’s life God brings a great opportunity across our path. God is creative and adventurous. He’s planted those traits within us and knows that the best way to draw them out is through the challenges of opportunity. Now, there are some who try avoid opportunity, hoping to avoid the challenges. If you find yourself holding back at the edge of the ‘river’ I pray that through this message God will stir your heart to dare to cross over, pursue the possibilities and take possession of the promise.

One of my favorite passages in scripture is the address given by God to Joshua. It reveals the generosity and faithfulness of God to His people, but it also discloses the reality of a leader’s greatest challenge: fear. Better yet, it speaks clearly of how to overcome fear through the direct instruction of God Himself, The Master Mentor. These are words that should be in the forefront of every leaders mind while stepping out into God’s plan each day.

“Moses my servant is dead” – You are appointed to the position God has chosen for you. It doesn’t matter how anyone else has done the job before you. You listen to God and follow His instruction. You just be yourself and let God do great things through you!

“Get going.” – What are you waiting for? If God told you to go – GO! If God told you to speak- SPEAK! Don’t let time tick away, stealing opportunity from you. Get going!

“In the same way I was with Moses, I will be with you. I won’t give up on you; I won’t leave you” – God is faithful to ALL His people, not just some of them. He is no respecter of persons; He is faithful to all! Listen to that verse again… “I won’t give up on you”. It doesn’t matter if you blew it yesterday, He hasn’t given up. You must not give up either!

“Give it everything you have, heart and soul.” – Don’t be afraid to fully give yourself to the work of God. Don’t invest half heartedly, thinking He will disappoint you. The return will be great. Invest all! Of course, that doesn’t mean to the neglect of your family – remember your covenant to your spouse and children!

“Strength! Courage! Don’t be timid, don’t get discouraged. God, your God is with you every step you take.” – God has put strength within you to do what He’s called you to do. Stir up that strength with His Word! Courage is that strength of mind that gives us the tenacity to move forward in challenging circumstances. Move forward, knowing that with every step you take you are walking beside the Lord Most High. Walking with God you cannot fail.

As you continue to trust God for His perfect will to be done through you, encourage yourself with this passage from the Word – then as it was promised to Joshua, you can be sure “you will be successful in everything you do” (Josh 1:8 LB)

Click Here to Send this to a Friend