Be strong and courageous

~ My thought for today~

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.” (‭Joshua‬ ‭1‬:‭9‬ ESV)

Be strong

This is about your ability. Paul says: be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might (Ephesians 6:10). In another place he said: I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13).

Be courageous

Being courageous for Joshua is that he should have audacity; he should be able to take the initiative. To be courageous means that it doesn’t matter how ferocious the enemy is, you are fully focused on the fact that you will defeat them and you are preoccupied with that thought and nothing else. The call for courage is to have a sense of superiority to the opposition. Joshua was to approach a war situation saying: these people are cheap for us to tackle regardless of their clout, ammunition, experience and number.

David was courageous. At a very young age he didn’t think much about bringing down and cutting off the head of Goliath, a giant (1Samuel 17). Before he tackled him, he predicted that day would be Goliath’s last on the earth. That was courage. It was a new situation for him but he has a sense of superiority to the situation. He had a strong consciousness of the presence of God. That was why.

Courage helps you to tackle problems that you are unaccustomed to. It is the attitude that does not permit failure as an option in the thought process.

Be not frightened

“Fear not, I am with you (Isaiah 41:10),” was the charge of God to his people. While fear wants to hold you down, faith wants to move you on. While fear wants to bind you, faith wants to free you, while fear seeks to confuse you, faith seeks to clear your thought processes.

Be not dismayed

That means: do not be confused. Don’t allow yourself to wonder if God is with you or not (God is with you); if the best will happen or not (the best will happen), if things are going to work out or not (it will work out); if victory is assured or not (it is assured). Joshua was supposed to move with confidence, having it clear in his mind that since God is for him, the battle is a non issue (Romans 8:31-32). Joshua was never to feel overwhelmed by any situation. He should stand in the stead of God on this earth and be who God wants him to be. So should we.

Dear Lord, today, please help us to be strong and courageous like Joshua and David. Be the perfect strength in our weaknesses. The battle is yours, not ours. You already fought all of our battles on the cross for us and you already won the victory on our behalf. Thank you for our victor’s crown. For that we give you glory, honor and praise. In Jesus’ Name!

– Flore❤️

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Thought for today –

Psalm 46:1 (KJV) God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
I love this verse of scripture in the King James Bible Psalm 46:1 “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”

I have had times in my life when I have felt all alone, where I have felt down, in those times, I have found out what my faith is really made of. There has been times when I have felt so weak, that my body and my heart aches. I have felt the pain of a broken heart and rejection, it is very, very sore, but the Bible says in Ephesians 1:6 (KJV) He hath made us accepted in the beloved. It is also comforting to know that Jesus binds up the broken hearted, and heals their wounds, for He is the healing balm of Gilead.

But in all these times, I knew that Jesus has always stood by my side, when almost every one else abandon me. Jesus did or will He never will, for he has promised me in Hebrews 13 : 5 to 6 (NIV) Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you. So we say with confidence, The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.
I don’t feel ill towards people for doing so, instead I have prayed for them. There have been times when people have said things about me, that have been very hurtful, but I have prayed for them. The Bible says in Matthew 5:44 to 45 (NIV) From the very lips of Jesus Himself, “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who insult you and persecute you. That ye may be sons of your Father who is in heaven”.

We can give offense without knowing it, but it becomes a matter of choice for us to take offense. I have learned to trust in the Lord in a new deeper way, because I know, that God is my refuge and my strength, a very present help in times of trouble.

There was a time when I felt, that I was left with nothing, but when all you have left is God, you have everything you need to start all over again. For God is my refuge and my strength, a very present help in times of trouble.

The Bible says in Isaiah 46: 4 (NIV) The Lord says, “I am he, who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you. I will sustain you and rescue you”. There comes a time in every ones life, as difficult as it maybe at the times, we learn to turn the page, and enter into a new chapter in our lives, when we do we will find Jesus right there to help us with every step we take.

It very easy at times to let the Devil steal your joy. There are times, when we do feel down, because of the circumstances that we go through, but that heart for “God is my refuge and my strength, a very PRESENT help in times of trouble.”

Also there was David who prayed in Psalm 55:12 KJV) Return unto me the Joy of your salvation. Remember these words also from Nehemiah 8:10 (NIV) For the joy of the LORD is your strength.

He is my strength when I am weak, He is the up lifter of my head, as the Bible says so powerfully says in Psalm 18:1 to 3 (NIV) “I love you, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer, my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I call to the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies”.

I know that the Bible says in Exodus 15: 26 (NIV) “For I am the LORD, who heals you.” He is to me Jehovah Rophedh, The Lord who heals”. I can testify to the healing from the Lord, at many times in my life, even more so recently.

My friend, whenever I need healing, I go to the Lord, whenever my heart is aching I go to the Lord. Whenever I feel weak I go to the lord and in everything and anything I now go to the LORD.

For as the Bible says in Psalm 46:1 (KJV) God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

God bless you!

– Flore💕💞💕