Be Strong and Courageous
To be strong and courageous means to possess the strength of spirit and resolve of mind to face difficulty or danger without flinching, retreating, or giving up; to make bold decisions and declarations, to be valiant, advance forward, persevere, conquer, and prevail.
Strong and Courageous because of God’s presence and promises
Four hundred forty years had passed since God promised Abraham and his descendants the land of Canaan. For 400 years, the children of Israel had no homeland. The Egyptians enslaved them until God delivered them through Moses with mighty signs and wonders.
Then God told Moses to choose 12 leaders (one from each tribe) and send them to spy out the Promise Land of Canaan. After 40 days, only two (Joshua and Caleb) returned with a good report and faith to conquer. Consequently, God let the unbelievers wander in the desert between Sinai and Canaan for 40 years until they died off. Even Moses did not enter the Promise Land because of disobeying God one time.
Now, after Moses’ death, God commanded Joshua to rise, cross the Jordan River, and lead the children of Israel into the Promise Land.
God promised Joshua (1) no one would be able to withstand him all the days of his life; (2) as God was with Moses He would be with Joshua; (3) God would not leave or forsake him; (4) by meditating in God’s Word night and day to understand and do it, Joshua would make his way prosperous and have good success; and (5) God would be with him wherever he went.
God kept His promises. With Joshua as commander-in-chief, the children of Israel had seven years of back-to-back victories as they advanced to conquer and possess the Promised Land.
God is present
We too can be strong and courageous for the same reasons Joshua could: (1) we have the presence of God and (2) we have the promises of God! But to a far greater degree than Joshua!
And under the New Covenant, God has given us a new spirit and put his Spirit within us. The same omnipresent, omniscient, omnipotent Holy Spirit who raised Christ from the dead dwells in us!
He is the Spirit of Power, miraculous, divine, supernatural power. The more we pray in the Holy Spirit the stronger we get. Faith and Courage rise to the occasion.
The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Love. God poured His perfect love into our hearts when we were born again. We operate in love by faith. Perfect love throws fear right out the door.
The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of a sound mind. A sound mind is a safe mind, a saved mind, a delivered mind, a mind renewed on God’s Word.
Every Christ believer can be strong and courageous every day because God is for us, with us, and present in us.
Be strong and courageous: you have God’s promises
We can be strong and courageous because we have God’s promises. In Christ, all God’s promises are “Yes” and “Amen” to the glory of God.
And God has “given us all things that pertain to life and godliness through the knowledge of Christ who called us by glory and virtue.”
Finally, through God’s “exceeding great and precious promises,” we can partake of the divine nature.
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Remember:
- You can be strong and courageous because God’s promises are yours. By faith, possess what God has already given.
- You can be strong and courageous because God is ever present.
[Scripture References: Josh 1:1-3; Gen 12:1-7; 15:8; Josh 1: 5-9; Num 13, 14; Rom 8:11; 2 Tim 1:7; Rom 5:5; 1 John 4:18; Jude 1:20; 2 Cor 1:20; 2 Pet 1:3; 2 Pet 1: 4; 2 Tim 2:13]
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2 Responses
This is the best thing I have seen in a very long time.
If we would do exactly what Cap has taught us we would really be able to advance in the Kingdom of God and be that woman or man He has called us to be! I also copied down everyone of the scriptures she wrote at the end that she had used. They are all very powerful! Love that last scripture beside the lion!! Good translation! Again thank you Cap for seeking the Lord and getting such treasures from Him!! We love you!
Thank you, Janice, for taking the time on this first day of the New Year to read and respond to this blog. To God be all the glory!