Joshua 1:9

“Have I not commanded you?  Be strong and courageous.  Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” -Joshua 1:9

The past three days I have been in Bedford for a Synod Assembly meeting.  It was incredible, encouraging, and thoughtful.  In the assembly on Tuesday morning, Maureen Wright the Executive Presbyter of West Virginia, ga​ve the devotional and she used Joshua 1:6-9 as the inspiration.  It was very well done and helped me really get motivated to do ministry.  
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Don’t you think this is something we should remind ourselves of every day?  We should!  Such a great bible verse that fills us with hope, peace, strength, and self-assurance!  This is what we need to live by!

Because no matter what, we are reminded that God is with us wherever we go. 

Honestly, this is a verse that I tell my children all the time.  I do not know how much they understand this, but I hope that maybe one day, it will enlighten them and then they can do their best to live as the bible verse suggests. 

Be strong and courageous.  I think too often we allow other people, other entities like the media, internet, criticism, skepticism, cynicism control how we feel and tell us who we are.  I think there is just way too many voices telling us our value and that our dependence on value is based on people of these entities’ voices. 

These voices can be discouraging to hear and can devastate our self-esteem.  But we must be reminded what is said in Joshua 1:9 “Be strong and courageous.”

Do not be terrified or discouraged.  Do not let anyone destroy your happiness, your dream, your ideas.  Do not be afraid of criticism or mean hearted people.  Always remember your value is not dependent on these voices (entities) that we may encounter.  They do not have a hold over us. 

Remember that God is with you wherever you go.  The future is unknown and to be honest we cannot predict what tomorrow will bring.  We do not know what will happen.  But whether does happen and wherever we need to go or do, have confidence because God is with you always.

This week and the days that follow into next week…. Remind yourself this bible verse in Joshua 1:9. When you feel like the day is too much to handle, think about God’s word in Joshua.  When you feel overwhelmed by life.  God is with you and read Joshua 1:9 and find peace.  

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