What a challenging time it must have been for Joshua. Moses, the very man that was ordained for the job and had faithfully brought the Israelites through the dessert and to the Jordan, had died. Now Joshua was the one appointed to take over the enormous task—to lead the Israelites, to face the obstacles ahead, to cross the Jordan, and to take the land God declared as theirs—the Promised Land flowing with milk and honey.
As I read these words repeatedly throughout the first chapter of Joshua, I couldn’t help but say to my self, “Peggy, how are you facing your day? How are you facing the challenges before you? Are you strong and courageous? Are you facing life knowing that God is with you? Are you being obedient in what God has called you to do? Are you taking on the tasks that God has put before you with a strong confident courageous spirit? Or are you shrinking back and facing them with a weak spirit, with a sense of defeat, and with an attitude of discouragement?”
I don’t ask myself these questions to make myself miserable or to cause quilt. Instead, I ask them because I want all that God has for me…I don’t want to miss out on the milk and honey! I want to take on life with a strong spirit that is confident and courageous because of the power that God has invested in me through the sacrifice of His Son Jesus Christ. I want to take on life not defeated by my circumstances but empowered by the faithfulness of a God who promises to finish His GOOD work within me (Phil.1:6), and to fulfill His plan in me (Jer.29:11).
In whatever circumstances we are facing—a challenging climactic time like Joshua’s, a time of trials, the loss of a job, a mountain of health issues, or just the every day ordinary of life we can face it knowing that God is with us—empowering us. We can face our time with a spirit of strength, of confidence and courage because we have a God who is faithful and promises to be with us wherever we are—in whatever circumstance we are walking through. We can face every situation with strength because we have a God who is ABLE!
“Now to HIM who is able to far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us.” Eph. 3:20
Perhaps you are in the middle of a time of uncertainty and you need to be assured that God is with you and will strengthen you wherever you go. Let me encourage you, don’t shrink back…be strong and courageous!!!
“BUT MY RIGHTEOUS ONE SHALL LIVE BY FAITH: AND IF HE SHRINKS BACK, MY SOUL HAS NO PLEASURE IN HIM. For we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul.” Heb.10:33-39
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Peggy Reeves is a speaker, writer and life coach. To find out more about Peggy please visit her website and blog at www.peggyreeves.com and http://embracinglifewithpeggy.blogspot.com
Permission would be appreciated. Thanks!
