Joshua 1:1-9 – “Now it came about after the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, that the LORD spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ servant, saying, 2 “Moses My servant is dead; now therefore arise, cross this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them, to the sons of Israel. 3 ” Every place on which the sole of your foot treads, I have given it to you, just as I spoke to Moses. 4 ” From the wilderness and this Lebanon, even as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and as far as the Great Sea toward the setting of the sun will be your territory. 5 ” No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you. 6 ” Be strong and courageous, for you shall give this people possession of the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. 7 “Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have success wherever you go. 8 ” This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success. 9 “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”  NASB

Three times in nine verses the Lord told Joshua to be “strong and courageous” or “very courageous.”  When I read things like that, I must confess that if I were in Joshua’s shoes I would be thinking and probably saying, “Lord, what is it that you are not telling me?”  For the Lord to emphasize in a few verses three times that he needed to be “strong” and “courageous” or “very courageous,” makes one wonder what is coming. 

I have little doubt that Joshua wondered even though there is no record that he asked.  He had seen the hand of the Lord demonstrated mightily in the wilderness and possibly his faith had reached the place where those types of questions did not come but for me, they would come.  Trusting the Lord is one thing, wondering what is coming is another!

I take that message to Joshua and apply it to us today and believe that it is applicable in light of the condition of our world.  We must be strong in the faith, and this is a day when courage is greatly needed.  I believe that there is coming a day very soon when if we are not “strong” and “courageous” trusting God completely, we will be overcome and overrun by the assault of hell on our faith. 

We have people around the world and in this nation who, fully believe that they are doing God a service by attacking us.  We have enemies of the Christian faith who want to eradicate us and any remembrance of our God.  The Bible predicts that this time will come and everything that can be shaken will be shaken.  I am seeing a “whole lot of shaking going on” and realize that this is just the tip of the iceberg.

How do we become “strong” and “courageous”?  The only way that I see it happening in the spirit realm is by “seeking first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness.”  When we turn our whole hearts to the Lord, He infuses His strength into our lives and through that strength, we obtain the courage to face anything!   So today turn your heart to the Lord and draw from His strength and courage.

May God be with you as you go through your day!