February 22, 2023
Then Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you shall go with this people into the land that the LORD has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall put them in possession of it. It is the LORD who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” (Deuteronomy 31:7-8) ESV
People have reported that they have been driven by adrenalin when they have taken a big step of courage. For example, when on the spur of the moment, someone saves a person trapped in a burning house. They do it. It is a spontaneous and impulsive reaction to a given situation. There are times when courage is required for a big life decision; we need to walk on water. We must step out into the unknown and trust God with our lives.
However, we need daily courage to stand up and be counted. This courage allows us to take a stand against popular opinion and declare something to be wrong. It is often challenging to exhibit this type of courage because it can bring criticism and ridicule, and this is not the kind of courage the world admires or aspires to.
The kind of courage I am referring to is the courage to choose to live a holy life. It is about obeying God’s commands and what He tells us to do in His Word. God tells us in His Word that He expects us to live lives of integrity, which requires great courage. For stances, God instructed Joshua in (v. 7) through Moses to be “strong and courageous”; God promised that if he obeyed Him (v. 8), “He would never leave him, nor forsake him.”
Friends, God’s promise is the same for you and me today. He says in (v. 8) that we are “not to fear or be dismayed.” He will give us the courage to do the right thing – that is, to trust in Him today. Possibly today, you are at the cusp of a decision of whether you should take this path or that; before making your decision, may I encourage you to take some time to Pray and wait on God; trust that He will give you clarity in your decision (Proverbs 3:5-6). Would you pray with me?
Dear Heavenly Father, I thank You for Your promise that if I am strong and courageous, You will always be with me. Father, I ask that You fill me with Your Spirit. Please, Father, empower me and give me the courage I need to walk in holiness before You so my life will glorify You. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Encouraging Words from Charles F. Stanley: Obey God and leave all the consequences to Him.
God Bless you, Friends, and have a Blessed Day <><
Thoughts by Randall Stapleton is a Daily Devotion brought to you by The Bridge - Learn more at https://wearethebridge.org
Feedback, or Devotion Ideas? Send an email to info@wearethebridge.org
Download The Bridge Mobile App to get the latest devotions, blog posts, podcast episodes, and more as soon as they are published!
