{"id":13189,"date":"2025-04-10T07:56:04","date_gmt":"2025-04-10T11:56:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.garycombs.org\/blog\/?post_type=oyb&p=13189"},"modified":"2025-04-10T07:56:04","modified_gmt":"2025-04-10T11:56:04","slug":"be-strong-and-courageous","status":"publish","type":"oyb","link":"https:\/\/www.garycombs.org\/blog\/oyb\/be-strong-and-courageous","title":{"rendered":"BE STRONG AND COURAGEOUS"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n

\u201cHave I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go\u201d (Joshua 1:9 ESV).<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

When God called Joshua to lead Israel after Moses, He didn\u2019t give him a strategy manual or a long list of instructions. Instead, He gave him a repeated command: “Be strong and courageous.” God spoke this four times in chapter one\u2014three times positively and once negatively: \u201cDo not be afraid or dismayed.\u201d That last form helps clarify what God meant by strength and courage\u2014it\u2019s not the absence of fear but the refusal to give in to it, while relying on the Lord.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Every time God gave Joshua the command, He gave Him four specific ways to help him obey it:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Rely on God’s power (v.5) \u2013 God promised, \u201cI will be with you; I will not leave you or forsake you.\u201d
2. Remember God’s promises (v.6) \u2013 Joshua was to lead the people into the land God had sworn to give.
3. Reflect on God’s precepts (v.7-8) \u2013 Meditating on and obeying God\u2019s Word was key to success.
4. Rest in God’s presence (v.9) \u2013 God assured Joshua of His constant presence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Joshua could be strong and courageous not because of who he was, but because of who God is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We often face moments that feel overwhelming, uncertain steps, hard conversations, or leadership challenges. God\u2019s Word reminds us that we don\u2019t need to muster up inner strength on our own. We can be strong and courageous because:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

– God\u2019s power is greater than our weakness.
– God\u2019s promises are more certain than our doubts.
– God\u2019s precepts give wisdom when we feel lost.
– God\u2019s presence brings peace when we feel alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When we meditate on these truths, fear loses its grip. Today, instead of giving in to anxiety or discouragement, let us choose to anchor ourselves in God’s Word and presence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

PRAYER: Dear Lord, thank You for calling us to be strong and courageous in You. Help us to rely on Your power instead of our own strength. Remind us daily of Your promises when we feel uncertain. Teach us to love and live by Your Word, and give us peace as we rest in Your faithful presence. Wherever You lead us, help us to walk with courage, knowing You are always with us. In Jesus\u2019 name, amen.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u201cHave I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go\u201d (Joshua 1:9 ESV). When God called Joshua to lead Israel after Moses, He didn\u2019t give him a strategy manual or a long list of instructions. Instead,<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"template":"","meta":[],"categories":[],"tags":[],"scripture-book":[1273],"scripture-chapter":[1334],"oyb_day":[1627],"location":[],"class_list":["post-13189","oyb","type-oyb","status-publish","hentry","scripture-book-joshua","scripture-chapter-1334","oyb_day-april-10"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.garycombs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/oyb\/13189","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.garycombs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/oyb"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.garycombs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/oyb"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.garycombs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13189"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.garycombs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13189"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.garycombs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13189"},{"taxonomy":"scripture-book","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.garycombs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/scripture-book?post=13189"},{"taxonomy":"scripture-chapter","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.garycombs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/scripture-chapter?post=13189"},{"taxonomy":"oyb_day","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.garycombs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/oyb_day?post=13189"},{"taxonomy":"location","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.garycombs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/location?post=13189"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}