“For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light.” Psalm 36:9
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Thanks be to God for the ability to see! His perfect light not only illuminates our way, but also gives us life in our bodies! Every Wednesday morning we are blessed to be able to minister at Light of Life and bring the morning devotion. During this time we have been able to encourage the men that in Christ, they can have a meaningful and abundant life! May you be encouraged by the words of this powerful devotional!
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Be Strong And Courageous

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Joshua 1
After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, the LORD said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide: “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites. I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Great Sea on the west. No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.
“Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 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.”

So Joshua ordered the officers of the people: “Go through the camp and tell the people, ‘Get your supplies ready. Three days from now you will cross the Jordan here to go in and take possession of the land the LORD your God is giving you for your own.’ ”

But to the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh, Joshua said, “Remember the command that Moses the servant of the LORD gave you: ‘The LORD your God is giving you rest and has granted you this land.’ Your wives, your children and your livestock may stay in the land that Moses gave you east of the Jordan, but all your fighting men, fully armed, must cross over ahead of your brothers. You are to help your brothers until the LORD gives them rest, as he has done for you, and until they too have taken possession of the land that the LORD your God is giving them. After that, you may go back and occupy your own land, which Moses the servant of the LORD gave you east of the Jordan toward the sunrise.”

Then they answered Joshua, “Whatever you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go. Just as we fully obeyed Moses, so we will obey you. Only may the LORD your God be with you as he was with Moses. Whoever rebels against your word and does not obey your words, whatever you may command them, will be put to death. Only be strong and courageous!”

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God-given Responsibilities

This was a scary time for Joshua. His mentor and good friend, Moses, had just died, and now the Lord was calling him into a strange land to lead very stubborn and faithless people. Sounds like fun, right? Oh, and by the way, he was going to have to fight giants too! While these tasks were seemingly insurmountable, they were exactly what God wanted for Joshua. As the Apostle writes, ‘when I when, then I am strong’ (2 Corinthians 12:10). This concept is true and God wanted to show that the more questions and doubts that Joshua had, the more God was going to show up and do amazing things. The thing that Joshua had to do was be strong and courageous…
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Be Strong And Courageous

What a strange command from God. We would natually think that God would have us doing something (actively), instead, God has Joshua besomething (passively). Wow, what a different way of thinking! Think about your life. Are there things in your life that seem very difficult? Are you in a transition period where your next step could be so crucial in the rest of your future? Are you being tempted to try and plan out your next steps and have everything under your control? Don’t give in to that temptation!! Fight it! Resist it! Simply be strong and courageous and let God fight your battles and fix your problems!
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Only Be Strong And Courageous

As the chapter ends, the Lord commands Joshua one last time to onlybe strong and courageous. This is a powerful conclusion to a very tough chapter. Not only is Joshua to be strong and courageous, he is only to be strong and courageous and nothing else. God is not looking for Joshua’s best efforts and military genius. He is looking for his faithfulness and trust. Will Joshua be strong and have courage? Or will he try and take matters into his own hands? This is the same question that is asked of us. When the world is ever-changing around us, and situations are demanding our attention, will we be strong and courageous (in the Lord, of course) or will we flake and crumble? Again, the choice is up to you! May God give you the strength to be strong and courageous to accept the tasks that He has for you!
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Prayer

LORD, life is hard. Things demand my time, attention, and my efforts. I am often tempted to take matters into my own hands. This, I know, is sin, but it’s hard. Your word tells me to be strong and courageous and I want that more than anything. My spirt is willing buy my flesh is so weak. Help me, Lord, to trust You more. I love you. AMEN