Happy Sunday!
There is so much in this world that can be used by the enemy to cause fear! The daily news, the political news, the economic news, and even family news can send us reeling if we allow it to! How does God expect us to get through this life? Great question! I'm so happy you asked! God intends for us to Reign in life through Christ Jesus! We are to be full of joy and always on top! God is Jehovah Jireh! That name identifies Him as the God who sees beforehand and provides! God is not running around frantically in heaven ringing his hands and trying figure out how to get your light bill paid! He's not amazed by the political climate, and he was not caught off guard when they did what they did at your job! God has provided for your every need!
Dr. Dennis Burke was our guest speaker today! Dr. Bill Winston and the team are away ministering in South Africa, Tanzania, and Uganda this week. Dr. Burke's message was entitled, "Courage and the Power of Encouragement". The Book of Joshua begins with a very depressing statement! God tells Joshua, "Moses my servant is dead".(vs 2, KJV). OUCH! But before you think surely God will give Joshua more time off to deal with his loss, he makes the next statement! "Cross this Jordan River, you and all the people. Cross to the country I’m giving to the People of Israel. I’m giving you every square inch of the land you set your foot on—just as I promised Moses."(vs 2, Message). What? You mean even though things are not working out as we dreamed they would, we have to go on? Yes, we do! In verse 6, God tells Joshua how to do it..."Be strong and of a good courage".(KJV). We know that God never asks us to do anything that we are incapable of doing! If he says do it, it is possible, and it is possible for us! In verse 7, He reiterates..."Always be strong and courageous, and always live by all of the law I gave to my servant Moses, never turning from it—even ever so slightly—so that you may succeed wherever you go."(Voice).
The definition of Courage is "strength in the face of pain or grief" and "mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty". The root word for courage is "coer" or "cor", which means heart. Strength and Courage come from within. OK, I know what you may be thinking! How can it come from within? I don't think I have any! Joshua 1:8 helps us understand how to get strength and courage in our hearts. It says, "Let the words from the book of the law be always on your lips. Meditate on them day and night so that you may be careful to live by all that is written in it. If you do, as you make your way through this world, you will prosper and ALWAYS find success."(Voice). Did you get that? Meditating on the Word of God, and living by the Word guarantee success and builds courage! We must see the Word as God's Word to us! If the Bible is a just casual read, or a decoration on your coffee table, Courage may be difficult for you. You have to see the Word as the title deed, or the receipt for all that God has promised. Joshua had seen the miracles in the wilderness. He'd seen ALL the unbeliever's drop dead in the wilderness, and he'd seen that God was faithful and trustworthy.
Even when we meditate on the Word, and live in the Word, we may need encouragement! We have excellent examples in the Word. David had to "encourage himself" at times.(1 Samuel 30:6; Psalm 103). Barnabas was called the "Son of Encouragement" because he went out of his way to encourage others in the Faith.(Acts 4:36). The writer of Hebrews also said, "So, brothers and sisters, be careful that none of you has the evil thoughts that cause so much doubt that you stop following the living God. But ENCOURAGE each other every day, while you still have something called “today”. HELP each other so that none of you will be fooled by sin and become too hard to CHANGE.(Hebrews 3:12-13, Easy-to-Read Version).
Let the Holy Spirit lead you and never miss an opportunity to encourage others! A kind word, a thoughtful gesture, and even a smile can go along way when a person is discouraged!
Love and prayers, Cynthia
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