Be strong and courageous

In Joshua 1:6-9, God tells Joshua to
be "strong and courageous" 3 times.
The words "be strong" is chazaq
(kah-zahk). It means: strong, valiant,
manly, strengthened, established, firm,
fortified, mighty.

This is also what God told Joshua in
those same verses:

*You shall divide the land as an inheritance
that I swore to their fathers to give them
(God always fulfills His promises)

*Observe to do according to all the law
that Moses commanded you
(Obedience is important!)

*Do not turn from it to the right or to the
left
(Follow the straight and narrow path because
it leads to life)

*Do not let the Book of the Law depart from
your mouth
(We must KNOW God's Word in order talk about
it and follow it)

**Do according to all that is written in it.
(We need to believe and follow ALL of God's
Word, not just areas that we like)

*For then you will make your way prosperous
and have good success
(God will bless His children if we follow
His commands)

*Do not be afraid
(Fear can hold us back from getting us
to where God wants us to be)

And most important of all:

**". . .the Lord your God will is with you
wherever you go. (Always, everywhere,
forever!)

God wants each of His children to be
"strong and courageous", but it can be
hard at times. Sometimes if feels like
we are swimming against the current
with big rocks in our way! We need to
remember, these commands are from the
Living God who dwells within those who
know Him personally. He will bring us
into our own promise land that He has
planned for us (though He promises us
riches of His grace, not necessarily
monetary riches!), but we need to make
sure to do what His Word says, meditate
upon it and not be fearful.

God IS with us everywhere we go. . .
therefore we can GO and BE
strong and courageous!