Devotion 1/8, God is with You

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.
Joshua 1:9

In our verse today God is instructing Joshua to be strong and courageous as he now leads the Israelites to the promised land. His spiritual mentor Moses has died, so the task probably looked a little daunting to him. But God is reassuring Joshua that He is with him and will protect him. The Lord would not call him to the task without enabling him to complete it, he had God’s promise of a sure victory (verses 5-6), God’s Word as a safe guide (vs.7-8), and God’s presence as a sustaining power (vs.9). In short, he had all he could ever need for the journey.

And so do we! God has equipped us with His Word and His indwelling Holy Spirit to go through this journey of life with His power. We can be strong and courageous in Him for He is with us wherever we go.

This command and promise to Joshua is also for us as we embrace this year before us. We have no idea what lies ahead, we only know that God will go with us if we will ask him on our journey and seek to follow his will. So this verse is not just a promise to cherish, “I will go with you.” It is also a command! “Be strong, courageous, and do not be terrified or discouraged.” We embrace this upcoming year as an opportunity to serve God and not as something to fear!

Thank You Father God for sending Jesus to this earth to shed His blood for the forgiveness of my sins. Thank You for loving me and for all Your care and keeping. I give You all praise this day Abba, Amen!

Holy and Almighty Father, thank you for being with me as I begin this new year. Please empower me with your Spirit to greet it with passion and excitement for the opportunities ahead. Please forgive me when my own inadequacies and the unknown ahead of me make me fearful and indecisive. Give me courage to live boldly for you this year. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.