Be Strong & Courageous

There are moments in life when we know God has called us forward, but our hearts still feel nervous about the journey ahead.

Today, I want to encourage you with a powerful promise found in Joshua 1:9.

Transcript

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Hello and welcome to Our Care Let's Pray Ministries, the podcast where hearts are encouraged, faith is strengthened, and you are reminded that someone cares, God cares, and so do I. Thank you all for joining me today. I want to talk about being strong and courageous. Amen. Have you ever faced something that felt bigger than you? Maybe it was a health challenge, financial pressure, grief, disappointment, uncertainty about the future, or simply trying to figure out your next step. There are moments in life when we know God has called us forward, but our hearts still feel nervous about the journey ahead. And today I want to encourage you with a powerful promise found in Joshua 1 and 9. And it reads as thus have not I commanded thee to be strong and courageous and of good courage. Be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed, for the Lord thy God is with thee withersoever thou goeth. Amen. May the Lord have a blessing to the hearing and the reading and the doing of his word. Let us go to the Lord in prayer. Holy Father, in the name of Jesus, we be out of natural throne today, just saying thank you, O God. Thank you for another opportunity to gather together in your presence. Thank you for every listener joining this podcast today. You know exactly where they are, oh God, what they are facing and what burdens they may be carrying. Holy Father, in the name of Jesus, I pray that you open up our hearts to hear your voice right now. Let your word strengthen us, O God, where we are weak. Encourage us where we are weary, and remind us that we never have to walk alone. Holy Father, fill this moment with your presence, with your peace, with your love, your prosperity, your joy, your healing, O God. Let faith rise and let fear fall. Let hope be restored and courage be renewed. It's in the name of Jesus Christ's name we pray. Amen. Amen, amen, amen. Let's have a conversation for just one moment. When God spoke these words to Joshua, Joshua was standing at the beginning of a new season. Moses was gone, responsibility was great, the future was uncertain, the challenges ahead were real. Joshua was about to lead an entire nation into territory they had never possessed before. God knew what Joshua was facing, and before Joshua ever crossed into the promised land, God gave him a command, not a suggestion, not an option, a command. Be strong and of good courage. Notice that God did not tell Joshua that there will be no battles. He did not tell him there will be no obstacles. He did not promise there will never be moments of uncertainty. But instead, God promised his presence. The strength Joshua needed would come from knowing God, who God was with him. Amen. The courage Joshua needed would come from trusting God's promises. And that same promise belongs to us today. You may be standing in front of a new season, a new door. You may be stepping into a new ministry, new beginnings, a new job. You may be praying for your family, your finances, your future, or your purpose. Whatever you are facing, God is saying, do not be afraid. Do not be discouraged. I am with you. I am with you always. Sometimes we think courage means never feeling fear. But biblically, courage means moving forward while trusting God. It means praying even when answers have not arrived. It means worshiping even when circumstances have not changed. It means believing even when you cannot yet see the outcome, right? God's presence is greater than any obstacle we will ever face. His power is greater than every problem. Amen. His promises are greater than every fear. The reason Joshua could move forward was not because Joshua was strong enough. It was because God was faithful enough to help him to pick up his cross and to follow him along the journey. And the same God who walked with Joshua millions of years ago still walks with you today. And I just have a couple of reflection questions. And my first one is what situation in your life requires courage right now? What fear has been trying to stop you from moving forward? What promise from God do you need to hold on to today? Take a moment, talk it out with God because He is listening. Amen. God already knows what lies ahead. Nothing surprises him, nothing catches him off guard. The door that seems impossible to open is not impossible for God. The mountain that appears too high is not too high for God. The answer that seems delayed is not forgotten by God. If God has called you to it, he's definitely going to walk you through it. Amen. Do not allow fear to make decisions that faith should make. Stand on God's word, trust in his timing, believe in his promises, and keep pressing ahead. Amen. Let us go to the Lord in prayer. Holy Father, in the name of Jesus, we bow down at your feet just saying thank you, oh God. Thank you, oh God, for listening to us today. Thank you, oh God, for listening to our inner hearts cry this morning or this evening or this night. Holy Father, we thank you so much for your promises that you are with us wherever we may go. Holy Father, on this day I lift every listener before you. Strengthen those who feel weak. Encourage those who feel discouraged. Comfort those who are grieving. Provide for those who are struggling financially, Holy Father. Heal those who are sick. Restore those who are weary. Holy Father, replace spirit with faith. Replace anxiety with your peace, O God. Replace doubt with confidence in your promises, Holy Father. Help us, oh God, to trust you when we cannot see the full picture. Help us, oh God, to remember that you will always go before us, oh God. You will always walk beside us, oh God. And you will always remind us that you are all the way around us. You even walking behind us, watching our back, oh God. And we say thank you for that, Heavenly Father. God, we thank you for giving us courage to obey you, Heavenly Father. We thank you for giving us strength to continue on, Helly Father. God, we thank you for giving us wisdom to follow your direction. And when difficult days come, oh God, remind us that we are never, never alone. Because your presence goes with us no matter where we are. And we thank you, oh God. We honor you, oh God, and we trust you, oh God. In the mighty name of Jesus Christ's name we pray. Amen. Amen. Hallelujah. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you all for spending this time with me today. And as you go throughout your day, curvy Joshua 1 and 9 in your heart. Be strong, be courageous, do not be afraid, do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. Remember, someone cares, God cares, I car. Until next time, keep on praying, keep on believing, keep on fasting and keep on trusting because God is on your side. Have a blessed day. Till next time, smile and rejoice. Have a great day.