“And he (Moses) gave Joshua the son of Nun a charge, and said, ‘Be strong and of a good courage: for thou shalt bring the children of Israel into the land which I sware unto them: and I will be with thee.” Deuteronomy 31:23
Dear Ones:
It has often been surmised that victory is won in the heart and mind of an individual before he or she encounters the field of battle, or place of competition. This was true in the life of Joshua. How then was the battle won in his heart? What were the keys?
The first, and most important imperative that we find about Joshua, is that he was a worshipper of God, of Christ. He would go to the tent of meeting (the tabernacle) where Moses would worship, and where God would commune, or speak, with him. There God would reveal Himself to Moses. Joshua understood very quickly that the primary key, the first thing, was the worship of God in Spirit and truth. Why? It had to do with coming to a true understanding of Who God was, and then, keeping that vision of Him ever before him. Essential to his faith would be his vision of God.
Secondly, faith must have hand grips. These are places where ones hands can hold on to, in order to get leverage to climb. Over and over again, by the mouth of Moses, and then by personal revelation to his heart, the Lord would reveal to Joshua that he must of necessity use certain “grips,” if he was to climb, and to conquer. What were these grips? There are four of them. The first is:”Be strong.” The second: “Be courageous.” The third: “Refuse fear.” And the fourth: “Refuse disappointment or discouragement.” But where does these capacities come from? “They that wait on the Lord, shall renew their strength…He giveth strength (or power) to the faint.” (Is. 40:31, 29) On the day of Pentecost, the disciples RECEIVED power. Paul prayed for the Ephesian church, that they should be strengthened with MIGHT in the inner man. He prayed also for the Colossian church, that they should be “strengthened with all might according to His glorious power.” (Col. 1:11) Power is from God. Power IS a Person, the Spirit of Christ. The same is true of courage. Christ IS our courage and strength, and our capacity to refuse all fear, disappointment, and discouragement. He, within our hearts, IS our Conqueror and the constant source of all that we need, at every minute of the day. Ours is to abide in Him specifically for all that is needful, and this, at all times.
Dear Father, give us an ever-increasing vision of the greatness and goodness of Thyself. With that vision, open our eyes to see what we are IN Thy Son, and that His strength and courage are ours, as we trust Him. Strengthen our hearts by Thy Spirit to believe You for all that You desire to give, so that we WILL conquer and overcome. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad