Obtaining the Strength and Courage of Joshua 1:9

Joshua 1:9 is a popular scripture. It says:

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

We may have heard this scripture quite often, but have we ever stopped to think about what God is telling us?

"Be strong" in Hebrew means "to strengthen, prevail, be strong, be courageous, be firm, be resolute".

The word "courageous" in Hebrew means "be strong, alert, courageous, brave, steadfastly minded"

As we can see, the words "strong" and "courageous" are strongly related. In Hebrew, they both convey strength and courage. They both convey being unwaveringly firm and steadfast.

This tells us that to be strong, we must have courage. And to be courageous, we must be strong.

How do we obtain this kind of strength and courage?

In Joshua 1, the Lord tells Joshua twice to be strong and courageous. In-between these two commands, God teaches him how to access this strength and courage. In verse 8, the Lord says,

“Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful."

We derive strength from knowing God's Word and applying His word in our life. As we do so, we develop our faith to become stronger and unwavering. And with that kind of faith, we can strive to be courageous in all that we do and in all that we encounter.

We are always undergoing a process of growth so we will have moments when we feel despair, fear, worry and weakness. However, God is always with us and in us to fill in the gaps, lift us up and ensure our success...just as we read in the remainder of Joshua 1:9 where He reminds us,

"Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."

So the next time you read "Be strong and courageous" in Joshua 1:9, read it this way:

Have I not commanded you? Be strong in my word. Meditate on it. Apply it in your life.
Then you will develop unwavering faith.
And with that firm faith, be courageous.
Remember, there is no need to be afraid or discouraged on your journey, for I will be with you wherever you go. I, the Lord your God, will fill in the gaps, lift you up and ensure your success.
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