Be strong

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.””
Joshua 1:9 NKJV

Be strong

I remember a morning, so long ago, when I awoke in a hospital bed at the Mayo Clinic. I had been taken there the previous night, having suffered the loss of my ability to walk and much of the feeling from midchest down. My thoughts were filled with nothing but horror, and I clung to my bible that I had brought with me. I opened its pages looking for answers and happened on Joshua one nine. Peace began to wash over me.

Since then, I have remembered that Scripture through every trial I have gone through, as a reminder of God’s faithfulness.

In these days, even those who do not believe are waking to the horror that our world is about to be flipped upside down. The economies of the world are nearing collapse, starting with the most poor. Europe is facing an unspeakable crisis, as many know that they will have to choose between being warm and being fed.

In Afghanistan, parents are selling their children because they cannot feed them. It is as if the horrors depicted in the book of Lamentations have sprung into reality.

“The tongue of the infant clings To the roof of its mouth for thirst; The young children ask for bread, But no one breaks it for them. Those who ate delicacies Are desolate in the streets; Those who were brought up in scarlet Embrace ash heaps.”
Lamentations 4:4-5 NKJV

In the midst of the terror to come, it will be tempting to turn from God, to seek refuge in fleshly things that offer no real help. It will be a time when mind will be paralyzed by fear and impulse will be to run to seek relief rather than God.

I am reminded to be strong and courageous.

The Lord is for His people. Just as He was and is for Israel, He is for those who have entered the Kingdom through Jesus Christ. As a follower of Jesus, you can have the confidence that the Lord is with you, that regardless of how dark things may get, He is with you, for you and in you.

““But you, Israel, are My servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, The descendants of Abraham My friend. You whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, And called from its farthest regions, And said to you, ‘You are My servant, I have chosen you and have not cast you away: Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭41:8-10‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

You Christian, have been chosen! He looked down, and by His grace He saved you. He knew from the foundation of the earth, and every day of your life, from the first rumblings of life in the womb to your dying breath has been documented.

He chose you in Christ Jesus for a purpose, a calling, and He is going to be faithful to carry it out. Just as He assured Joshua, the Lord Jesus will be with you. He has given us a great work that He has prepared us for in advance.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭2:8, 10‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Brothers and sisters, let us be lights in this dark world. People’s hearts are opening, as more and more running to the cross. Those who go and tell, those called to evangelize are seeing many come to Jesus, and once dusty baptismal are being filled as many a newly saved soul makes a public affirmation of the new life within.

Let these times be a signal to you, a call, to go and tell friends and family about the Lord Jesus. May we be intentional in going and having those “divine conversations” that have the power to change the eternal destiny of those we love.

When the darkness is pressing in, may we be reminded of the Lord’s boundless love. Let us fix our minds on Jesus as we face what is to come, and go forth in confidence.

Let our lives be a reflection of the glory of God, as His blessings fill us, and we then spread those blessings to others. May our breath carry the Gospel to the ends of the earth, as we proclaim our Great God!

“God be merciful to us and bless us, And cause His face to shine upon us,

Selah

That Your way may be known on earth, Your salvation among all nations. Let the peoples praise You, O God; Let all the peoples praise You. Oh, let the nations be glad and sing for joy! For You shall judge the people righteously, And govern the nations on earth. Selah”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭67:1-4‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Have a blessed Sunday!

#prayfortheharvest

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#prayforthepeaceofIsrael

#prayforthegospeltospreadeverywhere

https://www.allaboutgod.com/the-roman-road.htm