“Be Strong And Courageous”

After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, the LORD said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide: “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites. I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Mediterranean Sea in the west. No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them.

“Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 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. 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.”

Joshua 1:1-9

Consider the prayers you make to God. Do you ask that your will be done, rather than God’s will? Do you ask God to be with you, when He has already said He will be with us.

We should be asking for the power to carry out His will. We should ask for direction from the Spirit within us. We should be totally willing to focus on His will and do whatever we are asked to do to make that happen. When we are doing God’s will, He will be with us even without our asking. If we are not doing His will, we need to ask for His forgiveness, change our course, and follow Him.

May our prayers not be mindless, but instead mindful of God’s will.

Our Daily Bread – August 3, 2011