Strong And Courageous
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Are You Strong And Courageous?
Would you consider yourself strong and courageous? Most of my life, I have felt inadequate and insecure. At age three or four, my son had a superman costume he had worn for Halloween and then for a good solid year afterwards. When he would put on the shirt, he could push a button and the shirt would fill with air to make his tiny arms look strong and powerful. When he wore this costume, he believed he could do anything.
Do you have an outfit or accessory that makes you feel more confident? Ladies, I know you know what I am talking about. We all have a bag, shoes, lipstick color, or something else that gives that extra boost of certainty. Share in the comments what gives you that extra boost.
Be Strong And Courageous
Joshua chapter one begins with Moses handing over the torch to Joshua. God is showing Joshua the promised land and telling him how he will go about conquering the land. In the New Living Translation, four times God says to Joshua, “Be strong and courageous.” One time in verse nine it also includes, “Do not be afraid or discouraged” (Joshua 1:9 NLT)
Following God’s Directions
God also tells Joshua exactly how to do what He wants done and tells Joshua not to stray to the right or to the left (Joshua 1:7 NLT). As we read in Exodus through Deuteronomy, as long as the Israelites followed God’s direction, God blessed them and He made a way for them. If they wandered, complained, or started making their own path, He quickly had repercussions and brought them back.
I have learned in my life that when I follow God’s directions, everything goes much smoother than when I think my way is better. The more we spend time with God, the more clearly we hear His voice and the more we long to follow His plan more than our own. The more we experience this type of relationship, the more we feel stronger and more courageous.
Rahab
In Joshua 2, Rahab’s courage always encourages me. Joshua sent two men to scope out Jericho. The people of Jericho feared the Israelites. Rahab, a prostitute, noticed the two spies and invited them into her home. Some of the king’s men were looking for the spies, and Rahab courageously misinformed them and sent them off to look for the spies while she hid them in her house.
While they were in her home, she told them how the people of Jericho feared them because of all that God had done for them. She had heard of God splitting the Red Sea along with many other miraculous wonders.
They told Rahab of their plans to take over the city and all God had planned, and she asked them to spare her and her family. They made a plan for her to hang a scarlet rope out of her window, and they would spare all who were in her home.
God Sees The Heart
My favorite part of this story is that God not only spared her, but He also gave her the privilege of being in the line of Jesus. This tells me that God sees beyond our flaws and sees the heart. He allowed a prostitute to be the hero to make a way for the Israelites, and thirty generations later, our Savior was born. God used Rahab to save His men from the king’s men, and Jesus came to save us all from our sins.
God sees beyond our flaws and sees the heart. He allowed a prostitute to be the hero, and 30 generations later, our Savior was born. God used Rahab to save His men from the king's men, and Jesus came to save us all from our sins. Click To TweetArmor Of God
Living this side of Jesus, we have the privilege of strength and courage in Him. When we dress in the armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18), we have everything we need to walk in absolute confidence.
“Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”
(Ephesians 6:14-17 NLT)
God gives us all we need to walk in assurance with Him. He gives us the Word to guide us, His righteousness to allow us to be right with Him. He gives peace to let us rest in Him and the faith to stand against the enemy.
God gives us all we need to walk in assurance with Him. He gives us the Word to guide us, His righteousness to allow us to be right with Him. He gives peace to let us rest in Him and the faith to stand against the enemy. Click To TweetI pray for each of you to lay aside all of your insecurities and grow in His promise. I know I say this a lot, but as followers of Christ, we cannot be in His Word enough. The armor of God begins (the belt) and ends (the sword) with the Word. The rest of the armor grows from there.
I have a certain pair of shoes that look Zebra striped that I feel good about myself when I wear them. I am thankful that God lets us have His true power to see us through all circumstances.
Joanna, the right pair of shoes can definitely make you feel good about yourself. I love zebra print myself.
Wearing certain colors makes me feel happy and confident — turquoise, royal blue, cranberry. I’m thankful God still loves us and gives us courage to move through life whether we’re feeling confident ourselves or not!
Your message is so encouraging, Jen. I’ve always loved the story of Rahab, that she risked everything to help God’s people and they, in turn, took care of her. I love those happy endings! Putting on that armor, whether it be through the scripture, prayer, or dressing up to bolster our confidence, works to keep us under God’s protection. Thank you for this inspiring message.
Rahab has always fascinated me! I walk with God’s assurance when I cloak myself in His peace. And to do that, I spend time with Him in prayer and in His word.
The verse from Joshua always inspires me, Jen. I also fondly remember the time when the Lord inspired my young daughter to write this verse to my mom at the beginning of her short and final battle with illness. And God answered my daughter’s prayer! My mom had courage and grace beyond measure that was inspirational to all who witnessed it.
Annie, I love that. Thank you for sharing.
I have a pair of jeans that fit so good and they stretch to every move I make . I feel really good when I wear them . I feel I can do anything in them.