Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the
Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.
While these words were spoken to Joshua when he took over for Moses as Israel's leader, they are also applicable to us. Take a moment and read
Psalm 139 out loud and see that God's promise to be with us is for all who truly call upon him. Listen to Jesus' words in
Matthew 28:18-20, as he promises his disciples to be with them always, even to the close of the age. Remember God's promise, declared in an Old Testament blessing and reiterated in
Hebrews 13:5:
"Never will I leave you, never will I desert you!" So, let's be strong; our God, our Father, our Shepherd is always near, even if it doesn't seem so. We cannot go anywhere without his presence being near us and in us. We are not alone. We don't have to be afraid. We can have great courage; not even death can separate us from his love (
Romans 8:35-39).
Be near, dear Father, not just in your promises or in your spiritual presence, but also in my awareness. I need to know you are near when I respond to the incredible opportunities you place before me. I need to be confident in your help and sustaining love as I face the rigorous challenges in my life. O, Lord, I trust in your unfailing love, so I commit to being strong and courageous because you are with me. In Jesus' name, I declare this faith. Amen.
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