Promise part 5

There is promise in every person.  Obstacles are opportunities. There is no victory without an enemy. These are some of the principles we have discovered in the first 8 verses of the book of Joshua.  And in verse 9 we learn that living these principles may sound simple, but it’s not easy. Check it out, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." How did I get 'simple but not easy' from this verse? Well, 3 times in 9 verses God tells Joshua to "be strong and courageous".  This is a guy who’s seen it all…slavery in Egypt, the plagues, the exodus, being chased by the Egyptian army, the parting of the red sea, the promised land, spying on giants, manna from heaven, wandering int he desert for 40 years...what a resume!  But if he has lived through all of that and knows God has delivered him and Israel at every turn, why does he need so much encouragement?!?  Becuase it is simple to say that God has filled us with promise but it's not easy to live like it.  It's simple to say that, with God, our obstacles become opportunities, but it's hard to overcome them.  It's easy to say we will have victory over our enemy, but it's hard to face him.   The key to living all of these principles, to living the promise God has put in us, is in the last phrase of verse 9, "for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." And God is with us today, just like he promised to be with Joshua.

I have found God to be true to his word.  He honors his promise to be with us, to never leave nor forsake us.  It is my goal to fulfill the promise he planted in me. I try to see obstacles as opportunities and face my enemy daily so I can live in victory through Jesus.  As I do, I keep these first 9 verses of Joshua in mind because this may sound simple but it is NOT always easy.