Strong & Courageous [Devotion]

One of my favorite verses of all time is Joshua 1:9, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.“

I know it’s a bit cliche but sometimes there is a reason that well quoted verses are so well quoted. One of the things that almost always jumps out at me is the fact that God’s call for His people to be courageous is not a suggestion. “Have I not commanded you?” (emphasis added). God is commanding strength and courage. But it can’t come from us in our own right. When the people tried to be strong and courageous in their own right at the city of Ai God was not with them! I think it’s safe to infer that the strength and courage God is demanding of them is to come from being in His plan. A verse from Colossians ties into this very well.

Paul, talking about the preaching of the gospel says in Colossians 1:29, “For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.“ Notice what energy he says he toils with. That “he” is referring to Christ! Paul in all his busy journeys traces his strength and energy to the work of Christ! This is what comes from being in God’s plan. When we are following Him, rather than trying to make Him participate in our plans, we can be strong, energetic, courageous because He is at work!

And that’s our aim as we head into the film festival. To have the strength, courage, and energy to play our part in God’s plan.