Be COURAGEOUS

8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go. (Joshua 1:8-9)

What do you fear? The dark? Thunderstorms? Failure? New experiences? Death? Lots of things have the potential to lead to feelings of fear.

Read v. 9 above again. Catch the commands – “Be strong and of good courage. Do not be afraid, nor be dismayed.” Now check out the promise – “For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” How many times in God’s Word is “fear” paired with a promise of God’s presence? More times than we can count, I think. Here is just one of many other examples: Jer. 42:11 – “Do not be afraid of the king of Babylon, of whom you are afraid; do not be afraid of him,” says the LORD, “for I am with you, to save you and deliver you from his hand.” When tempted to be afraid, we’re promised God’s presence!

And God’s presence should cause us to want to learn more and more about Him as well – His character, His attributes. His Word is the way we learn. See v. 8 above – “but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it.” Meditate has the idea of chewing on it over and over again – like a cow chews its cud. Spend time in His Word – chew it over. Let His presence help in times of fear. Be courageous.