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. (Joshua 1:9 KJV)
God’s Command “Be strong and of a good courage” is tantamount to trusting Him, knowing He is with you always. God shows us throughout the Bible in both Old and New Testament, how He establishes His presence over and over, He goes before us and leads us to victory, through His grace and His power.
Be strong and of a good courage is generally spoken to encourage an undertaking of great magnitude. For example, David’s charge to Solomon to build the temple ( 1 Chronicles 28:20), King Hezekiah’s encouragment to his subjects to withstand the enemy’s siege (2 Chronicles 32:7) and Joshua’s own charge to Israel to fight (Jushua 10:25).
God’s promises are shining examples and testimony about His love for us. He demonstrates repeatedly through His presence, the ability of our success, which will come only through Him, and by Him. And, because, He is with us and in control.
When we give the Lord our full surrender and hand our “ship to Him” or—for Him to take control of the Helm, we are assured of His presence and the victory. He is our constant source of encouragement and ostensibly, our Light in the darkness, and our weapons of defense against the enemy. He is our sword of protection, which is to say, His Word.
We cannot alter life’s transformations, but we can fall in line to the best life has to offer us by following His commands. We cannot take evil out of the world, but God will protect us as He goes before us, where no weapons will prosper as the Lord stated so eloquently and powerfully in Isaiah 54:17—No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.
If God is for us, who can be against us? Our weapons of defense, His word, His promise and His unconditional love. When we love Him, and give Him full control, we will always win, we will sail on placid waters with Him at our helm…
Are you ready to hand your ship over to Him?
Isaiah 55:1-3
King James Version (KJV)
Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.
Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.
Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.