Standing on God's promises
There are certain promises in God’s Word which need to be engraved upon our hearts and minds. These promises form the spiritual backbone of our being that allow us to endure hardships and maintain total faith in God no matter what the circumstances around us bring. Regardless of the particular version or translation you use; it would be highly beneficial to learn these verses and brand them into your heart of hearts.
First up is a promise Moses gave to Israel directly before turning over the reins to Joshua. In the context of God giving the children of Israel the victory over the inhabitants of the Promised Land please look at Deuteronomy 31:6. I am using the New King James Version.
Be strong and of a good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.”
The exhortation to be strong and of a good courage is directly opposite to being afraid. When looking at the array of enemy forces, it is very easy to allow the senses to influence our thinking. In order to stay strong, we must stand upon the promise that God goes with us and that He will never leave us nor forsake us. We are not sent forth into battle alone. God is with us and it through HIS strength that we are strong.
The next promise comes in Deuteronomy 31:8 and is spoken by Moses to Joshua. Talk about big shoes to fill! How would you like to follow Moses as the leader of this gang? Sensing his trepidation and uneasiness with the whole matter, Moses had this to say to Joshua:
And the Lord, He is the One who goes before you. He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed.”
Almost the same exact words Moses gave to the people, he now speaks directly to Joshua. Obviously the biggest enemy to be confronted was not the various people they would be doing battle with physically, but fear. Fear is the biggest enemy any of us have in this life. Fear belittles us and makes us become cowards. Overcoming fear is the single most important thing we must do daily in order to receive the promises of God in our lives.
After Moses died, the children of Israel spent 30 days weeping and mourning the loss of their leader. Finally God spoke to Joshua in a way that indicated it was time to move on. In Joshua 1:2 God had this to say to Joshua:
Moses My servant is dead, now therefore, arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them—the children of Israel.”
The way this verse is constructed indicates that God was saying Moses my servant is DEAD, NOW therefore, ARISE, GO…” In other words these are commands given with emphasis. Joshua and the rest of the people needed to get past Moses to the Promised Land Moses had led them to. They would never get there unless they would first ARISE and then GO. If God has given you a Promised Land”, you will never make it there unless you first GET UP and then GO.
What stands in the way of doing this? Fear of course. God goes on to encourage and charge Joshua in order that he believes that what God has called him to do is God’s will and can be done with God’s help. In Joshua 1:5-7 we read (some verses only the beginning):
No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you.
Be strong and of good courage…
Only be strong and very courageous…
If there was only one verse I could have placed on a huge billboard for me to see daily if I were called to be a missionary in the darkest corner of the earth, it would be Joshua 1:9. If there was only one verse I was allowed to retain in my mind I think it would be Joshua 1:9:
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.”
With this promise you are never alone. With this promise you are never weak. With this promise you are never held captive to fear. With this promise you can arise and go with strength and conviction.
David had plenty to say which is not only comforting, but vital in our understanding of how to stand through adversity. God never promised us that things won’t happen that are difficult to understand or deal with. What He did promise was the following in Psalm 9:9, 10:
The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed. A refuge in times of trouble.
And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; Fro you, Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you.”
One of the greatest Psalms on seeking and trusting the Lord is Psalm 27. I leave you this time with some of the greatest promises God has given to us in all His Word, and they are found in Psalm 27:1,3-5, 13, 14:
The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
Though an army may encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war may rise against me; in this I will be confident.
One thing I have desired of the Lord, That will I seek; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in His temple.
For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; in the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock.
I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.
Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say, on the Lord!”
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Author: blessings2you
Location: Warrenton Missouri USA
Gender: Male
Age: 57
Blog Entries: 827 (archive)
Blog Comments: 1357
god called me to serve him when i was 16 years old while on a church work trip in new mexico in 1969. in the 40 years since; i attended bible school/leadership training, been ordained to the christian ministry and worked full time for a non-denominational ministry for nearly ten...
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in 1969 god stepped in and transformed my life as a sixteen year old teenager. after a couple of years of intense emotional ups and downs, i decided i needed a firm foundation in my life that went beyond emotional experiences. it was the decision to become involved with a...
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