Do Not Be Discouraged
Joshua 1:9 (NIV) says, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” God’s promise to us is that he will faithfully walk with us through every trial, joy, or circumstance we face. Our objective is to live in obedience to his word.
When God commands us to live a certain way, it is not because he is trying to control or limit us. It is because his directive is so completely true that it is worthy of being a command. Jesus said in John 15:10-11 (NIV), “If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.”
So often, we view a command as something that we have to comply with against our will. However, Jesus tells us that following his commands allows us to abide in love and joy–even full joy.
The truth is that living under God’s commands is going against our will. The desires of the flesh have to be crucified with Christ to open the door to victory. If we can understand that the commands of God are actually practical and tangible ways to live in the Spirit and not in the flesh, we might start to rejoice at his word again.
If we cannot delight in his word, it shows that we delight in the flesh. Our fleshly desires and appetites can overtake our lives. They make this true spiritual food seem distasteful. God does not want us to live boring unfulfilling lives. He wants us to live in freedom, victory, and joy.
We have to submit to His commandments and his truth before we can move into freedom. There will be times when it feels very uncomfortable or unnatural to be spending time in prayer, worship, or in the scriptures. Good. That means you’re doing it right.
So God’s promise to Joshua remains for us today as well. Do not be afraid. Do not be discouraged. Living in God’s commandments means living with God beside you. We can depend on His faithfulness.
God help us to become convinced of the truth of your commands even when our flesh and desires try to downplay or distract us from the truth. Give us boldness to overcome and live in freedom. Thank you for opening the way to freedom through your son Jesus on the cross, and thank you for revealing your truth through the scriptures.
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