I have been mulling over how to write this blog for a couple of days,asking God for insight and then the tragedy at Virginia Tech strikes at the heart of our nation. The next chapter in the story of the Israelites takeover of the Promised Land begins after the death of Moses with a new leader, Joshua. But just as God gave detailed instructions to Moses, He did not leave Joshua to his own devices. In the first chapter of Joshua, God tells him three times to be strong and courageous.Joshua knew that the people living in the land that God was preparing for them would not give up without a fight. Various kings must be conquered, overthrown, and destroyed. He also knew how fickle his own people could be. Did God sense that Joshua was discouraged or afraid? I wondered why He gave him that command three times in the space of just a few sentences. If God says something once, we better be listening but three times? It must be very important. So what does being strong and courageous mean? Strength can be both physical and mental. The enemy will be tough, the battle fierce, pain and anguish will surround them. All the mental and physical toughness that Joshua can muster will be necessary to defeat the enemy. But He also commanded Joshua to be courageous and courage comes from the heart. It applies not only to bravery but the ability to endure in times of adversity. Courage allows us to face pain or fear and keep fighting when victory seems impossible. I see Mel Gibson as William Wallace in the movie, Braveheart, when I think of strength and courage. There is nothing quite like his final battle cry of FREEDOM! The community at Virginia Tech has waged a battle against an unknown enemy resulting in the loss of friends and loved ones. They must now reconcile the horrible events of yesterday with strength and courage of heart and mind. But they do not have to do it alone. The student body has rallied together in unity and love. But, whatever the battle for each of us, God is there. He will give us what we need to overcome the adversary and make a way for us to walk in safety. This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9 (NLT)
Subscribe to Flashlight by Email
Recent Posts
Archives
FIND POSTS BY SUBJECT
9/11
abide
acceptance
afraid
AMD
America
anger
anxious
appreciation
argument
Arizona
armor
armor of God
ask
attitude
Aylan
baking
Barcelona
battle
beauty
Beth Moore
Bible
blessing
blind
bold
breathe
broken
calm
care
change
character
Charlottesville
children
Christmas
church
citizen
comparison
conquer
content
contol
control
country
courage
creative
crisis
DBS
death
debate
decisions
Democrat
depression
destiny
direction
discipline
divorce
Easter
election
election 2016
elections
encourage
encouragement
end times
endurance
entrusted
Esther
eternal life
expectations
facial
faith
faithful
family
fear
fire
follow
foot
forgiveness
freedom
friend
friends
friendship
fun
generations
gift
gifts
girls
goal
Gospel
grace
grandgirlies
happy
hard
heaven
help
Holy Spirit
honesty
hope
humble
humility
immigration
independence
injustice
integrity
intention
ISIS
jealousy
Jesus
Job
joy
justice
Kara Tippets
kindness
Kingdom
legacy
lessons
life
light
Lisa Harper
living water
loneliness
love
lukewarm
March for Life
marriage
mask
mental health
mercy
missiles
money
MOPS
mother
move
moving
name
neighbor
new
obedience
obey
pain
parents
Paris
path
patience
peace
persecution
perseverance
persevere
perspective
plan
plans
politics
post-truth
power
praise
pray
prayer
precious
pro-life
problem
protect
purpose
refining
relief
remember
repentance
Republican
request
rescue
resolve
respect
rest
resurrection
RFRA
Rusty
Sabbath
sacrifice
safe-keeping
safety
salvation
San Bernardino
season
security
serve
service
shadow
shelter
shine
simplify
sin
singing
sons
sovereign
sovereignty
special
speech
stand up
step
storm
strengh
strength
strong
suicide
support
Supreme Court
taxes
technology
thanks
thanksgiving
time
timing
trials
troubles
trust
truth
understanding
values
vision
vote
wait
waiting
walk
war
watchman
water
WDBJ
website
wisdom
women
work
worry