Courageous

Joshua 1:6 “aBe strong and courageous, for you shall give this people possession of the land which I swore to their fathers to give them."  These were the Lord's instructions to Joshua upon the death of Moses.  It's probably a pretty cool experience to have God encourage you.  I wonder if Joshua had his doubts? I imagine that is why the Lord encouraged him to be strong and courageous.  I find myself in a similar place as Joshua these days.  There are things happening in our nation that make me nervous, afraid, and questioning where we are going as a nation.  However, In my spirit there is a quiet confidence saying "watch and see what I am about to do."  So what do I believe?  Are things going to get worse?  Are we being set up for Jesus to come back and rescue us from this evil world we live in?  

Those questions actually seem very foreign to me.  I refuse to believe a theology that lacks courage and embraces anything less than redemption.  I believe that now, more than ever, we must know the heart of Daddy God.  We must know that He is for us.  That He went to great extremes to demonstrate this to us.  In Romans it tells us that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.  He's not intimidated by our depravity.  In fact, our depravity ushered in the greatest redemption of all time.  His heart is for the world to know that He loves them (see John 3:16).  I choose to believe that He desires for all men to come to repentance.  I choose to believe that He desires for all men to be healed, saved and delivered.  I choose to believe that we win.  Not that we will be snatched away at the last minute, to keep us from destruction.  This isn't the old covenant.  This is a new covenant, in which the price for sin has been paid and the grace of God is available to everyone.  This grace enables us to be victorious.  It enables us to live in freedom.  It frees us to be who we really are.  So whatever you believe about where we are at in the grand scheme of things, I encourage you to live with conviction.  Live with the attitude that our choices affect the atmosphere around us.  That who God has made us reveals His glory and that glory will transform nations.  Transformed people, transform nations.  Be strong and courageous for He will give us the nations and of the increase of His government there will be no end...

That's the view from here...