“Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 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.” Joshua 1:7-9
How is your week going? Are you walking in the direction He chose for you?
Are you facing some difficult challenges? Don't turn and run! Place your challenges into a proper perspective. Are you worried about feeding your family today? Probably not. The past couple of years in Haiti, there have been cooks and feeding program directors who were worried that the precious provisions for the school lunch programs would be stolen by gang members. They remained faithful and stood in His presence; surrounded in prayer.
You got challenges; stand still and refuse to retreat. Those cooks and you and I are under His commands from Joshua "be strong and courageous." It will still be difficult. Place your trust in His protection. It may get very hot at times but our God is always with us. The future of our country may seem like a Stage 15 hurricane is approaching; be strong and courageous. I was born in 1950 and Harry S. Truman was nearing the end of his presidency and there was a quote attributed to him that I have always liked. “If you don't like the heat, get out of the kitchen!” I’ve learned that you grow much stronger by staying in the kitchen and experiencing that heat, with God there with me. With the realization that you aren’t alone in that steamy kitchen, God is with you, stay in the kitchen so you can learn how to handle the heat!
Heavenly Father, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Amen.
May God be with you,
Jay