Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Mixed Emotions – Joshua 1:9 – Do Not Be Frightened- Growing As Disciples
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 (ESV)
Bold And Courageous
Will you go where I send you? Will you do what I ask of you? Yes, I will. Will you go where I send you with courage? Will you do what I ask of you with boldness? Those are much harder questions. Why is that? I am willing to go where you send me to do whatever you ask of me. I am just not as sure that I will go where you send me with courage and do what you ask of me with boldness. That is a problem. Yes, it is. Would it surprise you to hear that I don’t want you to go somewhere for me if you do not go with courage? Would it also surprise you to hear that I don’t want you to do something for me if you do not do it with boldness? Yes, both of those statements do surprise me. Can you think of why I would make both of those statements? Yes, I can. That’s good.
Let me hear why you think I don’t want you to go and serve me if you are not going to go with courage and serve with boldness? You want me to rely on you. You want me to trust you for all that I need. You want me to rely on your power working in and through me. You don’t want me to try and serve you with my own gifts, talents and abilities. I know that you will use my gifts, talents and abilities. Yes, I will. You gave me my gifts, talent and abilities. Yes, I did. You intend to use my gifts, talents and abilities. Yes, I do. There is a big difference between relying on myself and my resources than relying on you to be with me to help me. If I rely on myself I will not go anywhere with courage. If I rely on myself I will not do whatever you ask me with boldness. That’s right.
Why do you think I want you to rely on me for all that you will need in the daring and difficult assignments I will give to you? You want me to live in an intimate relationship with you. You want me to know that you are working in and through my life. You want me to feel the joy and experience the exhilaration of knowing that I am bearing fruit for your kingdom and bringing glory to your name. Yes, I do. What else? You want me to shine as a bright witness for you in the world. I can only do that as I rely on you for all that I will need to serve you. That’s true. All of this will happen as I rely on you to go and do all that you ask of me. Yes, it will and that will be very good.
Lord, I will go and boldly serve you wherever you send me to do whatever you ask of me. I know that you are with me to help me wherever I go. I will rely on your power and strength. I will trust that you are working in and through me every step of my way. Amen
For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide click here:
Mixed Emotions – Joshua 1-9 – Do Not Be Frightened – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide
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