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 1:9 (NIV))
My husband and I were praying about moving our family across the country to help launch a new ministry. Leaving family, friends, and a good job behind made the decision hard, but we felt that God was urging us to go. One night when my heart felt heavy about leaving, I was reading the scripture above from Joshua. As I read that God asked Joshua to move not only his family but an entire nation into a new land, the words almost leapt off the page at me. Instantly, I felt God’s peace fill me. I knew God was asking us to go and promising to be with us.
After we put the kids to bed, I shared this insight with my husband. He jumped up to get a scrap of paper from his shirt pocket that one of his students had given him. On it, the student had written the exact same verse. We thanked God for reassuring us in such an amazing way.
When God asks us to do something new or challenging, God will be with us — giving us strength and courage to obey. Every time we read scripture and ask God to help us apply it to our lives, we can watch and wait. God is faithful to encourage us along the way.
TODAY'S PRAYER: Thank you, God, for giving us the strength and courage to do what you have called us to do. Amen.
TODAY'S READING: Joshua 1:1 After the death of Moshe the servant of Adonai, Adonai said to Y’hoshua the son of Nun, Moshe’s assistant, 2 “Moshe my servant is dead. So now, get up and cross over this Yarden, you and all the people, to the land I am giving to them, the people of Isra’el. 3 I am giving you every place you will step on with the sole of your foot, as I said to Moshe. 4 All the land from the desert and the L’vanon to the great river, the Euphrates River — all the land of the Hitti — and on to the Great Sea in the west will be your territory. 5 No one will be able to withstand you as long as you live. Just as I was with Moshe, so I will be with you. I will neither fail you nor abandon you.
6 “Be strong, be bold; for you will cause this people to inherit the land I swore to their fathers I would give them. 7 Only be strong and very bold in taking care to follow all the Torah which Moshe my servant ordered you to follow; do not turn from it either to the right or to the left; then you will succeed wherever you go. 8 Yes, keep this book of the Torah on your lips, and meditate on it day and night, so that you will take care to act according to everything written in it. Then your undertakings will prosper, and you will succeed. 9 Haven’t I ordered you, ‘Be strong, be bold’? So don’t be afraid or downhearted, because Adonai your God is with you wherever you go.” (Complete Jewish Bible).
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Today I will read scripture and listen for God’s leading.
PRAYER FOCUS: Someone beginning a new ministry
READ MORE: Link2Life - July 8
Link2Life - July 8
JULY 8, 2018 BY SARA HAGUE (OREGON)
RELATED DEVOTIONALS: GOD IS WITH US
Then: Jason, Samuel, Jenna, Jackson, Sara, Emily
Now: Nathan, Jenna, Jason, Jackson, Sara, Samuel, Emily
More From Sara HagueMore From Sara Hague
JULY 8, 2018 BY SARA HAGUE (OREGON)
RELATED DEVOTIONALS: GOD IS WITH US
I have been reminded of Joshua 1:9 many times since our family moved across the country. I had no idea what God was preparing us for. What were we about to face? For what events would we need to be strong and have courage?
Four months after we moved, my father passed away. After a long battle with Parkinson’s disease, he met his Savior face to face. Our family flew to Minnesota for a beautiful celebration of his life and home going. Family and many friends shared testimonies of God’s unmistakable presence touching them through my dad’s life.
A couple of months later, as we were knee-deep in the challenging task of establishing a missionary training center, our 2-year-old son began to slip into the fog of autism, losing speech and eye contact, and worse, withdrawing from us into his own distant world.
While we were still looking for answers for our son’s regression, our fourth child was born with a serious heart condition requiring open heart surgery at 6 months of age. We felt our need for God like we had never felt it before.
We learned that when we were lacking wisdom and felt weak, we didn’t have to somehow muster the strength and the courage. We simply had to lean into God. Because God was with us, He became our strength and provided the courage to walk through all those challenges. We felt God's peaceful presence surround us as we studied scripture, engaged in prayer, and listened to the encouragement of friends.
Now, eleven years later, we see clearly just how powerfully God has been with us, strengthening us, and giving us courage. We have had to walk through yearly heart check-ups, seizures, and brain surgery. Our 12-year-old with autism has regained awareness and a few words, but more importantly, he knows we love him, and he just wants to be near us. Our 9-year-old heart patient is healthy, charming, and vibrant. Through all of the challenges, God has never left us for a moment, and continues to speak life, hope, and encouragement to us through God's Word.
You can read more about our family’s journey of hope at www.FindingJackson.com or www.JasonHague.com.
***
JULY 8, 2018 BY SARA HAGUE (OREGON)
RELATED DEVOTIONALS: GOD IS WITH US
Then: Jason, Samuel, Jenna, Jackson, Sara, EmilyNow: Nathan, Jenna, Jason, Jackson, Sara, Samuel, EmilyJULY 8, 2018 BY SARA HAGUE (OREGON)
RELATED DEVOTIONALS: GOD IS WITH US
Four months after we moved, my father passed away. After a long battle with Parkinson’s disease, he met his Savior face to face. Our family flew to Minnesota for a beautiful celebration of his life and home going. Family and many friends shared testimonies of God’s unmistakable presence touching them through my dad’s life.
A couple of months later, as we were knee-deep in the challenging task of establishing a missionary training center, our 2-year-old son began to slip into the fog of autism, losing speech and eye contact, and worse, withdrawing from us into his own distant world.
While we were still looking for answers for our son’s regression, our fourth child was born with a serious heart condition requiring open heart surgery at 6 months of age. We felt our need for God like we had never felt it before.
We learned that when we were lacking wisdom and felt weak, we didn’t have to somehow muster the strength and the courage. We simply had to lean into God. Because God was with us, He became our strength and provided the courage to walk through all those challenges. We felt God's peaceful presence surround us as we studied scripture, engaged in prayer, and listened to the encouragement of friends.
Now, eleven years later, we see clearly just how powerfully God has been with us, strengthening us, and giving us courage. We have had to walk through yearly heart check-ups, seizures, and brain surgery. Our 12-year-old with autism has regained awareness and a few words, but more importantly, he knows we love him, and he just wants to be near us. Our 9-year-old heart patient is healthy, charming, and vibrant. Through all of the challenges, God has never left us for a moment, and continues to speak life, hope, and encouragement to us through God's Word.
You can read more about our family’s journey of hope at www.FindingJackson.com or www.JasonHague.com.
***
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