Have you been battling bad thoughts, or feelings of rejection, or oppression, or difficult circumstances lately? Maybe it is a problem that you thought you had defeated already, and it has risen up against you again. When those things come against you, it is so easy to get discouraged, to lose heart. The Bible says in Galatians 6:9, "Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we shall reap if we do not grow weary." When you get in these tough situations, how do you keep from losing heart? When Joshua was given command of Israel after the death of Moses, he was facing an awesome problem of leading a nation against a long-dreaded enemy. God told Joshua to be strong and courageous, and then He told him how to do it. God first gave him a word to stand upon: "Every place on which the sole of your foot treads, I have given it to you...No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life...I will not fail you or forsake you, so be strong and courageous, and do not tremble or be dismayed." Then God told him to meditate on these promises day and night and he would have success. Joshua did what God said, God did what He said, and Joshua had success.
You can be strong and courageous the same way Joshua was. You've got what it takes, my brother and sister. Go to the written Word of God and find out what God has already spoken concerning your specific situation. For example, when I was going through a battle with depression, I found these words of God (along with about a thousand others): "God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and a sound mind." And in Psalm 23 the Scripture says, "He restoreth my soul." I held onto those words like a man holding on to a life preserver. I said, "I will not go under, because if I go under, God will have to go under with me, because I'm holding onto the hem of His garment with both handfuls." I didn't feel very strong or courageous at the time, but I did what God said. I meditated on those words night and day for months and months, and I licked that devilish thing. You can do the same.
You need to get tough, my brother. You need to take charge, my sister. You're in command. God is shouting from heaven like a mother shouting for her son's Little League ball team: "Go get 'em, boy!!" You have a choice. You can choose life and victory, or you can choose to let yourself be defeated by those problems. First Corinthians 10:13 tells us that the temptations we face are only "common". And yet Second Corinthians 10:4 tells us we have "divinely powerful" weapons to use against them. It's not even a fair fight when the devil comes against us - he doesn't have what it takes. But you must decide to use those weapons and put up a resistance. Your weapon is the Word of God, the sword of the Spirit.
The Bible lists the mighty men of David, men of courage and daring and valor. I want to be one of God's mighty ones!!!! I make that choice. You must make that choice. When God called Gideon, He found him hiding from the Midianites in a wine press. God said to him, "The Lord is with you, O valiant warrior." Now that's what I call the "upward call of God", when God calls you a mighty man of valor while you are still hiding out in a wine press! When Mary the mother of Jesus was called, she simply said, "Be it done to me according to Thy Word." When you say to God, "Be it done according to Thy Word" it plugs you into the supernatural power of God where "nothing shall be impossible."
So fear not. Believe God and do what the Word says, and take authority over the situation. When fear tries to slip back in, don't get discouraged and throw away your confidence. Stay hooked up with God. Keep acting on the Word and resisting fear. If you will walk uprightly and do it God's way, you'll have nothing to fear. He'll take care of you and everything that concerns you. Don't try to figure out some other short cut around the problem. Just do what the Word says and let the chips fall where they may.
Make this your confession today: "I am a believer, I am not a doubter. I believe God. I believe the Word of God. I put the Word first place in my life. I believe what the Word says about me. God says I am a mighty man of valor. So therefore, I am a mighty a man of valor. I am strong and courageous. I am strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. I will not be discouraged. I will not be defeated. I am a winner, not a quitter. I don't play nine inning ball games. I play until I win. I am a never-dying champion. I look to God as my source. He is my champion. He will see me through."
@ copyright 1994 by Scott H. Northrup. All rights reserved.