“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” (Joshua 1:7).
What a fantastic promise! Success wherever you go! Yes. I want that. Don’t you?
How do we make this a reality in our lives? God tells us. “Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave to you. Do not turn to the left or to the right. Then, you will be successful wherever you go.”
The key is God’s word and obeying God’s word.
Here’s what happens when we stand in God’s word – We become strong and courageous no matter what life may throw our way.
Notice God did not tell Joshua to feel strong and courageous. God told Joshua to be strong and courageous. Feeling has to do with emotions. Being has to do with God’s truth and God’s reality.
The reason why so many Christians falter in their journey is because we have this backwards. We feel our way to the truth. That’s backwards. When we let our feelings lead the way we will be totally spineless. Feelings have no boundaries and no morals. I may have warm fuzzy feelings for my wife and children. And then, what the heck, I might have ill feelings for my wife and children. Feelings are terrible guides. Feelings are fickle. Feelings have no conviction, no morals, no boundaries.
Don’t let feelings talk you out of what God promises through his word.
That’s what it means to stand in God’s word. You don’t allow anything other than the promises of God to lead you…particularly your feelings.
Got it? Stand on God’s promises, not your feelings.
Praxis: Faith in Action 