| Good morning everyone, Our theme for this month: “Be the church” Our Bible verse for today: “Haven’t I commanded you: be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 (CSB) Our thought for today: “Purpose and direction” In his book “Resilience: Hard-won wisdom for living a better life” former Navy SEAL Eric Greitens writes, “Resilience is distinct from mere survival, and more than mere endurance. Resilience is often endurance with direction. Where are you headed? Why are you going there?” What he means is that resilient people live with purpose. They live life large. They see it big and they approach it with eagerness and a strong sense of direction. Joshua knew what his life was about. He knew where he was going and why he was going there. In Joshua 1:9 he was preparing to lead the nation of Israel into the Promised Land. It was a big deal and there were lots of uncertainties associated with it. But God assured him that he could go forward into the future with courage and boldness because wherever he went, God would already be there waiting for him. God would go before him and prepare the way. He would be waiting for Joshua when he got there, and God would walk through the challenges with him, protecting him and providing for him. So, Joshua had no fear. He moved forward, did his part, and trusted God for the rest. He lived life large, with eagerness and gusto. The same is true for us in these uncertain times that we live in. If we know who we are and what we are about, if we trust that God truly is sovereign and that He truly is good, then we can go forward into the future with confidence and courage. We do not need to fear what’s out there; we should not be defeatist about the future; and we should not have a bunker mentality that we need to shelter in place and shut out the world. In your life you probably won’t have to lead an entire nation of wayward Jews to conquer a new land. I suspect your challenges will be something less than that. But the assurance of Joshua 1:9 applies to your life just as much as it did to Joshua’s. Whether your challenges are found on the job, or in the home, or in a ministry activity, God has gone before you into the future. He will be waiting for you when you arrive, and He will walk with you through whatever it is you have to deal with when you get there. And like Joshua, your goal is not just to get through it, not just to endure and survive, but to thrive. Resilient people approach life with clear purpose and direction. They know what they’re doing, why they’re doing it, where they are going, and why they are going there. They live life large with optimism, hope, purpose, and direction. Let’s be those people. God bless, Pastor Jim (If you like what you’re reading in these daily devotionals, and if you would like more content from Oak Hill Baptist Church, join us on Sundays at 10:00, in-person if you are nearby or, if you are geographically distant or if you just can’t make it, online at www.YouTube.com/@oakhillbaptistcrossville |
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