Courage is important.

How important is it? The command to be courageous is found throughout the Scripture, but the command concentrates in the person of Joshua. Three times in a span of four verses (Joshua 1:6-9) God commanded Joshua to be strong and couragaeous. Twice God gave Joshua a specific command to be strong and courageous in order that he might lead the people of Israel to take the land: “Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. 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.” (Johua 1:6-7).

God knew He needed a strong, courageous individual to lead the people of Israel.

People follow strong, positive, and courageous people. God commanded Joshua to be the person who would depend on God and give his best for God.

How do you become courageous? Obviously, this is not easy to accomplish or easy to understand. Based on Joshua’s experience, we might understand becoming courageous in the following way.

First, we become courageous by resolving to follow God and God’s way in everything. By doing so, we open ourselves to the blessing of God. God wanted Joshua to obey Him. By following God’s way, we receive His blessings.

In Joshua 1, God’s call to be strong and courageous is a command.

Second, we become courageous by being courageous. This is what I mean. Every experience of the past prepares us for the future. When we do right in spite of the fear, we are equipped to also overcome our fear in the future. For example, David knew he could face the giant because he had previously faced lions and bears.

We need to give our children encourgement to be strong early in life in order to show them they can be strong later in life. We build on doing the right thing even when we are afraid.

Third, we become courageous by spending time with our great God. He gives strength to the weak and courage to the fearful.

We live in a world that desperately needs people who do right even when they are afraid.

Will you be that person?

You can receive daily messages such as this one by subscribing to waylonbailey.com at the top of the page. It’s free and easy and it means you will receive a notification each time I submit a new posting.