June 7, 2011
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The Victorious Life of Joshua Part 16
So Joshua is given his first directives as the new leader.
Jos 1:6 Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them.
Jos 1:7 Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it [to] the right hand or [to] the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.
Jos 1:8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
Jos 1:9 Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God [is] with thee whithersoever thou goest.Command:
Be strong and of a good courage
Purpose
So you can divide the land God swore to give them as an inheritance
Command:
Be strong and of a good courage
Purpose
So that you can observe and follow the law that Moses commanded.
So that you will not turn from it to the right hand or to the left.
So that you may prosper wherever you go.
Command:
Don’t let this book of the law depart from your mouth; meditate on it daily, day and night.
Purpose
So that you can observe and do all that is written in it.
So you shall be able to make your way prosperous.
So you shall have good success.
Command:
Be strong and of a good courage.
Don’t be afraid.
Don’t be dismayed
Reason
The Lord is with you wherever you go.Something I have been learning about are action steps. When you gain new knowledge or insight, you have to take action on it. That is your act of faith. Even if you are not fully in a position to act on it in a physical or even economical sense, you still have to act on it, even if it is a baby step that will help to get you into position.
I’ve discovered that what most people consider to be “luck,” or how most people are blessed, is because when new information came to them, they took action in some way.
Luck is preparation to meet opportunity. Luck comes to people of action. Don’t fail through inaction.
“Shallow men believe in luck. Strong men believe in cause and effect.” Ralph Waldo Emerson
“Diligence is the mother of good luck.” Benjamin Franklin
These action steps, no matter how small, add up, and line you up; positioning you to get blessed, but if you fail to recognize the knowledge you are gaining access to, and you do nothing about the opportunity to gain more, or fail to take any action on it, you will delay, or totally miss your blessing.
There comes a time when you have to move past your fear. Most people of courage are people who are afraid, but willingly move past their fear.
“Success seems to be connected with action. Successful people keep moving. They make mistakes, but they don’t quit.” Conrad Hilton
So Joshua took immediate action upon receiving his commands from the Lord.
