GBC Community Update: Be strong and of good courage

Good morning! I hope you make this a great week.  There will be no update on Thursday as I’m actually off on holidays (I have been the last two weeks, that’s why you haven’t seen me!) and will be away from my computer. See you Sunday though!
 
 
Summer Prayer Time
Pastor Dan invites any who might be free, willing, and able to join him for prayer on Thursday mornings, from 8-9am. We'll be praying for the church, for the world, and for our lives. 
Email him for the link.
 
Summer thoughts to keep you on the journey:  Be strong and of good courage
Who are your heroes?  One of mine is Robert the Bruce, king of Scotland. He led selflessly and did what people thought was impossible- he united Scotland and freed it (I have a painting of him in my office if you’d like to see it!).  Another selfless hero of mine is Joshua.  After Joshua took over when Moses died, he needed encouragement. As with ‘The Bruce’ he had a quiet but resolute faith in God so to did Joshua.  When the people were afraid and needed assurance from God (as did Joshua), their leader went to God.
And God answered.
In Joshua 1, we see the command, “Be strong and of good courage” repeated three times.  Verse 9 says:
“Have I not commanded you? BE STRONG AND OF GOOD COURAGE; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go”
It’s worth noting that God actually commanded Joshua to be STRONG and of GOOD COURAGE. It isn’t a request of God or some mere suggestions but it’s a command.
We can learn from this. 
Instead of fearing, God encourages us to be strong and be courageous. But what does this mean?  It means that we should not stay weak. We must be strong in the Lord. That means we need to obtain strength from our Supreme Eternal God.
Being strong isn’t enough but we must also be courageous. Being courageous means that we should have the confidence to do what God wants us to do. Though things may not seem to go your way, being courageous means that you are able to move forward as you trust God.
God wants us to have a different kind of courage, the kind Joshua showed, to have the courage to do what is right and proper in God’s eyes.
So, be strong and courageous, you can definitely overcome fear through the Lord and that will change a LOT of things in your life.
 
In His grip,
Pastor Chris