Dear friend, today we will meditate on Joshua 1:6, which says, “Be strong and courageous, for you are the ones who will lead these people to possess all the land I swore to their ancestors I would give them”. The twelve tribes of Israel were about to possess their inheritance. Joshua had to lead them. God was about to fulfill His promise to bring them to the land of milk and honey. To possess their land, they had to fight against their enemies. Strong people already lived in the land. The Israelites might have been very afraid of them. They had to face many obstacles. Because the Israelites were so afraid, Joshua also could have been shaken. Fear might have gripped him. Look at verse 5. The Lord said to Joshua, “No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live. For I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will not fail you or abandon you”. 

Joshua was always with Moses when he ministered to the people. He was familiar with the details of the ministry. So, the Lord would have strengthened him as he was with Moses. The grace which was with Moses would have come upon Joshua. This is the blessing of serving a man or woman of God. The Lord chose Joshua graciously to lead the people of Israel. That's why the Lord spoke to him again and again, “Be strong and courageous”. In Joshua 1:9, the Lord also said to him, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go”. What confidence Joshua would have had after hearing the command of God! Courage flows from God's presence. Courage is the foundation for leadership. As leaders, we must have the presence of God within us at all times. We cannot take it for granted. Wherever we go or whatever we do, we must reflect the character of Jesus. This comes only through the word of God. The more we read the word of God, the more we receive His presence. People would ask me how they can get closer to God. This is the only way, my dear friend. 

Joshua relied on God's word. God was continually speaking to him about what he should do. As in Joshua 1:7, the Lord instructed Joshua to be careful to obey all the instructions Moses had given him. He said, " Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do”. My husband's father (late) Bro. Dhinakaran used to advise my younger brother, Anand. He would lovingly call him “Kuttipayya”, which means small boy. He said, “Dear Anand, cling to the word of God. Do not leave your house without reading His word. You may feel alone, but if you cling to His word, He will lead you beautifully. You will be successful in life”. Whenever people gave their Bible to my father to write in, I often saw him write the same words: 'Do not deviate from His word, either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do’, and this would bring the presence of God to you, dear friend. Then you will become bold like a lion. That is what the Bible says in Proverbs 28:1, “The righteous are as bold as a lion”.

PRAYER: 
Heavenly Father, thank You for Your promise to be with me wherever I go. When fear tries to grip my heart, remind me to be strong and courageous. Please surround me with Your presence and help me to never deviate from Your Word, neither to the right nor to the left. Teach me to cling to Your promises every single day. Lead me by Your loving hand, even during times when I feel hopeless and alone. Let Your grace strengthen me as You strengthened Joshua in the Bible. Make me righteous, Lord, and bold as a lion. In Jesus’ mighty name, I pray. Amen.