One of my all time favorite scriptures is Joshua 1:9.
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”
It’s important to me to constantly remind myself who I am to God. I am His daughter, His eternal little girl. He has told me over and over again in scripture to trust Him, to seek Him, to ask Him for anything. He doesn’t say just one time. He says for everything, just a like a little child wanting to be picked up, relentlessly chasing after a parent, holding on to that leg, straining those little arms to reach higher to be picked up, we are to do the same to Him as his children.
One of my all time favorite scriptures is Joshua 1:9.
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”
I think when we are commanded to Be bold, be courageous, don’t be afraid, don’t be discouraged that is somehow God putting us off, sending us to our rooms to figure it out.
You know what is missing from this scripture that I think we all subconsciously add in? Go be bold by yourself. Go shoulder all these scary things by yourself. Don’t be afraid by relying on your own strength. Don’t get discouraged relying on your own reserves. I believe this scripture is telling us something very different.
At the risk of being irreverent here is Joshua 1:9 according to the Gospel of Carissa.
“Hey kiddo, what part of no do you not understand? I said be strong and courageous. I don’t care who told you to be afraid, I said don’t be discouraged and I meant it. You don’t really need to know the why, I said it and that’s all you need to know.”
Our theme this year at The Sparrow’s Nest is “Be Bold and Confident.” I believe God is calling us out saying “when it looks the most confusing that’s when you need to know I everything falls under my dominion so you can be encouraged. When things look the darkest I am leading the way so you can be courageous. When things appear out of control I have this life completely under my power so you don’t have to be afraid. When you have the feeling of weakness I master all power so you are strong through me.”
This is what it means at The Sparrow’s Nest to be bold and confident. It is to keep putting our trust and obedience in God. Even when we take it away from Him, even when it looks like we have failed, even when it seems we are frozen by fear, to keep our gaze on Him and keep returning to our identity as His precious child.
/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/girl-1317084_960_720-225×300.jpg