In Joshua 1:7-9, God instructs Joshua, the new leader of the people of Israel, twice to “be strong and courageous.” They were about to cross the Jordan River and take possession of the land God had promised Abraham centuries earlier. In the middle of this bookend to “be strong and courageous” is the exhortation to meditate on the Scriptures day and night. The connection is worth pondering.
Joshua’s life was about to get complicated and a bit difficult. God knew that. He knew the challenges lurking on the horizon. God also knew what Joshua would need in order to face those challenges with courage and strength…a mind and heart soaked in God’s Word.
Yes, some of the problems we encounter in life are self-inflicted. Because we aren’t obedient to God and his Word, we make poor decisions that cause us heartache. But many of the problems we face in life are uncontrollable because they are the result of living in a deeply flawed world. Dealing with the uncontrollable problems with strength and courage can happen only if our blood bleeds “Bibleline.”
Pondering deeply the truths of God’s Word feeds our strength and courage. The two are inextricably linked. There is no shortcut to strength and courage. They are the result of prolonged periods of time devoted to meditating on the Bible.
