How to Begin the Day with Strength and Courage

I opened my eyes but it was still dark. The darkness felt like a heavy cold blanket wrapped around my heart. As my hand reached for the light switch my heart reached for the light as well. With spiritual light came spiritual truth,"This is the day the Lord has made I will rejoice and be glad in it."Psalm 118:24 I made the declaration, I spoke the word of God and suddenly I saw a scene in my mind.

As a young man Joshua had been one of the twelve spies to go into the Promised Land. What he saw confirmed the promises God had made, it was indeed a land flowing with milk and honey. He also had seen the giants and the walled cities. With Moses at the lead he had encouraged the people to believe that God was able to keep His promises. That was forty years ago. Moses was gone now. It was his job to lead the people into a land inhabited with giants. It was his job to take possession of the walled cities.

How did he overcome his since of inadequacy? Joshua was called by God to trust Him. With the calling came the promise,"Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will never leave you or forsake you." With the promise came the command, "Be strong and very courageous." Strength and courage were bi-products of Joshua's belief that God would keep His promises.

When it came time for the first battle Joshua encountered a man standing before him with a drawn sword in his hand. "Whose side are you on? Are you for us or our adversary?" The problem was Joshua was asking the wrong question. Joshua was not only given an answer he was given perspective. "No; but I am the commander of the army of the Lord. Now I have come."

Lord Jesus, I often begin my day weighed down with a heavy heart, unsure that I have what it takes to face the day. Yet your word says to rejoice because it is a day you have made. You also promised that you would not leave of forsake me. My eyes do not see the "commander of the army of the Lord". But you said that the Father would send the Helper, the Holy Spirit, to teach and to guide. Lord Jesus, you have given me your peace and with a heart of faith I receive it. Knowing you are worthy of my trust and your promises are true, I begin the day with courage and rejoicing.