Forever Home in the Eternal Family of God

A Daily Devotional by Kenton Cheek

22 March 2024

Reading From Joshua 1-4

“Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.  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.”

–Joshua 1:7-9

     This is more than an encouraging suggestion to be strong, it is a command.  We live in a world filled with discouragement and weakness.  Left alone, humans are frail and prone to failure.  Empowered by the might Holy Spirit of the Living God, they become unstoppable champions!  Be encouraged.  He that is within you is greater than he that is in the world.  You are more than a conqueror in Christ Jesus.  His power is made perfect in weakness; even when I am weak, He is strong and He dwells within the core of my very being.  No weapon formed against me shall prosper.  Why?  Because HE said so and He ALWAYS keeps His promises. 

     What are we to do?  Be strong and courageous, meditate on and obey the Word of the Lord, keep focused on Jesus (don’t turn to the right or left), and we will be prosperous and successful in what God has called us to do.  God is faithful.  He will more than provide and bless us.  We are thoroughly furnished unto all good works!  Do not lose heart even in the midst of depressing and even dire circumstances.  Be strong in the Lord!  Failure is not an option.  With God, there is total victory!

“God, even when I don’t feel like it, even when I want to throw in the towel, even when it seems like the whole world is stacked against me, even when I am opposed on all sides, enable me by the power of Your Spirit to stand up and fight, for the battle belongs to You. Thank You that I already have the victory by the blood of the Lamb. I just need to walk in what You have provided for me. Thank You for the victory that You give to each one of Your precious children in Your eternal family. I love You Jesus. Thank You for loving me first. Amen.”

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 

Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

–Ephesians 6:10-18