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"Be strong and of good courage."
(Joshua 1:6)
Physical strength is important to us all. The stronger our bones and muscles are, the more we can do. As we age, good, strong bodies last longer and are better equipped to fight off sicknesses. I have worked out with weights nearly all my life. I started when I was like 12 years old. I continue to lift weights now in my early 60s. Why? It is more to maintain than gain (those who are older know what I am talking about), but still, it is important to me. These bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit of God who lives within us (1 Corinthians 6:19). Since we have the Holy Spirit living within our bodies, Paul writes, "For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's." (1 Corinthians 6:20) One of the ways we glorify God in our bodies is by healthy eating and regular exercise.
Physical strength is important, and bodily exercise does profit us (1 Timothy 4:8), but spiritual strength is even more important. Paul goes on to say in the same verse: "but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come." So, how strong are you? Not how much can you squat or bench press, but how strong are you spiritually? Spiritual strength begins at spiritual birth. When we are born again by the Spirit of God, we change from weak, sinful, easily enticed, and deceived into persons who serve God and please Him.
This week in our devotions, we are going to talk about strength—not the physical kind, but the more important kind: strength of spirit, mind, and soul. We will look closely at a powerful, comforting, and convicting biblical text: Joshua 1:1-9. There are many tired and weary soldiers of the cross in our world today. Perhaps you are one of them. You feel you can barely keep going due to the weight and stress you carry in your mind and soul. I think about the people in Ukraine. They have been fighting Russia since February 24, 2022, the day they as a sovereign and peaceful nation were invaded. As I speak with people from Ukraine and read their statements, my heart goes out to them. I cannot imagine how hard that would be to live with the threat of destruction daily. But they are strong and resilient people. I pray that God helps them.
You may not be fighting a Goliath, but you have giants of your own. I want to help you this week to be strong and win more battles than you lose. Buckle up, for this week will be intense.
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