6 Be strong and courageous because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them.
7 “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 the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 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. 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.”
Joshua 1:6-9
To the girl who has been trying to figure out how she will get through, be strong and courageous! Now, imagine if you were in Joshua's shoes taking on finishing a HUGE task where someone left off and you just have to go as God is telling you to. Whew, it is a huge ask and task. Most times when God requires more of us, we begin to think about all the things that could go wrong. We may be saying the truth or making excuses for most of us. What if I told you that God already knows what you have to handle when He calls you?
Yes, God already knows AND He is calling you. God is calling you to more and wants you to know that He will have you the whole way through. This promise is shown in Joshua 1:6-9 that the beautiful affirming power of God is shown three times. God was showing that He indeed knew that the journey is not always easy but He needed Joshua to stand up and get the job done. There is a call for specifically you and you are going to have to stand on what you know God is good for. Your faith is going to have to be applied to the next level. That real conversation you are going to have to have is with yourself and probably in the mirror. This pep talk is going to be one where you are going to have to believe in the ONE God is calling and created for such a time as this. You got EVERYTHING you need- you just need to be strong and courageous!
Let's be honest, the real conversation is that it is not all as simple as it sounds. But, sister girl, Queen, my love, and my boo with all my heart I want to encourage you to find out what it is going to take for you to BE STRONG and COURAGEOUS!!
Here are a few tips to help you begin:
1. Watch what you are consuming- EVERYTHING!
The moment we get up and check our phones we are plugged into so many different things that are grabbing our attention and feeding us all they have to offer. Even when we get overwhelmed with that, we are then consuming more information to get well. This information overload becomes us over time. What we listen to, watch, eat, drink, read, or do all become a part of our nature. Be careful to be alert to all that is feeding you. We are what we consume. So, consume good things every day. Fill your days with love, great reads, positive shows, heart-full movies, fun family memories, interactive and healthy activities, and the things that you desire to do and make you happy. Life is too short not to be loving the days you have left here. make the most of it!
2. Cut off anyone and anything that leads to negativity.
I am not telling you to go and cut off everything and everybody but you know that it is time to realize that you have to make some changes to feel better. The truth is negativity spreads. You need to close those doors fast. You need to have positive people and things around you. Those friends that you call and can feel their smiles through their words. That is who you need. You need those things that remind you that you are okay and everything is going to be okay. Make a list of all the people and things that make you happy and start working on that list when you feel that things are getting a little negative. It is okay to decide to live above the negativity.
3. Speak life into your situation.
Listen, choose to speak life into yourself. You are the first one to hear your words so let them be words that build you up and not tear you down. Let beauty run off of your tongue. Think of about 10 phrases that you would love as compliments. Write them down on sticky notes. Put them all over your bathroom mirror and read them to yourself each day as you get ready. Repeat when it gets hard. Listen, it may feel routine before it is comfortable. Keep trying that is what matters.
4. Get the help you NEED- be honest with yourself!
This one is a tough one but a real one and you know what we have got to be honest with ourselves when what we have comes to an end. Like all of the resources we need are outside of what we could offer ourselves. I encourage you to ask yourself the hard question- what and who do I need to be successful in this season? For some of us, that is going to therapy and for others of us, it may be a babysitter just to get an hour to yourself. We all get it and have been in a position where we had to realize that we needed more help than we could offer ourselves. Remember that God is the source that works through resources. Pray for Him to send you the people and the resources to help you.
5. Give yourself grace!
It will not all happen overnight and that is okay. Take each step with grace and love. Give yourself the grace that you know is extended to you from our loving Father up above. Walk into each day with a graceful spirit to work at it each day. That love-filled grace will help you get through the tough days.
Prayer for this week is the bonus episode on the podcast HERE.
Reflection Questions:
How can I show up as strong and courageous in this season?
Is there anything that I have been shying away from showing up and being strong and courageous in?
What is God commanding me to go forth in?
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