Sanctuary

“Do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9

Encouragement. I absolutely love to be encouraged, don’t you? I recently went through a season where it felt like encouragement was hard to come by. When I am not being encouraged it makes me feel like I am doing something wrong, I am not valued, or worse… not even noticed.

But when I am encouraged, it spurs me on. It confirms and affirms the truth of who I am in Christ. It helps me to live fully me and fully free.

I have noticed that when I am not being encouraged, I usually am not encouraging others. It is not a very beautiful cycle and it’s hard to break, especially when you think you deserve it and the other person may not.

Recently, a friend of mine texted me and said, “The Lord has been speaking to me. He laid your name and four other men on my heart. I’m to pray for you daily.”

Talk about encouragement! When the Lord is speaking to your friend about you, and your friend is charged to pray for you daily, wow! And not only has he prayed for me, but he has listened to the Spirit of God speak to him and has sent me the most encouraging, spirit-filled texts at the most needed times!

I am reminded of these verses:

“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up…” 1 Thessalonians 5:11

“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, ²⁵ not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Hebrews 10:24-25

I’m not sure what may be discouraging you today, but can I invite you to be a vessel of God’s presence and peace today by being His voice of encouragement?

Reflection:

1. Lord, who might you want me to encourage today?
2. Lord, I need encouragement. Will encourage me or send a vessel of your encouragement to me?
3. Lord, thank you for the reminder of who I am in you. I praise you for that!  Help me to stay there and be encouraged in that truth. 

Pray through the truth of Romans 15:4-6.

 “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.⁵ May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, ⁶ so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid…” Joshua 1:9

In case we missed it the first time, or in my case, a million times, God in His steadfast love and kindness gently reminds us again… we have nothing to fear! And here in this passage, I feel like I hear God saying, “Don’t just hear what I am saying, it’s time to live it out! I am telling you to walk fearless, with the strength and courage that I have given you!”

Sadly, walking in fear may be more common among followers of Jesus in our culture than walking in peace. How did we get here? Why do we always go back here?

I am not sure I know how to answer either of those questions, but I am ready to say NO MORE! I am ready to be strong and courageous in Him! To take God at His Word that I have nothing to be afraid of!  And to live in that peace with my brothers and sisters in Christ who will encourage me to stay there, because it is who I am. It is who you are in Christ… a person of peace!

I am ready to replace all the spaces and places that fear tried to claim in my life, with the peace of Christ that belongs there! 

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27

Will you join me there today… and the rest of our days?

Reflection:

1. Peace or fear? Which one best describes you? Our culture? The church?
2. What do you do when you recognize that you are operating in fear rather than the peace of Christ?
3. Are you ready to say NO MORE to fear? If so, will you consider telling a friend and inviting them to help you stay there?

Pray through the truths of Ephesians 6:10-17.

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. ¹¹ Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.12 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.13 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.14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.“

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. Joshua 1:8

God’s Word is truth, and His truth sets us free! His truth is the same yesterday, today and forever. For Joshua, God’s law was his freedom song. For disciples of Jesus, it’s the same…

Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31-32

Knowing the Word of God, living in it and through it, lights up our path to freedom in Christ. Check out how the Psalmist lives in this freedom of knowing God’s law as truth in Psalm 119:97-106:

Oh, how I love your law!
    I meditate on it all day long.
⁹⁸ Your commands are always with me
    and make me wiser than my enemies.
⁹⁹ I have more insight than all my teachers,
    for I meditate on your statutes.
¹⁰⁰ I have more understanding than the elders,
    for I obey your precepts.
¹⁰¹ I have kept my feet from every evil path
    so that I might obey your word.
¹⁰² I have not departed from your laws,
    for you yourself have taught me.
¹⁰³ How sweet are your words to my taste,
    sweeter than honey to my mouth!
¹⁰⁴ I gain understanding from your precepts;
    therefore I hate every wrong path.

¹⁰⁵ Your word is a lamp for my feet,
    a light on my path.
¹⁰⁶ I have taken an oath and confirmed it,
    that I will follow your righteous laws.

Reflection:

1. What does it look like for you to meditate on the truths of God’s Word? How often do you think through the lens of His truth?
2. How do you remain in the truth of God’s Word? Who helps you to stay there?
3. If you were to write your own Psalm about God’s Word and what it means to you, what would it say?

Pray through the truths of Hebrews 4:12-13 and 2 Timothy 3:16-17.

“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. ¹³ Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” Hebrews 4:12-13

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, ¹⁷ so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17

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 to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Joshua 1:6-7

Strength and courage. I pray that over you today! That you would be filled with supernatural strength to endure whatever God has put in front of you, and that you would have the courage to continue to fight the good fight of faith, trusting Him with the outcome. 

Make no mistake, it is a fight, and going into it without strength and courage… well, I would not recommend it. The question is where do strength and courage come from?

I am learning it comes from who you are in Christ. In Him you already are strong and courageous, you just have to learn to live into what is already within you. He is in you, and He is your strength and courage!

Let these truths wash over you:

“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” Psalm 73:26

“Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always.” 1 Chronicles 16:11

“The Lord is my strength and my song; he has given me victory. This is my God, and I will praise him – my father’s God, and I will exalt him.” Exodus 15:2

“Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord, is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.” Isaiah 12:2

“He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless.” Isaiah 40:29

“Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:10

“The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights.” Habakkuk 3:19

“But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.” 2 Thessalonians 3:3

“And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.” 1 Peter 5:10

Today, before you try to “muster up” strength or courage on your own, I invite you to receive what is already yours as a child of the Most High God!

Reflection:

1. When do you usually realize your need for strength or courage?
2. Where do you go to get it?
3. How might the Lord be inviting you into His strength for what is in front of you today?

Pray through the truth of 2 Corinthians 12:9-10.

⁹ But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. ¹⁰ That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.