Joshua 1:9 Names of God Bible (NOG)
9 “I have commanded you, ‘Be strong and courageous! Don’t tremble or be terrified, because Yahweh your Elohim is with you wherever you go.’”
In this translation, it is a statement, a command, an order. In several other translations, it is a question, Have I not commanded you? Admittedly, this can be challenging. God is commanding us to be strong and courageous in our lives. Not to be afraid or discouraged, and why? Because God, our creator, is with us wherever we go. Don’t you feel empowered by the word of the Lord, telling you that He IS with you? Not that He might tag along if you ask him, but He IS with you wherever you go AND we have His power.
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us. Eph 3:20 (NIV)
When God is with us, we have his power within us already and He is at work. Why do we forget to tap into the power that God is offering and what can we do to resolve that?
It is actually very simple, stay connected to the one that has that power.
My husband and I both travel a bit for work (and me also for tending to my Dad). After 35 years, mostly we have figured out how to make the travel and being gone work. We must “connect”, with a hug, a kiss and a few minutes of uninterrupted conversation in the first few minutes that the traveling one returns. Years ago when the kids were little, that meant heading straight to the bedroom, locking the door and spending a few minutes reconnecting on the home front. However, sometimes, we slip up and don’t do what works and the result is unpleasant. For example, Lee travelled last week for just a couple of days, but I had an appointment that took me out of the house before he arrived home, by the time I got back, we were in the full swing of dinner and out of town kids getting to town and didn’t take that time to connect. The evening conversation was tense and combative all as a result of not taking that time to unite.
If my earthly relationships need that time to relate, how much more is that time with God needed? If I don’t spend the time with God, reading his word, listening for his voice and obeying, then my life gets tense and combative.
My best time of the day with the Lord is the first thing in the morning, however, I am a morning person. I love the dawn of a new day and the freshness of a blank slate before me. Not everyone enjoys the morning (and we leave those people alone!)
But, everyone must make time to stay connected to the power source daily. This is a habit of choice. We choose to make time for the things that are important and a priority.
Have you created the habit of connecting to THE power source?
