As I got ready to post this blog, I noticed God has a distinct theme weaving through my life right now: Be strong and courageous.
God has been speaking those words to me for quite some time.
Why? Because things in the world are bad and are going to get worse—it says so in the Bible. I need to be strong and courageous, but He is also telling me to encourage others with the same words.
Proverbs 18:21 tells us the power of death and life resides in the tongue. The writer put death and life in that order for a reason. I can only guess why, but I do know that we human beings are quick to speak the negative rather than positive.
Continually touting how bad things are only continues to make things worse. We’re actually helping the Devil when we speak the problem.
Instead, we need to speak God’s truth.
In Genesis 1:28, God told Adam to “subdue it [ the earth]: have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth” (NKJV). Mankind lost that dominion when Adam sinned. But the good news is that Jesus got it back!
Ruling in a Foreign Land
Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery. He diligently served Potiphar, the captain of Pharaoh’s guard. He diligently served the master of the prison during his time there. Yet, Joseph became the second-in-command in Egypt. Think about that. Joseph was a leader of a foreign country. (You’ll find his full story in Genesis 37–50.)
Now let’s take a quick look at Daniel.
King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon besieged Jerusalem during the third year of King Johoiakim’s rule in Judah and defeated them. He took the sacred objects from the temple and several young men from the royal family back to Babylon, Daniel being one of them (Daniel 1:1–7).
Daniel was forced into Babylonian training, but in all the ways that count, Daniel stood his ground. He refused to adopt their lifestyle and he continued to worship the one true God. After Daniel interprets a dream for King N., he made Daniel a ruler over the whole province of Babylon (Daniel 2:24–29). Yes, Daniel ruled in a foreign land.
God was with both these men, giving them His favor, wisdom, and guidance to accomplish His plan.
God Is with You
Today’s believers have it so much better than Joseph and Daniel did. We live by God’s grace rather than by the Mosaic Law. All our sins are forgiven through Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. We have Holy Spirit residing in us, the same power that raised Jesus from the dead. Joseph and Daniel had neither.
“But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people [false prophets], because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit [Satan] who lives in the world” (1 John 4:4 NLT).
Our citizenship is in heaven, but we are living in a foreign land. However, we don’t need to fear anything going on in this world. Satan is a defeated foe! Jesus defeated him when He died and rose from the grave.
We Have the Keys to Rule in a Foreign Land
Jesus gave us the keys of the kingdom, saying, “I tell you the truth, whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven. I also tell you this: If two of you agree here on earth concerning anything you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you” (Matthew 18:18–19 NLT). Revelation 12:11 tells us, “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony” (NKJV).
God did a powerful work in your life when you accepted Him as Lord and Savior. Like Joseph and Daniel, God wants us to “rule” in the foreign land we live in. He is with us just as He was with them. We need to believe and have faith.
I want to encourage you with these words: be strong and courageous. That phrase occurs 30 times in 15 verses in the New Living Translation. The King James states it this way: be strong and of good courage.
Strengthen Your Faith Muscles
Spend time reading the Bible and speak those words out loud. Make a recording of yourself speaking the verses you need and listen to the recording daily because faith comes by hearing and hearing the Word of God (Romans 10:17).
Meditate on verses specific to your situation. For example 1 Peter 2:24 for healing and Deuteronomy 28:8 for provision.
We are the children of God, the King of kings and Lord of lords. We are the army of the Lord. We do not have to sit by and wring our hands because of the evil in the world.
Be strong and courageous, pray, and then step out in faith to take the action to which God directs you.
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