As we open the book of Joshua, our hero is standing at the edge of the Promised Land, the destiny they have been hoping for. He is entering the third “leg” of his journey of faith. For the first 40 years of Joshua’s life, he was a slave. Born into bondage, as his fellow Hebrews had been for 400 years. He knew no other life.Then came the glorious day when God sent the great deliverer, Moses. Joshua experienced Passover and the parting of the Red Sea. He saw firsthand that the Lord was able to work mightily for His people.The second leg of Joshua’s journey was a mixture of education and maturation as he spent the next 40 years in the wilderness. During this season, he was Moses’ right-hand man, and he developed a deep trusting relationship with God.Now he begins the third leg. He is in his 80s. Moses is dead, and now God says, “Joshua, I want you to lead my people into the Promised Land.” The journey of his life has been a series of steps preparing him for this day. The same is true in our lives.Spiritual maturity is a function of moment-by-moment choices regarding whether to trust or mistrust, as well as day-to-day decisions about whether to obey or disobey.  Now, as Joshua is being called into the biggest challenge of his life, God gives him these stunning words: “Be strong and courageous.” (Josh. 1:6, 7, 9)In Hebrew, the words are:chazaq – be strong; “grab hold”amats – courageous; “don’t let go”God was saying to Joshua, “I have a future for you.  It’s a good future, a hope-filled future, a future that will not only result in My glory but your good.  I want you to grab hold of it.  And once you do, don’t let go.”But that sort of future wasn’t just offered to Joshua. There’s a point of parallel for you and me.  First of all, you need to…Grab hold and don’t let go of God’s promises. (vs. 6) Here are two promises regarding your future to grab hold of and not let go:Regarding your identity. You are no longer a slave. You are a child of God. (Ga. 4:7)Regarding your destiny. God has plans for His glory and your good. (Jer. 29:11)Next, we need to… Grab hold and don’t let go of God’s patterns. (v. 8)Patterns for success are found in Scripture.  Read it. Meditate on it. Obey it. (2 Tim. 3:16-17)Then, we need to… Grab hold and don’t let go of God’s presence. (v.9)God promises to be with us every step of our journey. (Deut. 31:8) Text: Joshua 1:1-18Originally recorded on August 14, 2016, at Fellowship Missionary Church, Fort Wayne, IN

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