“But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.” 2 Corinthians 3:18
You may love to hear that in Jesus all the promises of God are “YES”! (2 Cor. 1:20) However, in order to possess God’s promises, your promised land, as revealed by the Word of God it takes great strength and courage to say “yes” back to Him and to walk out and persevere in your “yes” despite all the opposition, danger, hardship, or extreme difficulty that you may face.
This is why God told Joshua, the one whom He had appointed to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land, to “Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed.” Joshua 1:9 In fact, God was so adamant that Joshua understood His admonition that He repeated these same instructions three times to Joshua in a very short span of time. And on the third time, He prefaces these instructions with these words: “Have I not commanded you?”
God knows that Joshua’s natural propensity, just like ours, is quite the opposite of these four commands. In fact, this is what caused not only a whole generation of Israelites to not only fail to enter their Promised land, but also caused them to wander in the wilderness for 40 years. Therefore, in God’s final exhortation to “be strong and courageous”, God fortifies Joshua’s heart by saying “…for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go”.
No matter where you are at or what you are facing, these are God’s Words to you as a believer in Jesus Christ, “I am with you wherever you go”. Under the New Covenant of God’s grace, God Almighty is not only with you, but God Almighty is in you. (Col. 2:9-10) The same power that raised Jesus Christ from the dead is the power that is now living inside of you. God is with you and in you for a purpose – to accomplish all that you cannot do in your own strength, ability, power, or courage.
As you look into the mirror of God’s Word you will be able to see the Truth of who God is – the One who is full of strength, limitless courage, fearless despite all odds, and never ever discouraged – living in you. God so loved you that He gave His only begotten Son, so you would not perish but have everlasting life, the resurrected life of Jesus. (John 3:16) God does not want you to perish in your heart, mind, or circumstances here on this earth or for all eternity. Therefore, God has given you Jesus Christ, Victorious One, so that you could live your life in Him, with Him, and through Him.
As you look into the mirror of God’s Word you will be able to see the Truth of who God is – the One who is full of strength, limitless courage, fearless despite all odds, and never ever discouraged – living in you.
God does not want your soul to languish in fear and discouragement because of the seeming insurmountable obstacles you may be facing right now in the natural realm. Instead, God wants you to focus on who He has created you to be inside of His Son Jesus Christ. As you look into the mirror of God’s Word, His Words of love to you, He passionately desires for you to see that you have been made in His likeness, in His image. (1 John 4:17) He wants you to see that in Christ your true nature is one of great strength and courage. And as you behold “as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, you will be transformed into that same image from glory to glory…” 2 Corinthians 3:18
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Courageous Living teaching (video, audio, PDF notes) beginning with Choices Determine Destiny teaching series.