Have I Not COMMANDED You?

Posted on February 16, 2015 by Graeme Wilson in Freedom Fighters

Have I Not COMMANDED YOU?

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you WHEREVER you go. Joshua 1:9

This past week was very difficult for the America’s Keswick family. One of our Colony of Mercy graduates and former staff member, Ed Weiss, had a massive heart attack and went home to be with Jesus early Thursday morning.

We have had so many losses over the past year and into this one, and on Friday morning around 4:00 AM as I was waking up, I was ready to throw in the towel. Feeling emotionally drained, depleted spiritually and just weak, I told the Lord I don’t want to do this anymore. I didn’t want to be in charge. I don’t want to be responsible for stuff. I am done. People tell me all the time I am strong. I don’t want that responsibility anymore.

After I got done ranting in my head, a sweet calmness flooded over me and while I didn’t hear the audible voice of God, in my heart it was as if He was saying to me, “Let’s talk about the theme verse for 2015 that I gave to you!”

Well I knew then I was going to the tool shed! J He gently reminded me, the verse is not a suggestion. It’s not a recommendation for your consideration. It is a COMMAND! The command is to be strong and courageous.

Now lest you think the strength has to do with you? You are nothing without Me. You are only strong when you are weak? I am the One who is sustaining and strengthening you. And because of My strength, you don’t have to be afraid or even be dismayed. I am with you WHEREVER you go.

Please don’t shoot me or send me letters. This isn’t about getting new revelation from God. I believe for me the Holy Spirit was flooding back to my mind the Word of God that I have committed to memory over the years. He was speaking to my heart in a special way and the peace of God washed over me and I fell back into a sweet sleep.

Later on in the day my wife Jan sent me a list of verses. And you guessed it, it confirmed in my heart what God was saying to me in the early hours of the morning.

I have told you before, I am a slow learner, but I am very thankful that in the midst of the craziness of life, when all around us there is chaos and confusion, we are not alone. We can depend on HIM! He is MY Rock! He is my Fortress! He is my STRONG Deliver. Thank You Lord, for speaking to my heart.

Is there an area in your life where you are afraid? Dismayed? Maybe today would be a good day to write the promise of Joshua 1:9 in your heart. – Bill Welte is President/CEO of America’s Keswick

Daily Bible Reading: Isaiah 65-66; Mark 14:54-72

Think About This: Great comforts do, indeed, bear witness to the truth of thy grace, but not to the degree of it; the weak child is oftener in the lap than the strong one. William Gurnall

This Week’s Verse to Memorize: Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart, all you who hope in the Lord. Psalm 31:24