04/12/2026 Strong and Courageous
Joshua 1:6-9
Joshua is the story of how God teaches ordinary people to live strong & courageous lives.
BIG IDEA: God grows courage in us as we trust His presence, stand on His promises, and live by His Word.
Do you feel ready for what’s in front of you? Will you trust God when you don’t feel ready to?
The beginning of strong & courageous:
1. God uses new seasons to grow courage. God leads ordinary people into new seasons that require them to trust Him.
2. God grounds our courage in His promises, not our performance. Courage grows when you trust what God has promised more than what you can produce.
3. God builds courage through His presence. Courage isn’t self-confidence, it’s God-confidence.
4. God forms courage through our obedience to His Word. Meditation is keeping God’s Word in your mind long enough that it begins to shape your life.
Where is God trying to form courage in you right now?
1. Is God calling you into a new season you don’t feel ready for? Step forward anyway and trust God.
2. Is there a promise of God you need to stand on instead of your own ability? Learn to trust God through the process.
3. Is there a place you need to trust that God is with you? Pray to experience God’s presence.
4. Are there ways for you to begin to root yourself in God’s Word this week?
05/31/2026 Strong & Courageous | Choose Today
Joshua 23-24
Big Idea: Today’s devotion shapes tomorrow’s direction.
God finishes what He starts. People rarely walk away from God all at once They slowly stop choosing Him day by day.
Four practical challenges for living that stay devoted to God:
1. Remember God’s faithfulness. You are standing here because God has been faithful. Forgotten faithfulness weakens present devotion. What past faithfulness of God do you need to revisit to strengthen your present trust?
2. Remove what competes for your devotion. Trust god and cling to Him. Beware of internal drift. It takes courage to start following God. It takes greater courage to keep following Hi faithfully over time. What you tolerate today will eventually shape who you become. What is quietly competing with God for first place in your life?
3. Choose daily whom you will serve. There is no middle road, follow God or live according to your earthly desires. (Matt 24: 9-13; Joshua 24:5; Rom 5:8; Col 1:13) Following Jesus isn’t self-improvement, it’s self-surrender. What choice do you need to make today before drift takes you further?
4. Build rhythms that reinforce your devotion. What rhythms need to change if you want your devotion to stay strong?
Three decisions you need to make to live fully devoted to the Lord:
1. Decide what needs to go. What competes for your devotions shapes who you become.
2. Decide what faithfulness looks like. Being faithful takes hard work.
3. Decide what needs to be reinforced. Choose wisely.
