He is With You

Joshua 1:5-9               

I don’t know what your fears may be, I know only mine and I know the One who has promised and commanded that we are to be strong and of good courage, to not be afraid or discouraged, as He has promised to with us.

Military leader Joshua pressed into the promised land following Moses’ death.  The battle to secure the land was against fierce Canaanite warriors.  Like soldiers of many wars, his soldiers trembled at the prospect of the blood-letting ahead.  We can hardly imagine the grip of fear young and old men alike suffered.  Twice God commanded them to be strong and of good courage. “For the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go!”  Joshua 1:9

Queen Esther, Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Corrie Tin-Boom are among many courageous heroes who risked or lost their temporal lives fighting battles of the faith.  Esther 4:16

Saint Patrick’s life was in danger at the time he first prayed the Breastplate prayer.  King Laeghaire tried to have him killed as he left the Hill of Tara, as he had preached to many turning them from the religion of the Druids to Christ.

“Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ within me, Christ behind me, Christ before me, Christ beside me, Christ be with me.”

Solitaries and people of prayer know the biggest battles can be the ones inside, the fighting’s and fears, within and without.

During a news media interview, Dan Rather told of remembering a song from childhood that comforted him during his time as a news correspondent in Vietnam.

“Safe am I, safe am I, in the hollow of His hand - Sheltered o’er, sheltered o’er in the hollow of His hand.  With His love forever more - no ill can harm me, no fear alarm me, for He keeps watch both day and night -Safe am I, in the hollow of His hand.”  (Mildred Lightner-Dillon)