Welcome to Kendra Graham’s Online Bible Study! This is a place where we can come together and share in our journey towards Scriptural truths and spiritual maturity. We pray this will be a safe, respectful, resourceful place to come and discuss God’s Word…to discover What it says…What it means…and What it means to you!
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Kendra Graham notes from Joshua 1:9:
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of a good courage. Do not tremble or be dismayed for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
THE FACTS: Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of a good courage, do not tremble or be dismayed, the LORD your GOD is with you wherever you go.
THE LESSONS: Well, here we go! It’s the last week before school officially starts. I don’t know about you, but for me, as I look to this year, I see all the places I need to be and the commitments I’ve made, and instead of being excited and ready to conquer the new school year with fresh energy and focus… I kinda want to hide. Schedules…demands…yuck! Gone are the days of sleeping in and enjoying the summer. Now it’s off to science fair projects and research papers.
I have three kids: one in high school, one in middle school, and yes, one in elementary school…just to keep things going in completely different directions!
When I asked my kids about what they are looking forward to this year, all of them expressed…. fear. The girls are afraid because they are on new travel soccer teams and they don’t know the girls or the coaches. My middle school daughter is afraid because this will be her last year in a school she absolutely loves. My youngest and only son is scared because he is homeschooling this year and is afraid his teacher may lose it come Christmas. 🙂 OK, that is a REAL fear! I am afraid because what if I can’t homeschool adequately? What if I can’t get these girls to their games across the wide blue yonder each weekend? What if the school work load is too hard and these children need more help than I have time to give them? Fear…. fear… fear.
Fear keeps us from doing that which God has called us to. I may not be preparing to march around Jericho, but I sure feel the impending battles that are just around the corner. Has God really called me to where I am? What is it God is doing this school year in our family and among all these schools and teams we are part of?
I go back to Joshua 1:9 often because it reminds me that God knows that fear is a very real emotion that we battle with. God did not chide Joshua for having fear, but He did call Joshua not to give in to fear. We have a choice who we give the power to in our lives. Fear is our natural response, so we must saturate ourselves in the Word of God on a daily basis. This is our only hope. We need to determine to trust that God IS with us and will lead us. Setting our hearts and minds to believe the promises of God as we step out daily is a HUGE challenge, but so worth it. God loves to leave us in these dependent situations, where we can’t even begin to conquer or vanquish all that is demanded of us. This way, God stays at the forefront.
As the academic year begins and we feel pressed upon and pulled in so many directions, may the first direction we determine to set our feet, eyes and heart in, on a daily basis, is in the Word of God. In the Joshua 1:8, it says, “This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall mediate on it day and night so that you may be careful to do all that is written in it; for THEN you will make your way prosperous and you will have success.” Success summed up: Stay in the Word of God and follow His lead…. day by day, by day. Let’s dedicate to do that this school year, and show our children what courage looks like. Courage is following hard after God. Just do and go where the LORD leads today, then again tomorrow…all for His glory.
I love the quote accredited to Ambrose Redmoon: “Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that something else is more important.” As my kids and I discussed our fears, we came up with the promises of God that we can focus on instead. Fear quickly turned into anticipation of what God will do and how He will accomplish the impossible in our personal lives.
- God is faithful and true (Revelation 3:14).
- God will not leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5).
- With God ALL things are possible (Matthew 19:26).
- Our God reigns (Psalm 93:1).
- “See, I have set before you an open door and NO ONE can shut it, for you have a little strength, have kept My Word and have not denied My name.” Revelation 3:8
APPLY IT: How have you given in to fear instead of faith? What promises of God do you need to claim to get through the day? Are your eyes seeking to see things beyond today? Will you determine this school year to begin your day with your eyes and heart set in God’s Word? Where is God calling you to be courageous?
LIVE IT OUT: TODAY, I will claim the promises of God as I go out. LORD, may You and Your promises trump all fear, and give me the courage to tackle what You have set before me this day.
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What Scripture are you studying now? What have you learned? How has the Lord spoke to you? Share with us in the comments section.
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