Imagine yourself running a race. Your focus is on the finish line, but along the way your thought-life creates confusion. Your inner voice begins to say, “You better stop running … you might hurt yourself.”
Or you hear, “Was it really your idea to run this race?”
- Or “Don’t go any farther—this next leg is too hard for you.”
- Or “Come down this path. It’s the easy way out.”
- Or “I don’t think you can trust the markers you see for the course are correct.”
- Or “I think those people watching you are laughing at you because they don’t think you are any good.”
- Or “Remember when you failed! You better not try again!”
You can stop, listen to your thoughts, and quit … or you can choose to take those thoughts captive to finish the race.
Keep Your Eyes Fixed on Christ
The race we are running is to follow Christ. Our eyes should be fixed on him.
God told Joshua not to turn to the right or left, but to follow God in order to be successful (Joshua 1:8). Turn to the left or the right in fear, and you are in danger of quitting or becoming distracted from your goal—a life completely surrendered to Christ.
The enemy works inside our thought-life and his calling card is fear. He is the father of lies. The enemy cannot steal your salvation, but he will do everything in his power to take you out of the race by tempting you to quit by confusing your thoughts.
Thoughts become beliefs that ultimately drive our behavior. Pay attention to your thinking and meditate on God’s truth to remain steadfast.
“And don’t for a minute let this Book of The Revelation be out of mind. Ponder and meditate on it day and night, making sure you practice everything written in it. Then you’ll get where you’re going; then you’ll succeed.” (Joshua 1:8 MSG)
God told Joshua to meditate on truth and that same tool is just as effective for us today.
I am not a warrior like Joshua trying to conquer enemies in the Promised Land, but I am a busy wife, mother, friend, and ministry leader with a desire to live in the direction of my God-given purpose. Just like you, I have distractions and disappointments that have the potential to derail me. In my busy world where my mind is prone to wander, biblical meditation continues to be the tool that gives me the ability to take my thoughts captive so that I can stand firm in my faith.
As an anchor exists to secure a vessel so it ceases to wander, God’s Word secures our heart to Him no matter what waves of fear we may face during the day.
God’s Word Is Our Weapon in Facing Fear
Jesus drew from the Scriptures to defeat Satan’s manipulative tactics of temptation so that he could stand firm (Matthew 4:1–11). Similarly, God’s Word is our offensive weapon in the battle against the enemy of our soul. As you face battles during the day, be like Joshua and Jesus.
Stand firm by strengthening your mind to the truth in his Word.
Talk back to your fearful thoughts with truth and derail the enemy’s tactics. This will require work on your part. Brave hearts armor up prepare for battle by renewing their minds to truth, memorizing scripture and speaking it out loud. (To see how to put this discipline into daily practice, check out the lessons on Renew Step 21 Day Challenge)
God was counting on Joshua to be courageous, and God is counting on you!
Courage means following God despite our feelings of fear and insecurity. The Bible says that Joshua was “terrified” and he “trembled.” Brave heart, it’s ok to feel fear – it’s not ok to follow fear.
God promised Joshua he would be with him and give him victory, but it was up to Joshua to replace his fear with faith in his Lord.
It is the same for us.
Our actions can be driven by faith or by fear—it is our choice. Our choices flow from our thought-life. Biblical meditation is God’s prescription to renew you mind. Fill your mind-truth and watch your courage soar!
Nourish Scripture: Joshua 1
Blog written by Aliene Thompson. Aliene Thompson is the founder of Treasured Ministries and the Author of the Nourish Bible Study Series. © 2019 Treasured Ministries.
