Tuesday, February 6, 2007

Weak Heart, Worn-out Faith

It's 3 degrees Fahrenheit outside right now. With the wind chill it feels a lot colder than that! Michigan is not a place to be for the faint of heart today.

A weak heart is trouble.

A weak heart means you should be careful shoveling snow. At the beginning of every winter, all of the stations run stories about how dangerous shoveling a lot of wet, heavy snow can be on a heart.

A weak heart can kill you.

A weak heart can make facing battles in life difficult too.

In the Book of Joshua, a witness reports the following:

"When we heard of it, our hearts melted and everyone's courage failed because of you, for the LORD your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below."

The "it" she was referring to was the invasion of the Hebrew wanderers. They were about enter the Promised Land. And the people who currently occupied the land were afraid because they had heard the stories of how the rag-tag group of former slaves were unbeatable because their God was powerful.

Has your heart melted and your courage leaked out of you?

Maybe you need to hear the words God spoke to the leader of the Hebrews, before they became so unstoppable:

"Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them." (1:6)

"Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you...that you may be successful wherever you go." (1:7)

"Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." (1:9)

Do you catch a pattern here? "Be strong and courageous". Because God has promised success. "Be strong and courageous" because as you obey God, He will display His power. "Be strong and courageous" because He will be present in your situation.

If you're suffering from a weak heart, feeling overcome by your circumstances, ask God for strength and courage so you can be strong and courageous. Trust His promise. Depend upon His power. Seek His presence.

Grace & peace

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