God Is Not Against Me

One of my favorite Bible passages my parents taught me growing up was Joshua 1:9: “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Seems like a simple life principle, huh? God tells you to do something, and you do it. As a child, I didn’t have experience with how crippling fear or anxiety could be and how easily it could sway my mind from trusting Him.

The foundation of every good relationship is trust. If you aren't familiar with God's voice and the truth of His Word, it’s easy to forget He’s always for you and on your side. I quickly start doubting that He can see me through what may feel impossible.

God commanded Joshua to stand up and lead the people of Israel after they had been wandering for years. This comes right after Moses, who led them out of Egypt, just died. So even though Joshua was inexperienced and never led the people, he was told by God to be bold and trust that He would have his back in the fight for ALL that was promised. I don’t know about you, but there are so many times I can self-isolate, and my thinking patterns can play tricks on my mind to talk me out of action because of fear, but the Lord commands us to be strong and move forward.

What does it mean to be strong? I have recently been trying (emphasis on trying) to get into a workout routine this year. Three days of strength training per week and throwing in a little cardio on the off days is my goal. Do I meet it all the time? No! Can I tell the difference in those weeks I don’t complete my routine? Absolutely! I don’t love to work out naturally, although I’ve adopted the mindset that I need to for my age and lifestyle. It’s not only beneficial for me to stay healthy, both mentally and physically, but also for the way it reminds me of the importance of discipline in my spirituality. My spiritual health is not always perfect or easy, but when I work at it and spend time with God, He reveals so much of His plan for me.

I love how we are reminded to “Be strong and courageous” on three different occasions in this chapter. Just like working out, if you don't build on repetition, your muscles are weakened, and you even begin to lose the muscle. The same goes for our faith, if we give up on the routine, it’s easy to lose our strength and get stuck in patterns of thinking that scream, "You aren’t worthy, forgiven, accepted, or loved." His words in Romans 8:26 say, "In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us."

When God speaks to us, He already knows every circumstance that comes along with that request. He knows your flaws, your habits, your strengths, and your weaknesses, yet He’s called us to serve Him! I love this song, “God is Not Against Me,” because it serves as a reminder that if God calls us to do it, He’s going to work through it. “This is not my fight, you are my defense, you hold my life, this is my confidence!”

Just like He asked Joshua, “Have I not commanded you?” Reflect on your life today. Maybe it’s taking that big step with a new job, a hard conversation, working on that school project, a massive initiative with your new business, or maybe taking steps for your health with your family. If God whispers it to you, He’s already promised to see you through it! Don’t be afraid, trust that His voice will guide you to do it!

Pray this with me: Jesus, there’s nothing in my life that You haven’t already seen, and with that, You already know all my plans. You know me, and You love me! Help me to trust Your Word, and help me to have the courage to follow You in all that I do. You have called me to this very moment in life, and I choose to be bold and stand firm in Your power. Send me and use me how You want as I serve You with my life. I pray that I will be a vessel for Your glory. In Jesus' name, amen!

Watch the live video for "God Is Not Against Me (Jonsal Barrientes & Tiffany Hudson)" available now: https://youtu.be/hrfERHvJdG4?si=CPFFfueKQio8wwCx