Life Plan Devotion #124 [Strength & Courage]

Joshua 1:5-9 "No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you or forsake you. Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth, meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go" (NIV).

Joshua became leader, after the death of Moses. Joshua must have been hesitant, perhaps even fearful, for three times in Joshua 1:5-9 God says to Joshua, "Be strong and courageous." Joshua accepted Moses' place as leader. God's will for him was Joshua's will, and even if Joshua may have felt inadequate or fearful, he believed God's Word.
Joshua knew something each of us should "know," that going "all out" for God is the unfailing prerequisite for success, in every area of life. What did "success" mean, for Joshua? It was believing in and seeing the fulfillment of that which God had spoken over him, "You and Israel will be able to take this land" (Joshua 1:8e, CEV).
Dear reader, God has a good plan for you, for you to be successful. Will you trust Him? Will you believe Him? Will you follow His Word? Will you be "available" to God, for Him to use you? Will you accept the "place" He has for you? Will you go "all out" for Him? Will you "be strong and courageous," because He has spoken those words over you? If you can say a heartfelt "yes!" to each of those questions, then you and those you "lead" (your family) will be able to experience success, to take hold of it.

What this has to do with weight loss: The weight-loss journey, especially when it involves weight-loss surgery, takes strength and courage. You are not alone. The same God who encouraged young Joshua with "Be strong and courageous" says the same thing to you today, and as you believe in Him and trust in and follow His Word, you will conquer and experience success, which was God's plan for you all along.

Confession:
"Yes, God."

Life Plan Devotion #75 [God's Armor--Shield of Faith, Part III]

Last time we looked at the phrase "Above all," found in Ephesians 6:16. Today, let's look at the next phrase in "Above all, taking the shield of faith..." [New King James Version]. Again, let's look at that from various Bible translations.
The New International Version says that we should "take up the shield of faith." The Message advises us to "Take all the help you can get." The Amplified Version directs us to "Lift up over all the [covering] shield." The New Living Translation tells us to "hold up the shield of faith." The New Century Version simply says to "use the shield of faith." My favorite way of putting this key phrase is found in the Contemporary English Version, which says to "Let your faith be like a shield."
Brothers and sisters in Christ, decide today to "let your faith be like a shield." Faith is of little value if you don't know how to walk it out from day to day. Your Shield of Faith will not help you, if you leave it at church or at home. You will not be victorious if you forget to lift up and use your Shield of Faith. Without it, you're fair game to the enemy.

I Corinthians 16:13 [NLT]
"Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong."

What this has to do with weight loss: The weight-loss journey requires the 4 things mentioned in I Corinthians 16:13, and if you follow it, you will be successful. So, be on your guard, against all forms of temptation that would seek to cause you defeat. Stand firm in your faith. You must believe that you can victorious in weight-loss issues, and you would be wise to depend on your faith in the Lord to get there. Be courageous. It takes much courage to follow through, to do what you know you should do, day after day. Finally, be strong. Courage and strength go together. You are stronger than you think you are, and you have all strength in Jesus (Philippians 4:13).

Prayer for Today:
"Heavenly Father, You have given me, as a believer, the Shield of Faith, but I know I must decide to take it up, to use it each day. It won't do me any good, otherwise. I don't want to be a sitting duck for the one who seeks to 'steal, kill, and destroy' (John 10:10). Help me to allow my faith to shield and protect me. I pray in Jesus' Name. Amen."

Go forth today, determined to take up your Shield of Faith.