Launch Out Without Fear

“Our doubts are traitors, and make us lose the good we oft might win, by fearing to attempt.” – William Shakespeare

Scripture reading: Joshua 1:1-9

In Act 2 scene 2 of his book, “Julius Caesar,” the great English dramatist and poet, William Shakespeare made a very poignant statement on the subject of fear. He stated, “Cowards die many times before their deaths; the valiant never taste of death but once. Of all the wonders that I yet have heard, it seems to me most strange that men should fear; seeing that death, a necessary end, will come when it will come.”

One of the disabling weapons that Satan has used against people in general and Christians in particular is that of ‘fear’. The scriptures in 2Tim. 1:7 makes us understand that ‘fear’ is not just a feeling but a spirit that is unleashed from hell to terrorize the lives and destinies of God’s children. The number of projects, ministries, endeavors and destinies that didn’t leave the drawing board but would have catapulted many children of God into the fullness of their destinies on earth is mind boggling. Whenever a child of God receives a divine vision, idea, insight or project, God expects them to be very courageous and launch out without fear.

In the short passage of scripture in today’s devotional, the word of God to Joshua emphasized the extreme import of ‘courage’ on three occasions towards the final conquest of the Promised Land. The final exhortation to Joshua was, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” – Josh. 1:9. Despite Joshua’s knowledge and prior experience with God from Egypt through the wilderness, he still needed to be encouraged to stare down the spirit of fear and strengthen himself for the task ahead.

You are by this devotional being encouraged by the Lord to leave behind the crippling thoughts of past failures and the complacency of previous successes and concentrate on the task ahead of you today and in the future. As the word of God says in Isaiah 41:10 (msg), “Don’t panic. I’m with you. There’s no need to fear for I’m your God. I’ll give you strength. I’ll help you. I’ll hold you steady, keep a firm grip on you.” You’re not the first and wouldn’t be the last of God’s children who would be confronted by the spirit of fear in the fulfillment of divine purposes on earth. May you hear the resounding cry from heaven today, “Do not be afraid; launch out without fear in that divine purpose in your life.”

Memory verse: “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” – Isaiah 41:10

Rev. Dr. Isaac Paintsil ©