Strength without courage seems brutal; courage without strength seems foolhardy. Thankfully, the Lord gives us strength and courage both!

Joshua 1:9 reminds us that God is our commander. Are you walking in step with him today, or are you running ahead or lagging behind?

When we are in the Word, we’re better equipped to make good choices. When we trust and obey the Lord, our faith grows stronger.

Let’s focus on Joshua 1:8-9 this week, beginning with a reminder to meditate on God’s Word. What are you reading in the Bible this week?

When outdoor playtime results in someone coming back inside crying, I usually ask two questions: “Are you bleeding? Are you broken?” If the answer to both questions is no, then I encourage the kiddo to dust it off; he’ll be ok. Sometimes, though, you can’t just dust it off. Sometimes, he needs a little more TLC, or a bandage, or a trip to the after-hours clinic. When a kid is hurting, he needs to know that someone will fix his booboos and dry his tears.

We aren’t much different as adults, aren’t we? When we feel broken-hearted, grieving, confused, betrayed, hurt … we need a bandage for our spirits. We need to run into the arms of the One who knows just what we need to make it better.

This is the week leading up to Good Friday, and ultimately, Easter Sunday. Up until this point in the Gospel story, the disciples had been with Jesus day in and day out, but they were about to face their biggest challenge yet. The person they had always run to, the One who healed aching bodies and hearts, the One who spoke truth and shared meals with them … would be gone.

How do you find courage when the emotional pain is so bad that it hurts to breathe, cry or even think? How do you dust it off and get back up when your eyes are puffy and your nose is running from oh-so-many tears?

The dark Fridays & Saturdays we experience in life may leave us feeling broken and irreparable, but our burdens are only temporary. Take heart – Sunday is coming, friends!

Paul reminded the believers in Corinth, “Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong,” then he added, “Do everything in love” (I Corinthians 16:13-14). That timeless message still holds meaning for us today. There will be times when we get knocked down, spiritually speaking, but in Christ, we can have courage.

Since we aren’t in the Palm Sunday story & can’t offer Jesus our own cloaks in person, ask God how you can honor him today in other ways.

Some commentators say that Jesus rode a donkey to symbolize peace (rather than arriving on a warhorse). What impression does that give you?

At the temple, Jesus took some unscrupulous vendors to task. Is there something topsy-turvy in your life that needs an overhaul?

Sometimes I wonder who owned the colt that Jesus borrowed. Regardless, they offered it willingly. Would we have done the same?

Is your relationship with Jesus so obvious that a Pharisee would be “unnerved” by you like they were with the disciples?