Prayer Works Morning Devotion: September 3, 2025

Thus Says The Lord-Who God Says He Is, His Commandments and Promises

Joshua1:9 "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 "

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A very good morning, a very good morning to everybody. I hope you had a wonderful night. You're well rested, ready for another day, and another day of expectation, another day of love, another day of experiences in the Lord Jesus Christ. Let us pray.  

Heavenly Father, we thank you this morning. We thank you for your goodness and your grace. You're beautiful, you're wonderful to us, and I know for sure that all of our days are held in your hands, crafted into your perfect plan.  

You have gently called us into your presence, guiding us by the Holy Spirit. You teach us and we live these lives because you have given us access to this kingdom and afforded us the right to be called your children.  

So Father, as we devote these mornings to you, Our goal and our love is that you continue to guide us throughout the day. So we thank you that as you continue to mold us, as you continue to feel us, as we continue to give these lives to you, continue to guide us, to lead us, to walk with us, to challenge us where we need to be challenged. 

And as we bring everything that we know to you, may you continue to make our paths straight. We thank you for grace. We thank you for love. We thank you for family. We thank you for friendship.  

We thank you for all that you're doing in our life and restoration. And we look to you for this day to give us our daily bread in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, we pray Amen and Amen.  

Well today is September 3rd and we are in Joshua 1:9. If you're joining us for the first time we are going through scriptures looking at where God spoke to his children. 

Especially the chronicling the journey of the children of Israelites from Egypt to the promised land. Which we have said it mirrors our journey from being in this world and then God leading us through Jesus Christ to the heavens.  

So we're in Joshua chapter number nine, Joshua chapter one, sorry, verse nine, very simple scripture, have I not commanded you? It starts with a question, Have I not commanded you? 

In other words, this has happened before, and lest you forget, 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.  

Do be strong and of good courage and do not be afraid. It doesn't say be strong and courageous or have courage. It says good courage. So there's bad courage and then there's good courage.  

And do not be afraid, do not be dismayed, for the Lord God is with you wherever you go. Now, brothers and sisters, I was just looking at scriptures and doing my own research yesterday.  

And this word, this phrase about do not be afraid appears in our scriptures 365 times. One for every day. It appears in our scriptures 365 times. God mentions this to Moses. Then Moses mentioned it to the children of Israelite.  

Then, this time, the Lord mentions it to Joshua. But this time when he's giving to Joshua, he's reminding them of what was said previously. And who said it previously? Moses to the children of Israel.  

In other words, God is now backing what Moses said to them, and he's reminding Joshua, Do not be afraid. Be strong and of good courage. Do not be afraid, do not be dismayed, for the Lord God is with you wherever you go.  

Now, brothers and sisters, fear is a natural instinct. God has given us some things and put some things in us to help us, one to be thoughtful about the things that we are doing, because in the absence of fear, it's easy to become reckless.  

So fear can be good, because if you are not afraid of lions and you walk in the jungle, you're most likely not going to run into trouble, because there's no caution in the absence of fear. But God is speaking to them in this moment, to Joshua, because they are about to do something that the previous generation did not do.  

I want you to go and conquer the promised land. They went and when they came back, they realized, wow, there's giants in the land and fear gripped them and they chose not to proceed.  

And it's easy to abort things if we use our own strength, because fear as a natural instinct tells us that if you go this way, you'll be devoured as a natural instinct. But God tells us, do not be afraid, be strong and courageous. 

Now these two go together you can be strong and you can be courageous but if you combine both of them together. Remember I have told on things that God is joined together strength and courage are joined together you can't put them asunder. 

Be strong and be of good courage, joined together, because God knows, as a human instinct, it's easy for us to be afraid. Fear can be removed by being in God's presence and knowing fully well that I'm not capable of doing what the Lord is instructing me to do.  

The only way I can be capable is because he is behind me. So now if he is behind me, then there is no need for me to fear. There is only need for me to be courageous knowing that the battle has already been won.  

So this instruction is telling Joshua because he has given them the land already. In fact, the land was given to them 40 years ago, and they just could not possess it. Not because they didn't believe in God, but because their natural instincts, which was fear, ruled over them that they did not take that which God had given them.  

So now he's reminding Joshua, says, you got to remember this. Have I not commanded you? I gave you a command. This was not an ask. I gave you a command to be strong and to be of good courage, but you should not take heed to it.  

Now I'm reminding you again, lest you forget, but be strong and courageous, because one is not going to be easy in your own strength. But it's going to be easy in my strength because I am with you wherever you go.  

So, brothers and sisters, when we face fear of any kind, especially as it pertains to what God has instructed us to do or given you to do, when you face fear, you have to decide whether it is the natural instinct that is kicking in and that could easily override what God wants to do.  

But this remembrance that God is pushing to Joshua, he is telling him because Joshua is supposed to know the consequences of not being courageous and of not being strong and courageous, especially when God has given them instructions to do certain things.  

Because 40 years ago, he was part of the team that went into and came back, him and Caleb, and says, yeah, we can take the land. And others were so afraid of the situation that God decided that none of you are going to go to the Promised Land. You're going to perish in the desert.  

And if you read further up in the same chapter, Joshua does not send twelve spies. He then only sends two. Because he wanted to eliminate the possibility of error and accentuate what God was telling them to do.  

So courage, strength and courage comes because God is with us. It does not come because you have practiced it. It comes because God is with you.  

Now, every time you see this, this passage of scripture anyway in the Bible, where you see strength and courage, you realize that whatever that God is tasking you or anyone to do is far beyond human comprehension.  

So having good courage comes when things are way bigger than us to accomplish or to do. Hence the need to use a lot of faith in order to accomplish what God is going to do. Faith demands that we be strong and of good courage.  

That's why faith without works is dead. So faith is made alive when we hold firm to the belief that God is with us in spite of what we see.  

Again, fear is a natural instinct. It kicks in anytime, any moment we face something that is beyond our human comprehension, that we feel like we don't have the ability of doing, and that it's not in our own strength and our own wisdom to do.  

Fear usually kicks in because nobody wants to fail. Nobody wants to fail. So when fear kicks in, it's a good thing. You know that I don't want to fail. So not knowing that I don't want to fail should cause us to lean to God, so that we are strong and courageous in order for us to accomplish whatever God is telling us to accomplish.  

So the word for the day today is be strong. and courageous. And again, this appears in the scriptures, 365 days, one for each day. In other words, these lives that we are living, we are being instructed to constantly do things that are beyond our own strength.  

Hence, we need to be strong and courageous where? In the Lord. Because without Him, we will perish. So it's only in Him that we move and have our being. So if it's in Him that we move and have our being, that means that we have to lean in Him in order to be strong and courageous. of good courage in everything that God is instructing us to do.  

Because in our own strength, we can’t do it. Remember, we are, if we could do it, then Jesus would have not come at all. There was no need of sending him. But God sent Jesus so that whatever that he had in store for us to do, that his power and strength becomes the anchor of our faith, so that we can stand strong and of good courage.  

Not because we can, but because Jesus has conquered it all. So real true strength comes from leaning on Jesus. Real true courage comes from leaning on Jesus, and knowing that I, by myself, I am not capable.  

It's only when I lean to God who is with me forever. That's when I become strong and courageous. But again, the key thing that God is doing in this particular verse, He's reminding.  

And why is He reminding Joshua? Because, like all of us, we forget. We have spiritual amnesia. It's so easy to forget what God did. So once in a while, we need to be reminded, just as much as he's reminding Joshua right now, be strong and courageous, because I am your Lord God, and I am with you.  

I'm walking with you wherever you go. So there's no need for you to fear. You have to be strong and courageous. So being strong and courageous is not the absence of fear. Actually, you have to be afraid first in order to be strong and courageous.  

Otherwise, if there's no fear, there's no need to be strong and courageous. So every time you see fear creep in, You have to understand there and there that all the instruction is to be strong and courageous because God is with me.  

That is in everything that God instructs us to do, that is in everything that God instructs you to do, things that seems impossible, that has endowed you with gift and talent to do, He is constantly reminding you and I to be strong and courageous because I am the Lord God and I am with you. 

I have faced so many situations where I was afraid. I left home Zimbabwe when I was 18 and I remember getting on that plane, I was so scared. I had no idea where I was going, what I was going to meet there, what's going to happen.  

But you then realize that the only way you take the next step is when God is with you. You realize the only way you become successful it's not because you have strength it's because God is with you, so we always need to be reminded. 

Because surely fear is a real thing but we need to lean on God to be strong and courageous the two go together you have to be strong and here to be of good courage not bad courage That courage is when we try to do things that we believe, we show our strength and realize God is not in it.  

So brothers and sisters, as we continue on this journey of life, and as we continue to hear the Lord speak to us, because He's going to tell us things that are beyond our comprehension.  

We're going to hear Him tell us to do certain things that you'll be like, man, I don't know if I can do that and fear is a real thing but when you feel it when you see it when you experience it remember this be strong and of good courage because God is with you, Amen. Let us pray. 

Heavenly Father we are grateful that you are a Father that speaks, that you are a God that is contained about us, our needs, the things that you want to see us accomplish in this journey of life.  

I know you're constantly speaking, encouraging us to move forward, encouraging us to do things sometimes that are beyond our human comprehension, strength and wisdom. But we are consoled and comforted in the fact that you are always with us.  

So Father, I pray that when we face fear, doubt, when we face challenges, that seems to be surmountable, that we should find strength in the fact that you are with us and you're never going to leave us.  

So I pray, Lord, that as we read your scriptures, as they become the light to our feet as we walk. May the many challenges that we meet become opportunities to know you better, opportunities to hear you speak, opportunities to exercise greater faith because of who we are standing on.  

Thank you for sending Jesus to be the anchor of our faith and our souls. to give us experiences that our patriarchs walked in. But because he conquered it all, and he proclaimed on that very day that it was finished. 

We now have to remember our job is now have to stand in strength and in memory of what he did on the cross, the finished work of the cross. That now anchors the very true essence of everything that you are asking us to do for this kingdom.  

Father, I pray for wisdom, baldness in the face of fear. I pray for courage and determination where we seem to be weak. 

And I pray, Lord, that as we as we hear you speak to us and challenging us and as the enemy throws things towards us just to derail us in whichever way he desires to, but we are reminded of the very true essence of who you are a God who never fails there is no failure in you. There is no weakness in you.  

So, as we lean on you in everything that we are endeavoring to do, may courage, may strength be our portion, as you reminded Joshua. And we thank you, Lord, that you have these things in place So that we can enjoy this life and the true essence of who you are to us.  

I pray for our children, that as they continue to reach out to higher ground, may they also experience true strength and true courage. Because they know where the source of that power is, and that is you.  

Teach us as parents to redirect their energy towards looking to you. We know grace is found in your eyes. And Father, as they continue to find you in their own accord, I pray for wisdom to follow that what is right.  

I pray for strength and determination to be different, knowing that they are not of this world. I pray, Lord, that as they go to school back and forth and interact with others, let the God in them be seen and experienced, touched and felt by others.  

May they become closer to you through the reading of scriptures and through the teachings of fathers, mothers, uncles, and aunts. I pray, Lord, in their journey, as they continue to meet different ones, that God, may you bring them before others who know you, a community of believers that strengthens someone's faith.  

And we pray, Lord, that sickness and disease will not be their portion, that you are healing every single one of them in the name of Jesus.  

Lord, I pray for ideas that will set us up for the future, for every single one of us, that God, you are giving us witty ideas, witty inventions, so that our lives can be enriched in the name of Jesus.  

Father, we command the blessing of the Lord on every single one of us, that the works of our hands are blessed and living is blessed. May our hands carry multiplication in them, that whatever we touch, that God, through your Spirit, you multiply it.  

Father, I pray for eyes that see different things and ears that are able to hear divine things, so that wherever we are, we continue to be the light and the salt in the midst of the darkness of this world.  

Father, I lift up this nation and you see everything that's going on. But your word is very clear that if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves, turn from their wicked ways and seek my face, only then will you hear from heaven and heal this land.  

So I pray, Lord, for those who are called by your name to take heed of this instruction, to seek your face, to turn from wicked ways and seek and pray so that you can hear us from the heavens and heal this nation.  

We pray for our leaders as they continue to make decisions that affect every single one of us, that may compassion take hold of their hearts and their minds, and may you give them wisdom to pursue things that are right in the name of Jesus.  

Father, you are aware of all these secret meetings that are held in the dark, because nothing is hidden from you. We ask, Lord, that if there are any ideas that harm people or that deprive people, the quality of life, I pray, Lord, that may those ideas falter at inception, in the name of Jesus.  

I pray for repentance in our leaders. That God, may you give them a heart that seeks repentance. Give them an opportunity to find you and return to salvation and I pray, Lord, may you have mercy on us because of our leaders.  

Father, I thank you for the Church, which is the epicenter of your Spirit, that throughout the cities across this world, you have placed the Ark of the Covenant in the midst of the community to carry your Spirit where instruction, holy instruction, is given out to enrich the lives of those who believe. 

And I pray, Lord, may the church find its place again in our communities. May you raise men and women of God who care about spiritual things that are not driven by the ways of this world.  

Humble us in our efforts, challenge us in our desires to know you and to teach this gospel. We know the church belongs to you, and we know the church will never die, that we could die.  

So I pray, Lord, that as we continue to find our place in this kingdom, unite us in spirit, unite the church in spirit, in hunger and thirsty after righteousness. Thank you for the ability to handle holy things.  

May you open our eyes and our ears to hear things pertaining to the future, so we can align ourselves in that which you are doing 10 years from now. Raise in our midst men and women who have the strength to be spiritual intercessors.  

Raise in our midst fathers and mothers, teachers of good things, lest this word is blasphemed. Raise in our midst young men and women that are willing to abide by your statues and your values as they're being taught through holy scriptures.  

Help us to see needs, to be good sowers, so that we continue to receive seeds to sow. Lord, may you meet our needs, where we lack, send help. We pray for opportunities for good jobs, opportunities, for good business ideas, for opportunities, for interactions with people of like minds, so that our lives are enhanced.  

Open doors for us that no man can shut. And as you bring us before the presence of great people, may our gifts make room for us. And may fear be eradicated in our midst, because we know you are with us.  

Lord, I pray for every single person on this call, that they are blessed, that they are healed, they are set free, that sickness will not dwell in this, the number of our days, you will fulfill, that none amongst us will experience a premature death.  

But Father will live out the rest of our lives in full courage and strength because you are with us. Pray for opportunities to minister to another so that somebody, somewhere gets to believe in the very true thing that we believe in.  

May your words continue to be made alive in us. May our lives become living epistles, because the scripture that dwells in us continues to strengthen our being.  

So Lord, as we look towards this day, we want to walk in it with a great expectation that any moment, any time, is an opportunity to experience something we have never seen or experienced before.  

So we are looking to you as we go in this day. Open our eyes and our ears as we look for opportunities to serve, to receive, and to give. I pray, Lord, that our hands are blessed, that whatever we put our hands on, that you, Lord, you will highlight it, and that you will give us a double portion, so that we can continuously solve the challenges around us.  

We thank you for this moment and for this time together. Bless us, bless our children, bless what we are doing, bless our places of workplace, and bless this day. We give it to you.  

Now, may your will be done on earth as it is in heaven and lead us not into temptation, but continue to deliver us from the evil one. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, forever and ever, Amen.  

Brothers and sisters, may you all have a wonderful, remarkable day, full of God's blessings, full of incredible conversations, that will ignite your spirit, your heart, your mind, so that this God that we serve continues to be the anchor of our souls. 

Be strong and be of good courage, because the Lord your God is with you. We will see you tomorrow, and may the Lord bless you.