Deuteronomy 31:6

AMP – Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble in dread before them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not fail you or abandon you.”

NRSVUE – Be strong and bold; have no fear or dread of them, because it is the Lord your God who goes with you; he will not fail you or forsake you.”

VOICE – Be strong and brave, and don’t tremble in fear of them, because the Eternal your God is going with you. He’ll never fail you or abandon you!

God’s With Us Forever

This is similar to what we hear God tell the Israelites in Joshua 1:6-9. The call to have strength and courage isn’t based on our own abilities, but on how we trust in God’s promises and presence. God was encouraging the Israelites to not be afraid of who was living in the Promised Land, typically the different nations living in Canaan. They were known for their fortified cities and warriors, making them an impressive enemies. God doesn’t want them to feel fear in going up against them, for God’s upholds the promises that were made for them. God’s presence assures us that God will never leave, but will be a constant source of strength and comfort. God is committed to us, regardless of what’s going on with and around us. God makes a covenant with us that He will never leave.

REFLECTION CHECKPOINT: This reminds me of what Paul said to Timothy in 2 Timothy 1:9. Read this and describe the connections you find between the two verses.

Leadership Prep

We should prepare and ecnourage others to take on roles of leadership with the confidence of God’s support. We are in a high need of people willing to take charge and guide our society in the right direction toward love, compassion, mercy, and justice. A lot of us are struggling to take that leadership for a multitude of reasons, whether it’s stress, lack of time, lack of energy, apathy, and more. Because of these factors, we tend to rely on the people that have been in power to try and do this difficult task. Unfortunately, we often find ourselves repeating the cycle of hope and disappoint. Sometimes, we need fresh faces to give us a new perspective on how to care for our neighbor.

A lot of us may not go for leadership roles due to fear as well. When we talk about leadership, we may immediately think of high level political roles (like President, Senator, etc.) However, we tend to find more impact in our local roles like city councilperson, mayor, town committees, and more. Even roles within churches, our homes, in friend groups, and more. We are called to lead via God’s grace and mercy, to reflect them to all people that we meet. To share God’s compassion to all people, loved ones and strangers. To creates systems that are just and accessible to all people. To stand up for the marginalized when their rights are being stripped away or made difficult to obtain. To steward God’s resources out to all people in need and to utilize them to best represent God’s kingdom values down to Earth.

This is will be important to think about as we approach election season, now more than ever. Please make sure you do your research on your local candidates, have tough conversations with people around you to help understand what the issues are in your community and state, and – of course – pray. Talk with God, let Him speak and guide you with strength and courage to make the right decision. It may not be the crowd favorite, but it will be the one that cares for your neighbor more than anything.

REFLECTION CHECKPOINT: How do you approach your leadership roles? How can you expand them to all part of your life?

Next slice of manna: Your Source of Courage || Manna for the Mind #387

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