Taking Ground | Week 1
Day 5
“Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors 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.” -Joshua 1:6–7
Sometimes in Scripture, you can almost hear the tone of God’s voice, not harsh, not demanding, but steady. That’s what Joshua 1:6–7 feels like. You can imagine Joshua standing there, the weight of leadership pressing on him, the Jordan River flowing in front of him, the future looking big enough to intimidate anyone…and God simply says:
“Be strong and courageous.”
It’s worth noticing what God didn’t say. He didn’t say, “Feel strong.” He didn’t say, “Act like you’re strong.” He didn’t say, “Try to look courageous.”
He said, “Be strong.” As in, this is who you’re going to need to become for where I’m leading you.
And then He repeats it, almost like He’s leaning in a bit closer: “Be strong and very courageous.”
God wasn’t trying to toughen Joshua up, He was preparing him for the kind of ground he was about to take. Courage wasn’t optional. Strength wasn’t a bonus. These were the inner muscles Joshua would need to step into the promises God had already prepared.
What stands out is the reason God gives: “Because you will lead these people…”
God wasn’t calling Joshua to be strong for himself, He was calling him to be strong for the sake of the people depending on his leadership. Joshua’s courage would create courage in others. His obedience would open doors for thousands of families stepping into a promise they had waited their whole lives to see.
This echoes something we mentioned in Sunday’s message, that Israel’s new generation was fed up with wandering. They were ready for purpose. They were ready for the promises Moses talked about. They wanted more than survival; they wanted inheritance. They wanted their own land, their own homes, their own future. They wanted to take ground.
But wanting something and walking into it aren’t the same thing. That’s why God takes the conversation a step further.
After telling Joshua to “be strong and very courageous,” God makes a surprising connection. He ties courage to obedience: “Be careful to obey all the law… do not turn from it to the right or to the left…”
It’s God’s way of saying: “Joshua, if you want to take ground externally, you’ll need discipline internally.”
Courage isn’t just about charging into battle. Sometimes the greatest courage is found in staying faithful when it would be easier to drift.
Sunday’s message said it well: “If you want to win, you have got to learn how to think and speak like God.”
That’s exactly what God was telling Joshua. Don’t let your mind drift. Don’t let your convictions wobble. Don’t chase the shortcuts. Don’t lean on your own understanding. Stay aligned. Stay steady. Stay rooted.
Success, according to God, doesn’t start with strategy. It starts with Scripture. It doesn’t start with confidence. It starts with obedience.
Joshua was stepping into a land full of challenges, fortified walls, experienced armies, giants. There was no version of this journey that didn’t require bravery. But the heart of God’s message is this:
Courage is not the absence of fear; it’s the decision to obey even when fear is loud.
And maybe that’s exactly where this devotional meets you today.
Maybe taking ground this year looks less like bold leaps and more like quiet consistency. Maybe it’s waking up early to be in the Word. Maybe it’s resisting old patterns. Maybe it’s choosing integrity. Maybe it’s leading your family spiritually. Maybe it’s stepping into a role at church. Maybe it’s saying “yes” to God even when your feelings aren’t lining up yet.
Courage isn’t always noisy. Sometimes courage is small, daily obedience in the same direction.
So take a breath and remember, you’re not walking into 2026 alone. The same God who spoke to Joshua is speaking to you. He’s reminding you that strength can be learned. Courage can be built. Obedience can be practiced. And every step you take in those three areas becomes the ground you’re claiming for the Kingdom.
