He Shall Strengthen Your Heart

The exhortation in our text, “ Be of good courage! ”, is a message that is repeated many times throughout the Bible. Her are some passages: “ Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.” Joshua 1:9 “Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.” 1 Corinthians 16:13 “ Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armour of God . . . that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” Ephesians 6:10-13

The life of a Christian is not an easy life. There will be challenges along the way. There will be giants that we must face, and those giants stand between us and victory. God’s people must be courageous. God’s people must have faith. God’s people must be prepared to take a stand.

If there was ever a day when God’s people needed strength, hope and courage, it is now! For there are giants out there in abundance.

Our text tells us that when we place our faith and hope in God, and stand in courage to face the giants that rise up before us, God himself will strengthen our hearts!

Such precious words of encouragement! Such a blessed promise! He — our great and mighty God, the captain of the LORD’s hosts, the One to whom all power in heaven and in earth has been given — He it is that shall strengthen our hearts!

Think on this for a moment. Think of the power and strength that could be ours if we would place our hope in God and stand up in courage to face the giants before us. Young David faced a giant one day. The Israelite army was sore afraid of the giant Goliath, but David was of a good courage, and put his hope in the God of Israel, and so the God of Israel increased his faith and strengthened his heart — and He ran toward the giant that his fellows had shrunk back from in fear . . . and that giant fell!

Not only that — when the Israelite army saw what David did, they too were encouraged, and slew the host of the Philistines. Courage begets courage! Strength begets strength! And make no mistake, fear also begets fear. Don’t you do it. “. . . Fear not, nor be dismayed, be strong and of good courage . . .” Joshua 10:25

Dear reader, does your heart need strengthening? Maybe all you need to do is stand up in faith and courage and take action!

Giants may be about to fall!