In my last post I shared three traits of a Joshua. We all desire to have a Joshua in our lives, and we recognize the importance of surrounding ourselves with this type of person. However, I would say that even more important than trying to search out a Joshua for your life, is putting in the effort to actually become a Joshua for others.
Why is it important to become like Joshua? Joshua was a man of faith. He was bold and obedient, and his faithfulness caused him to lead his generation into the promised land. I don’t know about you, but I pray that may be true of me at the end of my life as well!!! While I don’t pretend to have it all figured out, I have gleaned a lot from Joshua in my own life. I hope to provide you with a few practical tools to help you become more like Joshua as well.
3 Keys to Becoming a Joshua:
1. Change Your Perspective
The first trait of a Joshua is they believe the best in others and stand up for them. If you want to see the best in others, you often need to change your perspective first.
In the natural, it is easy to see the dirt in people-to point out their flaws and failures. It takes the power of God working through the Holy Spirit to consistently see and bring out the gold in others.
If you struggle with this, I encourage you to pray for God to show you how He views others. When you see people for who they have been called and created to be, you will bring out the best in them instead of the worst.
God saw Peter through redemptive eyes. He called him into a new identity, despite Peter’s repeated actions to the contrary. Remember, people’s actions do not change their purpose or their identity.
This, of course, is easier said than done. If you find yourself focusing on the negative in someone, take out a piece of paper and begin to list all of their positive attributes. Try to catch the good in them. What we focus on is what we see. For example, how many of you have purchased a new car only to suddenly find they are everywhere on the road? That is because your brain is now tuned into them. They were always there, but were never your focus before.
When you focus on the bad you believe to be in someone, it will be magnified and multiplied. I recently walked someone through this exact process. A leader made some false assumptions about the person, and because of their assumptions, they began to build a case against the person. They were flabbergasted when accusations began to fly and normal behaviors (being tired from lack of sleep, and pensive as they processed some heavy things the Lord was stirring) were used to justify the leader’s negative assumptions.
We have all been guilty of this at one time or another. You worry your friend may be mad at you, so you start to look for evidence that they are. (They didn’t put a smiley emoji in their text, or they didn’t like your picture on Facebook, etc.). The enemy would love to destroy your relationships, and lies and accusations are his weapons.
You will always find mountains of “evidence” to validate your false beliefs. However, if you begin to look for the good in that very same person, you will be amazed at how differently you will see them. Whereas before, you looked at them with suspicion and mistrust, suddenly you begin to uncover wonderful and beautiful attributes you never knew existed. Now you are partnering with God and loving as He has loved you!
2. Be Unshakable
The second trait of a Joshua is they stand firm in the face of adversity. If you want to be able to stand firm in the storms of life, you need to:
- Know Your Why
When you understand who you are and what your purpose is, you will not waver when the storms of life rage. I am a child of God and I desire to serve Him all the days of my life. I want to impact the Kingdom of God for His Glory, and help spread the Good News of the Gospel to those living without it.
In essence, my mission is to help people understand their identity and accelerate their faith, so they can fulfill their unique purpose in life.
What do you desire? Write it down and hang it up where you will see it every day. Hold on to your why, and it will give you the courage to move forward, even when life gets tough.
- Remember Who You Serve
If you are feeling discouraged, take a few moments to reflect on the God you serve. He is the Creator of the universe. He is a loving Father. He is all-powerful. He is faithful. He is just. The list goes on and on.
Our problems seem big when we allow God to become small. When we take time to be in awe of Him, we put things back into proper perspective.
“The [reverent] fear of the Lord [that is, worshiping Him and regarding Him as truly awesome] is the instruction for wisdom [its starting point and its essence]’ and before honor comes humility.” – Proverbs 15:33 (AMP)
When your problems seem bigger than your Solution, hold onto these promises:
…If God is for us, who can be against us? – Romans 8:31 (NKJV)
No weapon formed against you shall prosper… – Isaiah 54:17 (NKJV)
Be strong and let your heart take courage, all you who hope in the Lord. – Psalm 31:24 (NASB)
These things I have spoken to you so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world. – John 16:33 (NASB)
The Bible is a powerful weapon against anything you face today! Take time to study and meditate on the scriptures, and you will be victorious over all of the storms in life!
3. Increase Love
The third trait of a Joshua is they operate from faith instead of fear. The opposite of fear is love, so if you are struggling with fear, you need an infusion of the Love of God!
There is no fear in love, but perfect (complete, full-grown) love drives out fear, because fear involves [the expectation of divine] punishment, so the one who is afraid [of God’s judgment] is not perfected in love [has not grown into a sufficient understanding of God’s love]. – 1 John 4:18 (AMP)
- Little kids tend to be fearless because they are secure in their parent’s love. They have no concept of danger or harm because they feel safe, and therefore tend to take more risks. My son loves to dive at me without warning. He has no doubt that I will catch him and keep him safe (though sometimes I wonder! Haha!). This is how we need to be with God. We need to dive into His arms and trust He will catch us every time!
- I do not fear the world because I know my Father is a good, good father, and He will always be with me. He cannot prevent me from experiencing pain, but He will always be there to help, guide, love and comfort me. This gives me courage to take on the storms of life, and to operate from a place of faith instead of fear.
I hope you are encouraged today and empowered to live a life of faith and victory! I declare you are a Joshua and you will attract other Joshua(s) in your life! You will not be shaken! You are more than a conqueror! The victory is yours in whatever you are facing today!
Blessings,
Katie
