Charging Leaders!

But charge Joshua, and encourage him, and strengthen him: for he shall go over before this people, and he shall cause them to inherit the land which thou shalt see. - Deut 3:28

I dragged myself out the bed this morning. It's been a long, full week professionally and ministerially, and it's my last day at my consulting gig. Hallelujah. Because I haven't felt this sluggish in a long time, I began to seek God for His strength. I sat in His presence expecting simply to receive His strength. Nothing. So, I headed out to my consulting gig, had my yogurt, fruit and granola breakfast thinking surely breakfast will do it. Nothing. So, I said, "Okay, I will just take easy today." No classes, no writing, no ministry related tasks. I just need to rest. I then sensed the Lord spurring me on, "Karen, go forward. Today is not the day to rest, write the blog, teach the class, and rest tomorrow. So, I forged ahead. Well, the student canceled class by not showing up, and I began to search the scriptures for what to blog about. I knew it would be a scripture on strength. Deut 3:28 jumped off the screen at me. As I began to prepare the blog, I felt strengthened. The study, the wisdom, and the thing I love to do (please God) strengthened me. The same will be true for you, leader of the Most High God. I know there are days you have or will have that are much like mine today.

So, I'm writing today to charge leaders like Joshua was charged in the above scripture. The word charge in the Hebrew means: give order, command, and lay charge. The word encourage in the Hebrew means to be resolute, support, sustain, hold up, retain, and strengthen one self. The word strengthen in Hebrew means be alert, bold, brave, confirm oneself, persist in, and prove superior.

I order you today to be resolute, retain the ground you have gained in the spirit, hold up the blood stained banner yet again, strengthen yourself by doing the things that God has commanded and that bring Him joy. I command you to persist in the things He's assigned your hands, prove yourself more superior than your weakness and sluggishness, and confirm yourself by moving forward. I promise you strength will come if you accept and embrace this charge! I charge you leaders of the Most High God, move forward. You are the pioneer and trend setter for those God has assigned your hands. They (and God) are counting on you to go before them and travel down those least traveled roads. Surely, God will cause you to inherit the promise land.