"Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you.” Deuteronomy 31:8 (NLT)
A couple of years ago Debbie and I purchased our first brand new vehicle as husband and wife. I don't really enjoy the car buying experience. It's a lot of pressure to make sure you are getting a good deal and not paying for things you don't really need. Our intention was to buy a car we could drive for a long, long time. We were at the end of the deal and we were stressed about one part of the deal when the salesman said, "I will personally take care of that." It was meant to assure us the matter would be done right. Call me crazy, but I believed him.
That phrase seems so simple. It is simple and very reassuring. Of course, if someone is just saying it and doesn't mean it ... it's of no value. That's what I love about this Scripture. It's not just anyone who will personally go ahead of you ... it's God! Moses is telling Joshua that God will personally go ahead of him. How cool is that? God had chosen Joshua to go ahead of the people of Israel as a spy. Now God personally goes ahead and prepares the way for Joshua. That's pretty amazing.
So what have you been afraid of doing? Where have you been afraid of going? What have you been afraid of saying? Who have you been afraid of seeing? Don't be afraid or discouraged! God personally goes before you. God will be with you, God will not fail you or abandon you. You don't walk into the unknown because God has gone before you and prepared the way. Be brave. Have faith in the Lord your God. Walk into those things that are uncomfortable with the assurance that God will personally take care of it.
In The Gospel of John, Jesus tells his disciples that he goes to prepare a place for them- he will not leave them as orphans. The truth of Scripture is that God personally goes before, with, and behind us. That is God's personal touch toward us. Do not be afraid. Go with God.