You Got This

“Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord, your God, is with you wherever you go.’”

Joshua 1:9

Notes for Contemplation as You Use this Devotional:

• In this passage, sometimes called “God Commissions Joshua,” Joshua must lead the children of Israel after Moses dies. God (Higher Power, Divine Spirit, Supreme Being, etc.) reminds Joshua that he is never alone, never without the connection of true spiritual oneness. This means that God is with and within Joshua, wherever he is, no matter what may occur around him.  Furthermore, Joshua must lead in his own way, trusting that he has all he needs for this great role.
• In his 1841 essay, “Self-Reliance,” Ralph Waldo Emerson declares that “we lie in the lap of immense intelligence, which makes us receivers of its truth and organs of its activity.” He encourages you to trust yourself, rely on your own innate wisdom, and stop imitating others. Just as Joshua could not be Moses, neither can you be anyone other than you.
• Self-reliance isn’t arrogant, egotistical, or indifferent. It’s the clarity of knowing who you are and whose you are, so you set intentions and direct your energy to live your life on purpose.
• Emerson’s and Joshua’s self-reliance is guided by these timeless spiritual truths:
  • You are a divine spiritual being with a radiant soul, living in a sacred body temple, having human experiences.
  • You are created in God’s image, not the other way around.
  • When you stop trying to define God or give God directions, you feel the oneness.
  • With God, all things are possible, though not necessarily for you in this lifetime.
  • Your soul is immortal and has no gender identity. It is the pure divine essence of all you are.
  • Every soul has things to learn and share.
  • Some souls travel together through lifetimes.
  • Your intuition—the subtle, still, small voice within—can guide your life and direct your intellect, as you allow it.
  • You live on God’s calendar much more than any earthly planner.
  • Your answers reside within you and continually flow to you.
  • You don’t need Jesus, Moses, or any other spiritual master to save you. You have the power within you to save yourself.
  • Energy flows from your thoughts and intentions, and only you can determine how your energy is expressed.
• Demonstration is your evidence of how well your life works. Relying on yourself means letting go of what you can’t change, control, or fix. It means knowing what you can’t do, where you don’t fit, and when you aren’t being heard.  This is freedom, the sweet, soul liberation and reclamation, that lets you be your true soul (divine) self.

Contemplation Questions:

As you reflect on your life and circumstances, ask yourself:

• What are my current intentions?
  • List, word map, or illustrate whatever they are.

• In what ways do I want to direct my energy to fulfill my intentions?
  • List, word map, or illustrate all the ways.

• What are at least three (3) ways I can be my true soul self?
  • List, word map, or illustrate as much as you imagine.

At the start of the new year, this devotional can help you free yourself from any tasks or roles that no longer serve yours and/or another’s best.  You also can use it whenever you want clarity about new opportunities, especially to express more of your divine soul self.  As you set your intentions, remember: You got this—whatever “this” is—because you can rely on you.

© 2025 – Rev. Jennifer L. Sacks – All rights reserved.

Photo from Shutterstock by Denis Belitsky.