God Goes Before You: Deuteronomy 31:8

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Episode Transcript

(00:00):
Welcome to Beyond Sunday, andthanks for joining me for day 19
of Anchored in God's Promises,the series that we've been doing
this month.
Every month, this morning, we'vebeen taking one promise from
scripture and letting it steadyour hearts before the day
begins.
Today's promise is one that hascarried God's people for
generations, especially inmoments of transition,
uncertainty, or fear.

(00:21):
It's Deuteronomy 31, 8.
It says, the Lord himself goesbefore you and will be with you.
He will never leave you norforsake you.
Do not be afraid.
Do not be discouraged.
Moses spoke these words toJoshua, as Joshua was about to
take over leadership of Israel.
The weight was enormous.

(00:41):
The path ahead was full ofchallenge.
And God doesn't send an angel, adelegate or a distant promise.
He says the Lord himself goesbefore you.
This is personal.
The creator of the universe isnot just aware of your
situation.
He's actively involved.
You don't get a substituteshepherd.
You get the shepherd himself.

(01:02):
Now, he says, goes before you.
This phrase means that whereveryou're headed, God has already
been there.
If you're starting a new job,God's already in the workplace.
If you're moving to a new city,God's already walking its
streets.
If you're heading into adifficult conversation, God's
already in the room.
We often face the future withanxiety because we imagine going

(01:23):
into it alone.
But you've never taken a singlestep into a place God wasn't
already occupying.
Not only does he go before you,he walks with you.
This is the double promise ofGod's presence.
He's ahead of you preparing theway, but he is also beside you.
For every step, you can walkinto uncertainty with

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confidence, not because you knowthe details, but because you
know the one who does.
Now, he says, never leaves younor forsake you.
This is covenant language.
In the ancient world, to forsakesomeone was to abandon them in
their time of greatest need.
God promises to never do that toyou.
People may walk out, supportsystems may fail, circumstances

(02:05):
may change, but God's commitmentto you is unshakeable.
His presence is not seasonal.
It's eternal.
Moses doesn't say, don't beafraid because the road ahead
will be easy.
He says it because fear anddiscouragement lose their power
when you know God is with you.
Courage isn't the absence offear.
It's moving forward despite fearbeing because you trust the one

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beside you.
I remember visiting a churchmember in the hospital before a
major surgery.
She told me, I'm not afraidanymore.
I realize I'm not walking intothat operating room alone, that
God's already there, and he'llwalk out with me too.
That's Deuteronomy 31 8 inaction.
When you know God is before youand with you, fear no longer

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controls you.
Think about the thing in yourfuture that feels the most
intimidating right now.
It could be a meeting, a move, achange in your family, or a
personal goal.
Speak this over it Today, theLord himself goes before me and
will be with me.
He will never leave me norforsake me.
Say it until it becomes yourmindset, not just a memory

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verse.
The Lord himself goes before meand will be with me.
He will never leave me norforsake me.
Let's pray.
Lord, thank you for going beforeus, for walking with us, for
never leaving us today.
Replace our fear with faith andour discouragement with hope.
Help us to trust that whereverwe go, you are already there in

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Jesus name.
Amen.
This is a short verse.
I encourage you to send it tosomeone that needs to read that
scripture today.
If this verse gave you peace,pass it along.
It's a reminder that God isalready ahead of you.
And the person you send it to.
I'll see you back here tomorrow.