Joshua 14:10-12. Now then, just as the Lord promised, he has kept me alive for forty-five years since the time he said this to Moses, while Israel moved about in the wilderness. So here I am today, eighty-five years old! 11 I am still as strong today as the day Moses sent me out; I’m just as vigorous to go out to battle now as I was then. 12 Now give me this hill country that the Lord promised me that day. You yourself heard then that the Anakites were there and their cities were large and fortified, but, the Lord helping me, I will drive them out just as he said.
When you remain spiritually strong in the Lord and in His mighty power, you will also be strengthened in both body and mind. As 3 John 1:2 declares, when your soul prospers, everything else—your health, your strength, and your circumstances—begins to align with the blessings of God. Spiritual vitality brings physical and intellectual vitality.
When your life is centered on worship, God places His blessing on your food and water, and He promises to take away sickness from you (Exodus 23:25). The very God who formed you in your mother’s womb will also heal and restore you as you worship Him in spirit and truth. In His presence, your body finds peace, your heart finds joy, and your mind is renewed.
Fill your heart with the joy of salvation, for it becomes the best medicine to your soul and body (Proverbs 17:22). Do not allow worldly sorrow or anxious thoughts to dominate your heart. Living daily in the presence of God brings health to your body and nourishment to your bones (Proverbs 3:7–8). So refuse to be consumed by worry. Take care of your body, not just as your own, but as the temple of the Holy Spirit—because you were bought at a price (1 Corinthians 6:19–20).
Most of all, hold firmly to God’s covenant. Remember the life that is already in you through Christ. Exercise your authority as a child of God in every situation. Walk daily with the Holy Spirit. Use the keys of the kingdom of heaven to overcome challenges on earth. Press forward toward the heavenly goal God has set before you.
This was the life of Caleb.
When the Israelites faced one of the greatest obstacles in Canaan—the Anakites and their fortified cities—an 85-year-old man named Caleb stepped forward with unwavering faith. He boldly confessed the covenant of God that had shaped his entire life. He wasn’t driven by pride or self-confidence. His strength came from deep trust in God’s promise, first spoken to him when he was forty.
Caleb understood the true purpose behind the conquest of Canaan: not merely the occupation of land, but the restoration of the blood covenant that pointed to the promised Messiah (Exodus 3:18). To Caleb, it wasn’t just about land—it was about God’s plan to save the world.
He had followed God wholeheartedly all his life. He witnessed the miracles of the Exodus, the Red Sea, the wilderness, and the Jordan River. When ten of the twelve spies gave a fearful and unbelieving report, Caleb and Joshua stood firm and encouraged the people to trust in God’s promise (Numbers 13:26–33).
Even after Moses passed away and Joshua became the new leader, Caleb pledged loyalty to God’s appointed servant, surrendering fully to the will of God (Joshua 1:16–18). He held onto the unshakable assurance that God would fulfill His promise.
Caleb knew the obstacles—the towering Anakites and their walled cities—but he saw something greater: the presence of God. With unwavering faith, he declared, “The Lord helping me, I will drive them out just as He said.” He was bold and courageous, yet humble, always acknowledging that the power belonged to God.
And God honored his faith. He filled Caleb with supernatural physical strength to match his spiritual courage. Hear his own words: “So here I am today, eighty-five years old! I am still as strong today as the day Moses sent me out. I’m just as vigorous to go out to battle now as I was then” (Joshua 14:11). Caleb didn’t just believe with his heart—he finished strong with his body.
Even today, God is calling for men and women like Caleb—those who live by faith, stand on God’s covenant, and refuse to give in to fear or compromise. There are still many places in the world where Christ is not known. Will you be one of those who steps forward, no matter your age or background?
Renew your faith in God. Focus your life on what matters most: saving lives and fulfilling God’s mission. Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you (Matthew 6:33). He will fill you with strength to finish the race and complete the task He has assigned to you—the task of testifying to the gospel of His grace (Acts 20:24).
You will overcome personal weaknesses and the grip of sickness, not through your own power, but through the power of the One who called you. And through your life, the gospel will reach the nations.
Prayer. Father, fill me with physical strength so I may finish the race and complete the task You have given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of Your grace. Strengthen me as You did Caleb, and help me to live for what matters most. In Jesus’ name, Amen.