Courage
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.
Joshua 1:9
We need courage to overcome fear that comes from Satan, and our courage comes from trusting God. When we put our faith in ourselves, we experience fear, but if we truly trust the Lord we will overcome fear. How can we serve God if we are timid and afraid to stand for our Lord in this sinful world? Does God want his people to hide within the church walls, or does he want courageous warriors who attack the world with love through the power of the cross?
When Jesus was in the garden of Gethsemane on the night of his betrayal, he experienced severe anxiety. And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. (Luke 22:44) Jesus was God but he was also man, and his fear came from his human side. We would have the same fear. Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done. (Luke 22:42) Jesus overcame his fear because he yielded to the will of the Father, and he knew the Father would give him the strength to endure. It is the same for us; when we trust the Lord and yield to his divine plan, he will be with us and give us whatever we need to endure. But if we justify our own direction, then we have become our own god, and we walk alone in our own strength and wisdom, without his divine power and guidance. We become prideful when we put our own choices over God’s divine choice. God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble. (James 4:6)
How do we muster the courage to obey God rather than our own desires? We are very good at justifying our own desires. We can come up with an endless number of excuses to justify our desires. More often than not our desires are seeking the easy road, which is generally a dead end. There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death. (Proverbs 14:12)
We develop courage when we have the faith to step out of our comfort zones and into the unknown. Our initial-faith steps into ministry take us on journeys that are not overwhelmingly fearful, and on these journeys we experience how the Lord guides and protects us. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. (Proverbs 3:5-6) We have heard this verse many times, but do we live by it? To live out this verse takes true faith, believing in the Lord’s guidance. If we prepare and give our best, he will be with us and carry us through.
Today destroy any fear from Satan and be courageous, because the Lord is with you. Trust the Lord and commune with him, calling for his help and guidance. The Lord is interested in every second of your life and desires to help you, guide you, and give you whatever you need to follow his divine plan. God is with us if we live for Christ and have the courage to recognize and follow his will.
Let’s Pray: Lord, give me the courage to serve you and take away any fear that Satan brings to try and stop me. Let me be aware of your power, a power that lives in me, and help me to believe that I can do all things through Christ. Keep me holy in all situations and help me to walk boldly for Christ. In Jesus name, Amen