My friends, did you know that while courage can open the door for favor to enter, it also implies a firmness of mind and will withstand in the face of danger. Courage is also being brave in the face of fear. Courage is having the willingness to do the right thing in the face of danger, pain, significant harm or risk. Courage means that you don’t give up; you try new things and admit mistakes. This week, I would like to share with you three steps of courage.
- Feeling Fear, Yet Choosing to Act - Let’s take Esther for example, it took courage to put her life on the line, but she did it, knowing if the King refused to hold out the golden sceptre that she would surely die (Esther 4:11 and 5:2). Courage is not the absence of fear - it's having the strength to triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear. Being terrified but going ahead and doing what must be done is courage. The one who feels no fear is a fool, and the one who lets fear rule him is a coward.
- Persevering in the Face of Adversity – The Shunammite woman mentioned in II Kings 4:23-26 demonstrated much courage. Her Son was dead, but she never said those words, her courageous words were, "it shall be well." Most of our obstacles would melt away if, instead of cowering before them, we would make up our minds to walk boldly through them! Courage doesn’t always roar - sometimes courage is the little voice at the end of the day that says, "I’ll try again tomorrow."
- Standing Up For What Is Right – Daniel took a stand. He didn’t stop praying to his God even though he knew a decree had been signed that he was not to do so. He also knew what the consequences of his actions would be - the Lions den. Despite this, Daniel 6:10 tells us that David faithfully open his window and prayed to his God three times a day as he had always done. Sometimes standing against evil is more important than defeating it. The greatest heroes stand because it is right to do so, not because they believe they will walk away with their lives. Such selfless courage is a victory in itself.
Just as the Lord took
care of Daniel, Esther, and the Shunammite woman, He will do the same for us! He said time and time again in the word of God to be of good courage. Good courage is having
the right attitude; being positive; serving the end desired; seeing yourself
victorious and believing that all is well. Just as we have to exercise our muscles in
order to strengthen them in the natural, the Lord has to place situations in our path, so we
can exercise that spiritual courage that He has already placed in each of us!
Go and be of good cheer and, more importantly, of good courage!
Go and be of good cheer and, more importantly, of good courage!
With all that said, let the church say amen… and Amen!
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