“You have a lot of courage,” a man I know essentially told me.
The two of us were spending a few minutes with another man I know. “She does have a lot of courage,” the other man basically agreed.
Though I do not remember the exact words of what the two men said, the message was plain and clear. They both were moved by my courage.
Now they had been referring to my being assaulted in New York City when there doing my ministry work and then returning nearly a year later to do more ministry work. But truth is I have done a ton of things that require a ton of courage. Like visiting a death row prison for my ministry work. Being on the road for the Lord and ministry with my special needs ministry dogs.
And like ministering to criminals and ex-prisoners on the streets. Proclaiming the Lord Jesus Christ and facing the hatred and rejection that comes at times. Ministering to drug addicts including one who appeared to be overdosing in my arms as I prayed over him and called 911. Going up to strangers for years to give them Gospel tracts, pray for them, talk to them about Jesus, etc. And lots, lots more.
Now this may surprise you. I am actually by nature shy and prone to extreme fear and worry. I come from a background of brokenness beyond hope for decades. I am the weakest woman in the world in my estimate. I struggle every day of my life and have faced seemingly relentless struggles for as long as I can remember.
Plain and simple, I AM NOT A COURAGEOUS STRONG WOMAN BY NATURE!
And herein lies the message. THE LORD GIVES LOVE, COURAGE, STRENGTH, POWER, AND ALL THAT IS NEEDED TO HIS FOLLOWERS BY THE POWER OF HIS HOLY SPIRIT WHO LIVES IN HIS FOLLOWERS WHEN WE LIVE IN OBEDIENCE TO HIM. TO BE USED TO FULFILL OUR CALLING FOR HIM. TO BE USED FOR HIS GLORY.
Simply put, WHEN WE TURN TO THE LORD, HE WILL SUPPLY ALL WE NEED BY THE POWER OF HIS HOLY SPIRIT – COURAGE INCLUDED – TO LIVE FOR HIM!
Need courage? If you need courage to do God’s will, go to God to get it! Cry out to God for courage, strength, and all that you need to fulfill His will for your life! AMEN! Hallelujah!
What did Moses tell the Israelites when facing their opponents? To have COURAGE! How could they have COURAGE? By looking to THE LORD! What did Moses tell Joshua who would take his place in helping the Israelites? To have COURAGE! Where would they find COURAGE? IN THE LORD!
“Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.” Then Moses called Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, “Be strong and of good courage, for you must go with this people to the land which the LORD has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall cause them to inherit it. And the LORD, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed.”” Deuteronomy 31:6-8 NKJV
What did the Lord tell Joshua? To BE STRONG and have COURAGE! Note the Lord told Joshua to meditate on THE LAW day and night! In this present time, we have THE BIBLE! We are to find STRENGTH and COURAGE – IN THE LORD and IN THE BIBLE!
“Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.” Joshua 1:7-8 NKJV
Where should we find strength? IN THE LORD!
“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.” Ephesians 6:10 NKJV
We are not to have fear. Please be encouraged with this verse.
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV
And please be encouraged with this powerful verse.
“as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue,” 2 Peter 1:3 NKJV