COURAGE

Go in this might of yours, and you shall save Israel from the hand of the Midianites. Have I not sent you? – Judges 6:14

COURAGE is the ability to do something that one knows is difficult or risky. Jesus is our Model in Courage; He stepped up for us, allowing Himself to be arrested and crucified on the Cross. He stepped up when others stepped back! One of Satan’s most common attacks is “dis-courage-ment.” He tries to suck the courage right out of you and replace the void with F.E.A.R – False Evidence Appearing Real. Fear causes paralysis, and if permitted, could give the Enemy an upper hand. You need Courage to overcome your fears and move forward in life (Psa.27:1). Another enemy of Courage is Conformity – going with the flow – the fear of standing alone for a right cause. Trying to please everybody could be frustrating. Be yourself in Christ!

God motivated Joshua to receive Courage to conquer and to possess the Promised Land (Jos.1:6-11). Courage comes through getting closer to God in His Word and submitting to His Spirit’s leading. In Judges 6, God allowed the intimidating Midianites to invade Israel. When the Israelites cried out to Him for help, He responded by seeking out Gideon. God told Gideon, “Go in this might of yours, and you shall save Israel from the hand of the Midianites. Have I not sent you?” (Jud.6:14). “O my Lord,” Gideon replied, “how can I save Israel? Indeed my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house” (v. 15). He was fearful because he felt that he had no power. He presented his feelings of inferiority, but the LORD encouraged and motivated him, as He did Moses and Joshua: “Surely I will be with you, and you shall defeat the Midianites as one man” (v. 16). One with God is an Unstoppable Majority (Isa.41:10-13).

It is to Gideon’s credit that he did not just say, “No.” Instead, he dialogued with the Lord and confirmed His instruction by means of the fleece. After a while Gideon became confident that God was with him and would save Israel by his hand. God’s presence gave him courage, and he routed the vast Midianite army using just three hundred men (Jud.7:7). What is making you afraid? Are you fearful of failing in one aspect of life or another? Are you afraid of the threats or criticism of people? Are you afraid of persecution? God’s Presence is your courage: “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 nor forsake you” (Dt.31:6). Before fear threatens, embrace God through His Word and submit His leading: “Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You…” (Psa.56:3a).

God’s Presence makes the difference. Courage flows when you know that the Lord is with you wherever you go! David motivated courage in  Solomon: “Be strong and of good courage, and do it; do not fear nor be dismayed, for the Lord God—my God—will be with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you, until you have finished all the work for the service of the house of the Lord” (1Chr.28:20). Paul wrote: “Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong” (1Cor.16:13). Courage is needed to achieve goals; even the courage to fail. Infants have this kind of courage – when learning to walk. Falls, injuries and failures occur at a shattering rate, a rate that later in life would discourage almost anyone from learning a new activity. Moreover, your Courage can mean the world to others. Billy Graham said: “Courage is contagious. When a brave man takes a stand, the spines of others are often stiffened.” To achieve anything worthwhile in life, you need: the courage to try, to begin, to continue, to persist, to resist, and to complete. Be strong and courageous!