September 5, 2012
It Takes Courage
“Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak. Courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen.”
- Winston Churchill
The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah. Come, behold the works of the Lord, what desolations he hath made in the earth. He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire. Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.
Psalms 46:7-11
To indicate that courage is required to face a circumstance or situation implies that there is some degree or level of trepidation or uncertainty that is involved.
As Christians we are aware that we do not need to have fear; but we also need to be cautious that we do not become reckless.
And often the greatest exercise of courage that we need to engage in is letting go and allowing God to be who He is. There is a propensity among many of us to dislike facing that feeling that we are not, at least to some degree, in control of what is happening to us or going on around us.
At other times it requires courage to be still and listen, rather than to explain and be heard, because we fear if we do not speak up we will not fully be understood or someone may mistake our silence for something we did not intend it to be.
It takes courage to admit that we are far from perfect; that we are not self-reliant and that in most if not all cases, times and situations we are totally dependent: rather than being the independent creatures we often strive so hard to become.
To live for God takes courage; to love the Lord with all our heart mind and soul takes courage; and to love each other the way God wants us too takes courage.
But God never will ask us to face what He will not equip us for and enable us to embrace, accomplish and even overcome if we will but have the courage to do it His way.
Today’s Prayer
Father, there are times when I boast more vocally of my courageous nature than what the reality of what I truly feel is: yet deep down I know I do not need to worry, fret or fear. Help me to have true courage of mind, heart and spirit, at all times, without wavering.
“I have a Maker
He formed my heart
Before even time began
My life was in his hands.
I have a Father
He calls me His own
He'll never leave me
No matter where I go
He knows my name
He knows my every thought
He sees each tear that falls
And He hears me when I call “
He formed my heart
Before even time began
My life was in his hands.
I have a Father
He calls me His own
He'll never leave me
No matter where I go
He knows my name
He knows my every thought
He sees each tear that falls
And He hears me when I call “
- Lyrics from ‘He Knows My Name’ by Tommy Walker
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