Choose courage

 

This week I’m again reminded of the person who said to me, “As you get older, it must be easier to be a Christian.” Little did he know that as the challenges become more subtle, the reality of human weakness becomes more apparent. All that God requires of me so easily results in fear that I will not be able to do as He asks. While fear is not from God, it is strong enough to drop me on my nose and ruin my joy.

This week was like that. Too much on my plate, a long to-do list combined with an overwhelming sense of ‘I can’t’ made me want to sleep all day rather than tackle anything. Getting started on the most simple tasks became a huge act of the will. I realize much of this is a spiritual battle. I’m praying more, have had specific answers to very specific requests, and our spiritual enemy is striking back to stop prayer and faith in God.

God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. (2 Timothy 1:7)

In this verse, fear is about being timid, not having courage. The opposite is Holy Spirit power, God’s self-sacrificing love, and the ability to be wise with sound thinking and discernment. It says what today’s devotional says: victorious Christian living requires great courage. Most definitions describe courage as the ability to act regardless of emotions, even when feeling great fear. We easily apply this to a soldier in combat, yet it also applies to a Christian in spiritual warfare.

Add to that the emotions of getting older, of forgetting names of friends, of dropping things, of hanging on to railings in the fear of falling, of fearing inabilities that haven’t happened yet but could be next week. Some of these can make me fearful, yet God wants me to remember:

I can do all things through him who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13)

I am no more weak spiritually now than I was when Christ saved me. Being weaker physically, even mentally does not change the way grace works. Jesus still says to me . . .

"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:9–10)

As I think about it, the weakness of aging is a good thing for it drives me to deeper dependence. The challenging part is feeling the fear but doing it anyway — a common definition of courage. However, the Bible says God links courage to obedience and to the peace that God gives when He is trusted and obeyed!

Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful 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. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:6–9)

You will prosper if you are careful to observe the statutes and the rules that the Lord commanded Moses for Israel. Be strong and courageous. Fear not; do not be dismayed. (1 Chronicles 22:13)

Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord! (Psalm 31:24)

PRAY: Lord Jesus, Paul said, “It is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death.” (Philippians 1:20) He knew he would go the way all of us go. As my hubby often says, we are all terminal. Fear of death is replaced by the anticipation of seeing You. Also, the fear of failure is replaced by the knowledge that You never fail. Trusting You is the issue, not relying on anything else when I’m being attacked as I grow older. There is nothing in Your Word that says I can ‘retire’ from obedience or excuse it because I don’t feel up to it. Forgive me for feeling as if I would like to quit when You are telling me to go ahead. Thank You for the courage You have given me in the past. Help me face spiritual battles and even mere daily responsibilities without retreat or compromise.

Read Daniel 3:1–30. Why were Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego punished by King Nebuchadnezzar? How did God honor their courage? Besides ease and comfort, what else tempts me to worship and obey it instead of Jesus Christ?

 

 

God is in the details . . .

Lest I ever get the idea that God is interested only in missions, preaching, and displays of great piety and service, every now and then He humbles my heart with something very simple.

Yesterday I needed a few things from Costco. I knew the place would be swarming with customers. Not only that, the windchill was brutal, the parking lots icy, and my mind was dreading the experience. I prayed first for a parking place near the door and for God to guide me as I drove.

As I pulled into the lot, it was indeed swarming. One glance told me I would be walking a good distance from my car to the entrance. As I drove, the Holy Spirit whispered turn here, right at the row nearest the door. I turned. Just then, a woman in a white SUV backed out and gave me a wide berth so I could pull in, directly in from of the store door, the very closest parking place. I sat there in tears.

This week has been filled with meaningful conversations with Jesus. I prayed for revelation of whatever in my life needs His work. The next day He graciously spelled it out. Other events have shown His hand and guidance and in these, I am humbled and yet with deeper faith. It takes a long time to learn that God wants the very best for me. I do not need to be apprehensive about what He might ask me to do. He promises to supply all that I need.

Tozer takes me today to this favorite passage. Joshua is going to lead God’s people into the land of promise. He may have felt fear and weakness, but the Lord gave him the principles that would give him success . . .

“Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful 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. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:6–9)

Isn’t God true to His promises? Are not the principles of God proven reliable? Doesn’t meditation on them give me peace? Isn’t obedience always a blessing? Didn’t He tell me to trust Him and not be afraid or anxious? Isn’t He with me always?

Of course. All of what He said to Joshua applies to me also, and to all His children. He says this:

“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, ‘For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.’ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:31–39)

^^^^^^^^^^

Oh my Father, You gave me Jesus to redeem my life. You bless me with all good things including renewed health and strength and victory over sin. Nothing can separate me from Your love. You even give me parking places to protect me from the weather. I am blessed, so very blessed. You don’t need me — yet what else can I do but give myself back to You.