"How To Be Courageous" - Inspirational Weekend

(Internet Photo)

Courage is when someone's heart moves them to do something brave.  Dr. Charles Stanley defines courage thus, "The quality of mind or spirit enabling us to meet danger, face opposition, or the challenges of life with fearlessness, calmness, and firmness."

This post will focus on Biblical courage, which relies upon the power of God to strengthen us and to help us demonstrate courage as befits children of God.  It takes courage to "be different" and to take a stand for what is true and righteous while living in a wicked and selfish and materialistic world.  It takes courage to suffer persecution and insults because of your faith.  God is there to help you in all of your trials.

"The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?  The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?"  - Psalm 27:1

"Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart:  wait, I say, on the LORD."  -  Psalm 27:14

The two verses above (and the Holy Spirit) have helped me to be strong and to face opposition.  Waiting on the Lord will build your faith and strengthen you as you let God be God and wait for His guidance and His help.   He is in control and knows the end from the beginning and what the future holds.  His plan is best.  Trust Him. 

Hebrews 13:5b also says that God "will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."  How comforting.  God and Jesus are always with you.  That knowledge alone will give you courage.  As a child I was moved around from one relative to another; as an adult I have been forsaken by my husband.  These verses, Deuteronomy 31:6 and Hebrews 13:5, fill my heart with love and gratitude for the Lord's tender care and His promises.  I can trust God.  He will not abandon me nor forsake me.

I was shy, fearful, and insecure as a child and as a young adult.  The good Lord has worked mightily in my behalf and when I look back on how many times He has "rescued" me, it has built my faith and trust in Him.  He has given me the courage to face the obstacles.  It is all by the grace of God and not any of my doing.   

"I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me."  -  Philippians 4:13

In short, to be courageous, you need to have faith in the good Lord. The Holy Spirit will guide you and help you.  You need to have a close, personal, intimate relationship with God through Jesus Christ.  That relationship is built by prayer and Bible study. You need to have faith and believe in Jesus as your Savior and Lord and Master.  

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."  - John 3:16

"(9) That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (10) For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.  (13)  For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."   -  Romans 10: 9,10,13

 Dr. Stanley tells us that the key to courage and to live your life acceptably is to mediate on God's Word day and night.  (Joshua 1:8)

One example in the Bible of courage in action is one we are all familiar with:  the story of David and Goliath.   David trusted in the Lord because of how he had been helped by God in the past to be delivered from a lion and also from a bear.  He had faith and therefore courage to slay the giant, knowing the Lord would help him this time as well.  (1 Samuel 17).

"Courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at the testing point."  -  C. S. Lewis

"Even a coward can praise Christ, but it takes a man of courage to follow Him."  - Unknown

"Have courage for the great sorrows in life, and patience for the small ones.  And when you have laboriously accomplished your daily tasks, go to sleep in peace.  God is awake."   -  Victor Hugo

"Have not I commanded thee?  Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee withersoever thou goest."  -  Joshua 1:9

"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you.  Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."  -  Jesus at John 14:27