This week I find myself in need of courage. Courage to dream. Courage to try. The best source is God's Word. I'm sharing that with you. I must follow David's example:
1Samuel 30:6 |
|
And David was greatly
distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all
the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters:
but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God. |
Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the
Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”
For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of
power and love and self-control.
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.”
Be watchful,
stand firm in the faith, act like men,
be strong.
The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are
bold as a lion.
I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In
the world you will have tribulation. But
take heart; I have overcome the
world.”
Then David said to Solomon his son, “
Be strong and courageous and do it. Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed, for the
Lord God, even my God, is with you. He will not leave you or forsake you, until all the work for the service of the house of the
Lord is finished.
Wait for the
Lord;
be strong, and let your
heart take courage; wait for the
Lord!
Then 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.
But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, “
Do not fear, only believe.”
Be strong, and let your
heart take courage, all you who wait for the
Lord!
With him is an arm of flesh, but
with us is the Lord our God, to help us and to fight our battles.” And the people took
confidence from the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.
Acts 4:31
ESV ~ Courage comes from God's Spirit
And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered
together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and
continued to speak the word of God with
boldness.
Esther 4:16
ESV ~ Great displays of couraage
“Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my
behalf, and do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my
young women will also fast as you do. Then I will go to the king, though
it is against the law, and if I perish, I perish.”
But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.
And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by the
Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there, except that the Holy
Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions
await me. But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to
myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received
from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.
Genesis 22:1-14
ESV ~ Wow what courage, not only could he have seen his dream as dying, he was called on to kill it!
After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!”
And he said, “Here am I.” He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac,
whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a
burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” So
Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of
his young men with him, and his son Isaac. And he cut the wood for the
burnt offering and arose and went to the place of which God had told
him. On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place from
afar. Then Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; I
and the boy will go over there and worship and come again to you.” ...
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, “O
Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If this be
so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery
furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be
it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship
the golden image that you have set up.”