Seeds Of Hope Daily Devotional: courage

Showing posts with label courage. Show all posts

Tuesday, April 19, 2022

Courage!

The battle was long and fierce. Although it was dark, the skies were bright with tracer bullets and bombs bursting everywhere. Frightened soldiers were afraid to move from their trenches fearing that the enemy would see them. Suddenly, one of them began to cry.

“I’m afraid. I’m a coward. Will someone please help me? I don’t want to die,” he cried out in fear.

His friend, hiding next to him, extended a word of comfort. “It’s O.K. to be afraid. I’m right here with you. Let’s pray for God’s help.” Then his friend began to quote Psalm 138:3: “As soon as I pray You answer me, You encourage me by giving me strength.”

Fear is a normal feeling when our lives are being threatened. It is a gift from God sending us a signal that we need to reach out to Him for His protection as well as a reminder that He will never leave us nor forsake us no matter how desperate or dangerous our surroundings may be.

Courage can be compared to a muscle: it will grow over time if used. Often, however, we would rather give in to a test or temptation that God sends our way than to call on Him for strength. As the Psalmist said, “As soon as I pray You answer!” Included in the answer are His courage and His strength.

Prayer: Thank You, Father, for Your promise to give us courage and strength when we face the dangers of life. And, thank You for the speed of Your reply! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture For Today: As soon as I pray, you answer me; you encourage me by giving me strength. Psalm 138:3

Courage!

“I’m afraid. I’m a coward. Will someone please help me? I don’t want to die,” he cried out in fear.

Prayer: Thank You, Father, for Your promise to give us courage and strength when we face the dangers of life. And, thank You for the speed of Your reply! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture For Today: As soon as I pray, you answer me; you encourage me by giving me strength. Psalm 138:3

Tuesday, August 21, 2018

Courage!

“I’m afraid. I’m a coward. Will someone please help me? I don’t want to die,” he cried out in fear.

God is the very best resource available to us when we need help in any situation. Friends are helpful, but God is faithful - and will not allow us to be tempted or tested beyond His power or ability to rescue and save us.

Prayer: Thank You, Father, for Your promise to give us courage and strength when we face the dangers of life. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Psalm 138:3 As soon as I pray, You answer me; You encourage me by giving me strength.

Courage!

“I’m afraid. I’m a coward. Will someone please help me? I don’t want to die,” he cried out in fear.

Scripture for Today: Psalm 138:3 As soon as I pray, You answer me; You encourage me by giving me strength.

Monday, April 24, 2017

Refuse To Be Discouraged

Dr. Jonas Salk, one of the world’s foremost microbiologists, was the first person to discover and develop a vaccine against polio. It was not an easy process and took years.

Once he said, “Ideas come to me as they do to everyone else. But I take each one of them seriously, consider them carefully, examine them thoroughly and study them endlessly. I do not allow anyone to discourage me, though many try.”

For the Christian, discouragement overcomes us when we are no longer aware of the presence of God in our lives, become unconcerned for the plans He has for our lives, refuse to believe that He will provide for our every need and doubt that He will fulfill the promises He has made in His Word.

God told Moses to “be strong and very courageous...to study and obey His law...” and then, and only then, could he count on being successful. Why? Because then, and only then, could he count on God to be with him, protect him and empower him wherever he went.

God wanted Moses to know, understand, believe and accept the fact that it was important for him to be obedient and follow “all that is written.” He also wanted him to know that faithfulness to God is not a guarantee that he would be successful in the eyes of the world. God did, however, assure Him that He would be successful in His eyes and that type of success lasts throughout eternity.

Prayer: Thank You, Heavenly Father, for assuring us of Your presence and power in our lives if we obey Your Word. Give us strength and courage as we follow You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Joshua 1:9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Refuse To Be Discouraged

Dr. Jonas Salk, one of the world’s foremost microbiologists, was the first person to discover and develop a vaccine against polio. It was not an easy process and took years.

Prayer: Thank You, Heavenly Father, for assuring us of Your presence and power in our lives if we obey Your Word. Give us strength and courage as we follow You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Joshua 1:9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Friday, March 24, 2017

Prepared But Vulnerable

Fort Eben-Emael in Belgium was considered to be the strongest fortress in the world. Its concrete walls were fifteen feet thick and reinforced with honeycombed steel. It took five years to build and was the strongest and most heavily armed fortress in the world. Upon completion the Belgians boasted, “It is so strong no army can storm it.”

And they may have been right.

But one night a German glider with well-trained and heavily armed paratroopers quietly descended into the fort. They discovered that few men were on duty and they easily took command of the fort and its assets. All of the preparations of the Belgians were in vain.

The Apostle Paul had a military background. So it is no wonder that he went back to his military experience to give an insight for Christian living to the Church at Corinth. And it seems as though he is speaking as a military commander when he wrote, “Be on your guard! Stand true to what you believe. Be courageous. Be strong. And everything you do must be done in love.”

His first order of the day was to be alert – to be on guard – to the worldly dangers that will certainly and with great consistence confront the Christian. We may prepare well and be strong in our faith but if we are not constantly alert to life’s temptations we will be defeated.

Prayer: Help us, Lord, to avoid becoming complacent in our lives. May we be constantly aware of those areas in our life where we are weak and look to You for our strength. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: 1 Corinthians 16:13 Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.

Prepared But Vulnerable

And they may have been right.

Scripture for Today: 1 Corinthians 16:13 Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.

Friday, March 17, 2017

"Bred To Run"

On the wall behind the desk of a horse breeder is a picture of a new born colt. It appears to be only a few days old and seemed as though it was having a difficult time struggling to stand up. It looked weak and wobbly even though the mother is nearby watching carefully. But underneath the picture are three words engraved on a bronze plate, “Bred To Run.”

Bred into the genes of the colt are qualities of strength and success, endurance and energy. And even though the colt is unsure and unsteady as it struggles to stand tall, the potential for greatness is inside.

So it is with the Christian. When we are born again, God implants within us His strength and stamina, His power and the potential for a life of victory over sin. He gives us a purpose in life, goals to achieve and a message to proclaim.

With all of its potential the colt is not ready to run. It must endure hours of training and miles of running and learn obedience to its master.

So it is with the Christian. God has given us all that we need to achieve greatness in serving Him. But the greatness will not come unless we discipline ourselves to “study and meditate on the Book of the Law continually – day and night – so that we may be sure to obey all that is written in it. Only then,” Joshua says, “will we succeed!”

Prayer: Lord, we are so blessed to be called Your children and to be called to serve You. Help us to be strong, courageous and unafraid to run the race before us. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Joshua 1:6-9 …Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”

"Bred To Run"

With all of its potential the colt is not ready to run. It must endure hours of training and miles of running and learn obedience to its master.

Prayer: Lord, we are so blessed to be called Your children and to be called to serve You. Help us to be strong, courageous and unafraid to run the race before us. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Joshua 1:6-9 …Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Friday, July 8, 2016

Facing Fear

General Jimmy Doolittle was the first pilot to fly an airplane relying only on the aircraft’s instruments. He is also the one who led the impossible, yet successful, raid on Tokyo in World War II. On one occasion he said to his crew, “I can honestly say that I have never felt fear.” How amazing!

Fear grips us when we sense an impending danger, a situation that might harm or destroy our well-being. Fear comes to us when we feel or sense that a situation is beyond our control. Fear can be either helpful or harmful.

On one occasion David said, “I trust in God, so why should I be afraid? What can mere mortals do to me?”

In other words, David was saying, “How much damage or harm can people do to me if my trust is in the Lord?” People can try to destroy our reputation. They can make statements that hurt us. They can inflict pain and suffering and even death. But they cannot destroy our relationship with God or remove our name from the Book of Life.

God has given each of us complete responsibility to accept or reject His salvation. We have the power of choice within the grace of God to trust Him for our salvation and the privilege of being with Him in eternity. Jesus said, “Do not be afraid of those...who can kill your body. They cannot touch your soul.” Our only fear should be of God who controls this life and the one to come.

Prayer: We thank You, Lord, for being a God whom we can trust and whose Word endures forever. We are grateful that we trust in You and never be afraid. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust, I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me? Psalm 56:4

Monday, July 4, 2016

Courage!

Anne Lindbergh was a highly respected author as well as an aviator. Once, while visiting with a Japanese friend, she remarked “I understand that the Japanese honor the bamboo for prosperity and the pine for long life. But why is the plum honored for courage?”

“Because,” replied her friend, “the plum puts forth blossoms while the snow is on the ground. That takes courage.”

Courage is not the absence of fear - it is the willingness to face fear. It is not avoiding danger and hardship because we do not want what may come from them - but the determination to face danger and hardship with confidence and resolution. Courage is our willingness to accept new surroundings and situations knowing that God is with us, will protect us and provide for our safety and security if we go forward in His strength.

Think of Joshua. He was responsible to lead two million people into a strange new land and conquer it. The words strange and new are enough of a warning to frighten most of us and cause us to withdraw from a situation in fear. But that was not an option for him. Many tasks God calls us to do are challenging, frightening and appear overwhelming. But God will not put us in any situation without giving us the strength and skills to succeed. When God calls us to battle He equips us to win.

Prayer: Give us the faith and trust, Heavenly Father, to know that You love us too much to abandon us or will neglect to prepare us for every challenge we face. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. Joshua 1:6

Sunday, June 19, 2016

"Let's Turn It On!"

Thomas Edison worked many years to develop a light bulb. The day finally arrived when his first one was ready to be tested. He turned to his lab technician and said, “Take this downstairs and let’s turn it on!”

The technician was filled with excitement as he left the laboratory. As he ran down the stairs, he slipped, fell and broke the bulb.

Discouraged but not defeated, Edison went on to make his second bulb. When it was finished, he turned to the same technician and said, “Take this downstairs and let’s turn it on!” With the same amount of excitement, but more cautious, he carefully took the bulb downstairs and the experiment was completed successfully.

More often than not, it is easy to give up when things do not turn out as we expect them to. In a moment of despair we find it easier to turn our backs on projects that fail or goals that crumble. But even though we may make a mess of things, God has not nor ever will give up on us. The Lord, speaking through Joshua, said, “Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go!”

What a gracious promise of His presence and power!

Prayer: Lord, may we always work with You to turn every tragedy into triumph and every disaster into a delight that honors You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Joshua 1:1-9 Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Wednesday, April 27, 2016

The Call To Courage

When Pat Summerall was born his right foot was twisted backwards. No one believed that the problem could be corrected. Expert orthopedic surgeons and other specialists said the problem was beyond repair. But one doctor believed differently. He broke the bones, turned the foot around and then reset all of the bones. However, no one believed that he would ever be able to do much with that foot.

Soon after he was able to walk, he decided to try to run. He struggled in pain, but never gave up and with courage and determination he became an outstanding athlete in high school and college. He went on to play professional football and during his career kicked 101 field goals and 258 extra points.

One of the greatest Jewish leaders in all of history was Moses. He was well educated, a prophet and lawgiver, recorded the Ten Commandments and was the author of the Pentateuch. In Moses we see an outstanding leader who was shaped and molded by God. God took the strengths of Moses and sharpened them until he was suited to fulfill God’s purpose for his life. God worked with him until he was able to do what God wanted him to do.

In his final address to the people of Israel he spoke from his personal experience. “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid of them! The LORD your God will go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor forsake you!”

These most encouraging words of Moses did not end when the children of Israel entered the Promised Land. Their echo can be heard across the ages and will ring in our ears this very day if we are open to the voice of God. These words from Moses state a promise from God that is as valid today as it was then.

Prayer: Give us the faith, Lord, to take You at Your word and realize that no matter the handicaps or hardship that come to us in life, with Your strength we can be “over-comers.” In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Deuteronomy 31:6 Be strong and of good courage, do not fear or be in dread of them: for it is the Lord your God who goes with you; he will not fail you or forsake you.”

Friday, January 15, 2016

Our Source Of Strength

The word strength comes from a word that means “twisted together.” We can see it in the strands of hemp that are twisted together to make rope, or the many single pieces of thread that are twisted together to make twine. A strand of hemp or a single thread has little strength, but when many of them are twisted together they become much stronger.

Isaiah presents a remarkable role that God plays in the life of the Christian. “Don’t be afraid,” he wrote, “for I am with you. Do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.”

What a powerful promise! God, the Creator, is willing to take away our fears and bring order and peace to our hearts and minds when we are confused and frightened, and give us His strength to keep us from falling. He will replace our weaknesses with His strength; give us His wisdom to teach us, and His grace to sustain us when we are overwhelmed.

There is no reason for us to be kept in the grip of fear because God is with us. There is no reason for us to ever feel abandoned or neglected because we can have a relationship with Him for He is our God. There is no reason for us to feel weak because His strength is sufficient and available to help us and hold us when we fear we may fall or fail.
Paul said, “All things through Christ!”

Prayer: Help us, Father, to depend upon You for all that we need – spiritually, emotionally and physically. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Scripture for Today: Isaiah 41:10 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Wednesday, October 28, 2015

Winning And Trying

It was his first attempt to win a trophy for swimming. He was successful and won first place. After receiving his prized possession, his mother said, “I’m so happy for you. I never won a trophy.”

“Mom,” he asked, “did you ever try?”

God created each of us to succeed. But we can never succeed at anything until we try something. And whenever we want to accomplish anything, we need a good place to begin. We find that “place” in the first words of the Bible: “In the beginning - GOD?.”

Beginning with God means that before we try to do anything we seek His will. God promised Joshua great success. He told him that no one would be able to stand their ground against him, promising, “I will not fail you or abandon you” as long as you live. But with His promise He gave him a warning: “study the Book of the Law continually? obey it?and only then will you succeed.”

The promise that God gave to Joshua works for us, too. However, God places the same limits on our success: “Study My Word continually, obey it, and only then you will succeed.” If we begin with God’s Word, we will end with God’s blessings. Surely, that is success!

Prayer: Lord, help us to realize and remember that success is all about You and never about us. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Joshua 1:1-9 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe 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.

Monday, October 19, 2015

Practicing The Presence Of God

Lord Moynihan was a brilliant, skillful and world famous British surgeon. On one occasion after completing an operation before a gallery of doctors, a reporter asked, “How can you work so calmly with such a famous crowd of surgeons present?”

Thoughtfully he replied, “There are just three people in the operating room when I operate: the patient, myself and God.”

As he concluded his farewell speech, Moses told Joshua that the Lord would be with him: “Do not be afraid or discouraged, I will go ahead of you and be with you and never abandon you.” We often forget that wherever we are, God is: He is the one Who created us, has a plan for us and will purposefully work through us.

The opposite of being “discouraged” is to be “encouraged.” “En” means “to give courage to!” And this is what God will do for us constantly and continually. He will give us courage to face every challenge in life because He will never forget us, forsake us or fail us.

The question is not “Can we count on God to be faithful to us?” The question is “Can God count on us to be faithful and obedient to Him in all He asks of us?”

Prayer: Heavenly Father, may we sense Your presence and power wherever we are and whatever we do. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Deuteronomy 31:6 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 you nor forsake you.”

Sunday, May 17, 2015

Make A Wish!

A college freshman, small in stature, wanted to be a member of the football team. He reported for the first practice, went to the coach and asked to try out for the team. Not wanting to discourage him, the coach agreed. He gave him the football and said, “I want you to run toward the goal while these two linemen chase you.”

Tucking the ball under his arm, he ran as fast as he could. Soon, one of the linemen grabbed his right leg and he began to fall. Then the other one grabbed his left leg and he fell to the ground. As he lay there panting and praying, one of them said, “This may be your last wish. Make it carefully.”

“I wish you’d let me go so I can tell the coach, ‘I quit.’”

There were many times in the life of the Apostle Paul that he faced overwhelming odds; times when it appeared that he would be “torn apart.” But he never gave up or quit.

When he was enduring his final imprisonment in Rome and awaiting his trial, he did not know if he would be released or executed. Rather than being filled with fear, he demonstrated his faith in God. So, he prayed that when he stood trial he would speak courageously for Christ and not be ashamed. “For I live in eager expectation and hope that I will never do anything that causes me shame, but that I will always be bold for Christ.” What faith. What trust. What courage.

Prayer: Father, may we, like Paul, have the boldness and courage to face adversity with courage and trust. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Philippians 1:19-21 according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death.

Sunday, May 3, 2015

A Spine And a Spirit

Kenneth was a shy eight-year-old who loved to read. On one occasion his Sunday school teacher asked him to read part of the story of Daniel. In reading one of the verses, he accidentally read “an exceptional spine was within him” rather than “an excellent spirit was within him.” Both phrases, however, clearly describe who Daniel was.

Daniel was recognized for his wise insight, great wisdom and prophetic visions. As he rose to power and prestige with the king, the other palace administrators became jealous of his privileged position. In their effort to get rid of Daniel, they were successful in persuading the king to outlaw prayer. It did not matter to Daniel and rather than give in to pressure, he continued to pray to the Lord, his God.

We all recall with pleasure the amazing miracle God performed by protecting him when he was thrown into the den of hungry lions. God was with him and guarded him against any harm. Daniel was faithful to God and God was faithful to him and blessed him.

Daniel was able to “show his exceptional spine” every time he was challenged to surrender to the demands of a sinful world. It was the “excellent spirit” that came from his relationship with God that gave him his “exceptional spine.” He knew that this God was sovereign.

Prayer: Father, give me a faith that will not flinch and a spine that will not shrink when tempted to compromise. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Daniel 6:3 Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.

Friday, April 25, 2014

Courage!

The battle was long and fierce. Although darkness had settled in, the skies were bright with tracer bullets and bombs bursting everywhere. Frightened soldiers were afraid to move from their trenches fearing that the enemy would see them. Suddenly, one of them began to cry.

“I’m afraid. I’m a coward. Will someone please help me? I don’t want to die,” he cried out in fear.

His friend, hiding next to him, extended a word of comfort. “It’s O.K. to be afraid. I’m right here with you. Let’s pray for God’s help.” Then his friend began to quote Psalm 138:3: “As soon as I pray You answer me, You encourage me by giving me strength.”

Fear is a normal feeling when our lives are being threatened. It is a gift from God sending us a signal that we need to reach out to Him for His protection as well as a reminder that He will never leave us nor forsake us no matter how desperate or dangerous our surroundings may be.

Courage can be compared to a muscle: it will grow over time if used. Often, however, we would rather give in to a test or temptation that God sends our way than to call on Him for strength. As the Psalmist said, “As soon as I pray You answer!” Included in the answer is His courage and His strength.

God is the very best resource available to us when we need help in any situation. Friends are helpful but God is faithful – and will not allow us to be tempted or tested beyond His power or ability to rescue and save us.

Prayer: Thank You, Father, for Your promise to give us courage and strength when we face the dangers of life. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Psalm 138:3 When I called, you answered me; you greatly emboldened me.