Tag: <span>courage</span>

Courageous Living
Published March 30, 2022

Courageous Living

Thought – Is there a specific fear or doubt that has been grabbing hold of you recently?

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.” – Hebrews 12:1

It takes courage to face the truth about yourself — your fears, doubts, and insecurities.
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It takes courage to admit you are wrong when you have hurt someone.
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It takes courage to stand up for righteousness in the midst of what is popular and accepted.
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It takes courage not to defend yourself when you know you are innocent.
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It takes courage to love those that spitefully use and abuse you.
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It takes courage to forgive others so that you can be forgiven.
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It takes courage to believe in a God you can’t see.
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It takes courage to trust that God is in total control when everything around you is in total chaos.

When we walk by faith, we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses. They walked the same walk before us.
Many of them did not get to see the promises of God fulfilled on this side of Heaven. They died still believing that what God promised would be theirs.

These men and women of God faced major challenges because of what they believed, but they still believed. Their lives were shared with us in the scriptures to encourage and inspire us not to quit in tough times. Let us therefore strip off every weight and every sin that so easily distracts us. Let us lay down our will and become heroes of faith for those that will follow
us.

Father, we desire to do your will in the midst of tough situations that we face daily. We want so much to live a life that is pleasing to you. We desire to follow the example of so many others that have gone before us. Their faith walk showed us how courageous they were as they stood for what they believed. May we walk in that same courage as we continue in our journey before you. In Jesus name, Amen.

Thought – Is there a specific fear or doubt that has been grabbing hold of you recently? Bring it to Jesus and pray for His courage to fill your heart today

By Mary Pinckney
Used by Permission

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Further Reading

• Going Deeper with God

• There is Nothing Beyond Your Reach – by Mark Doyle

•  Salvation Explained

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thoughts by Mary Pinckney Thoughts by Women

Boxes
Published January 11, 2021

Boxes

“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world– the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions–is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever” 1 John 2:15-17 (ESV)

In light of recent events, I have wanted to think about where I am before God and what He expects of me.

So I went down the imaginary stairs of my consciousness, to the inner store-cupboard of my being.

I made my way past the previously opened boxes, piled in a heap on one side. For now I was keen to find the box I hoped would still be there, so I pressed on and opened the cupboard.

Yes, there it was, the box labelled, “In the need for faith, open“. Its container was somewhat battered and torn by past frequent use and abuse but lately it had become dusty. I struggled with the box as I carried it from the cupboard to a waiting table. There, in the light of the room, I rummaged inside the box and pulled out a cassette entitled “Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego“. Its tale can also be found in Daniel chapter 3.

I placed it in the player on the table. It told of three God-fearing people who, by an attitude of faith, were blessed. They built a bridge of trust with God between a time of imminent painful death in a fiery furnace by order of the king, and a time where they were to find themselves coming out of the furnace untouched. With either outcome in mind they had been prepared to face the fear of death because they loved God more than this life.

It is a reminder I re-play to myself time and again. It tells of faithfulness expected and rewarded. I believe it speaks of daring courage, self-sacrifice, in the face of a painful torture. How could they do it? They believed their life would be kept safe in God’s hands, even through death itself.

“ for there is no other god who is able to rescue in this way“. Daniel 3:29b (ESV)

LORD, in your mercy hear our prayers for our world today. LORD, for those in positions of oversight faced with the impossible, unbearable, overwhelming or ceaseless, bring to their hearts and minds your Wisdom, Peace, Hope and your deliverance from dissipation.

LORD, in our time stem the tide of fear. Show us the way You wish us to go in Your Kingdom and grant us the courage to remain faithful wherever that may lead us. Give us eyes that see the need, ears that hear the call and a spirit that is willing to serve, to the praise of Your Name. Amen.

By Rod Marshall
Used by Permission

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FURTHER READING

• Forgiveness – Yourself and  Others
•  Going Deeper with God

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Thoughts by Men thoughts by Rod Marshall