Life: Live it Like Christ
Month: January 2021
Where is Courage?
“For the believer, fear is always God—fearful. If God is sovereign and His rule is complete, wise, righteous, and good, why would you fear?”
Paul David Tripp*
Hezekiah, king of Judah, knew in moments like these (Judah’s invasion by Assyria) God’s people were often given to fear; he knew where that fear came from.
Often in moments of challenge the people of God panic because they possess what we call “identity amnesias’. Today, really is no different. We too often forget who we are as children of God and we forget who God is in all His almighty power and glory.
We must not forget Hezekiah’s challenge to his people – listen!
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or dismayed before the king of Assyria and all the horde that is with him…with him is an arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God, to help and to fight our battles”
(2 Chronicles 32:7—8).
We may not have the army of Assyria knocking on our door, but we all have an “Assyria” in our life…maybe two!
There will be a moment when you will ask, ‘Where is courage to be found to face what I am facing?’
Hezekiah gives us the answer – “Look up and remember YOUR God.” As God’s child, you are never left to battle on your own!
“12 I, even I, am He that comforteth you: who art thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall die, and of the son of man which shall be made as grass; 13 And forgettest the Lord thy maker, that hath stretched forth the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth; and hast feared continually every day because of the fury of the oppressor, as if he were ready to destroy? and where is the fury of the oppressor? 14 The captive exile hasteneth that he may be loosed, and that he should not die in the pit, nor that his bread should fail. 15 But I am the Lord thy God, that divided the sea, whose waves roared: The Lord of hosts is His name. 16 And I have put my words in thy mouth, and I have covered thee in the shadow of mine hand, that I may plant the heavens, and lay the foundations of the earth, and say unto Zion, Thou art my people. 17 Awake, awake, stand up, O Jerusalem…” (Isaiah 51: 12–16 & 17).
*A special thank you to Paul David Tripp for walking in the spirit of God and sharing that walk with thousands. In this blog post there have been excerpts from his devotional called: New Morning Mercies (January 9). If you do not have this book I highly recommend that you purchase it. It has been an extreme blessing to my soul and you will be glad you did (he didn’t tell me to say that).
In Christ I am SHE {Saved. Hopeful. Empowered.}
Share Your Story!
What has God done for you?
Share your story!
“Joshua called for all the Israelite tribes at Shechem and summoned the elders, clan heads, judges, and officials of Israel. They presented themselves before God. 2 Joshua said to all the people, “Thus says the Lord God of Israel: Long ago your fathers—Terah father of Abraham and Nahor—lived beyond the Euphrates[a] and served other gods. 3 I took your father Abraham from beyond the Euphrates,[b] brought him through all the land of Canaan, and gave him many descendants. To him I gave Isaac. 4 To Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau, and to Esau I gave Mount Seir for his inheritance, but Jacob and his descendants went down into Egypt. 5 “I sent Moses and Aaron, I struck Egypt down with all I did in their midst, and afterward I brought you out. 6 I brought your fathers out of Egypt, then you came to the sea. The Egyptians pursued your fathers with chariots and horsemen to the Red Sea. 7 Your fathers cried out to the Lord, and He placed darkness between you and the Egyptians. He made the sea come upon them and cover them. Your own eyes saw what I did to Egypt, and you lived in the wilderness a long time. 8 “I brought you to the land of the Amorites who lived on the other side of the Jordan. They waged war against you, but I gave them into your hand so that you might inherit their land, and I destroyed them before you. 9 Then Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, arose and waged war against Israel. He called for Balaam son of Beor to curse you, 10 but I refused to listen to Balaam. Therefore he blessed you still, and I delivered you out of his hand. 11 “You crossed the Jordan and came to Jericho. The leaders of Jericho, along with the Amorites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hittites, Girgashites, Hivites, and Jebusites, waged war against you, but I gave them into your hand. 12 I sent the hornet and drove out the two Amorite kings from before you, but not with your sword or your bow. 13 I gave you a land for which you did not work, and cities that you did not build. You live in them, and you are eating from the produce of vineyards and olive groves you did not plant. 14 “Now fear the Lord, and serve Him with sincerity and faithfulness. Put away the gods your fathers served beyond the River[c] and in Egypt. Serve the Lord. 15 If it is displeasing to you to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve, if it should be the gods your fathers served beyond the River[d] or the gods of the Amorites’ land where you are now living. Yet as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:1-15 mev).
If you could see me now, I have this smiley smirk on my face that I cannot get rid of. This passage just tickles my soul. As I read through these 15 verses, I cannot help but think…we too have a story to share. Just as Joshua rehearsed Israel’s life up to that point, we need to rehearse ours. Remember, we have been bought with a price therefore we must give Him all the glory (1 Corinthians 6:20).
The same God that was at work in Israel’s life is the same God that works in our lives today.
Israel made a choice that day. They proclaimed to Joshua, “It is the Lord our God we will serve, and His voice that we will obey” (verse 24).
- Will you choose this day for God?
- Will you choose what has been given to you by God and bring Him glory?
- Will you share your God-given story? You know, there is only one you…so there is only one of your story. If you don’t share no one will know.
- Will you declare this day that you too will proclaim God’s work in you as good?
- Will you join thousands who have said and lived, “I will serve the Lord, and obey His voice?”
Your story is just that…yours. No one can fulfill, no one can proclaim, no one can decide whether you serve or love; or whether God is obeyed. We have only one life to offer…and yes, it is that seriously grand!
Maybe, just maybe one will join with Joshua and the Israelites and it be said of us, “___________ (insert your name here), served the Lord all the days of his/her life…and others knew of all the deeds that the Lord had done for him/her because of what he/she proclaimed” (read verse 31).
In Christ I am SHE {Saved. Hopeful. Empowered}
Live Courageously, Strong, and Bravely Free
Truly, this alone can One fulfill, that is God. I am bewildered at such great love, such affection for mankind — His children; such care and gentleness our Lord showers deliberately upon us. Purposeful. It leaves me speechless.
What a God of all comforters, giver of strength, hope, courage, leadership, direction and source of all resources…if only we believe, if only we trust. He cannot lie, therefore, we read truth.
To think, God, the encourager of my soul and giver of true life…desires this for us! Read Deuteronomy 31:6 again.
As wonderful and gracious as God is, we have been given the freedom to choose. The freedom to accept His strength, leadership, bravery, courage, We have been given the freedom to choose to trust and rely on Him rather than ourselves or others, therefore, we choose our outcome.
This greatness is within our grasp…the question is will I latch onto it or choose rejection and then continue to live in fear and be afraid?
To realize who we are, what we are, and understand the gravity of who God is…is priceless not demeaning.
This isn’t license to degrade, belittle or bemoan who we are or fester in what we’ve been though, but rather see ourselves with or without God placed in first place; at the helm.
It is true, without God we live defeated, fearfulness grows and takes root. We live alone, afraid, accepting intimation, doubts, and sin as the only way possible.
Today, will you trust in God’s best for you? Will you choose to live bravely, courageously, actively because you have taken the mightiest source available…God’s hand.
Today, will you trust God even against what your flesh commands your mind to think? Will you take the hardest step, the first step, and believe the God of gods, the King of kings, the Lord of lords and give Him your hand, your heart, your mind, your soul, your life?
We choose how we live…it is as simple as that.
Today, I consciously make the decision to trust in the One who gives courage, who gives strength, who gives insight, who gives life, resources and ability. I trust in the One who gives wisdom, bravery even when I don’t feel very brave or courageous. I trust in the One who gives true freedom.
Today, I choose to be courageous, strong and brave because I know He is the only One that can accomplish that in me…that isn’t weakness but strength.
Will you join me brothers and sisters in Christ? I would love to know: follow our WordPress page, like us on FB, write a comments…who is with me? Who is for God?
You are not alone. I am not alone. Let’s stand together in CHRIST!
In Christ I am SHE {Saved. Hopeful. Empowered.}
I AM THE GOD WHO SEES
It doesn’t matter how much we question. It doesn’t matter how much we doubt. It doesn’t matter how much we wonder. God sees! Trust that!
- Hagar
- Ruth
- David
- Jesus
- Mary Magdala
Click Play. Listen & Be encouraged!
In Christ I am SHE {Saved. Hopeful. Empowered.}
January 1, 2021 = Your Blank Page
May we fight the urge to grow lacks and set our goals eyesight to only be found faithful til the last page is written.
May this my prayer shall be. I love you, Lord. Yours, Colleen
In Christ I am SHE {Saved. Hopeful. Empowered.}
