![]() ![]() ![]() Do we speak up when we see something that is wrong, intolerable or unconscionable? Speak up! I wonder how often in life we fail to speak up for others. I believe that the first step in choosing courage over fear is speaking up. When God is with us, we don’t have to be afraid, no matter the cost or the consequences. When you stand for truth and righteousness, God will reward you. If you act in courage in the face of adversity, God will sustain you and strengthen you. If you say, ‘Behold, we did not know this,’ does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who keeps watch over your soul know it, and will he not repay man according to his work?”(Proverbs 24:10–12) ![]() Rescue those who are being taken away to death hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter. “If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small. Let’s look to Proverbs 24 to learn how we can choose courage over fear in our lives, so that we will not live in a spirit of fear, but in a spirit of faith and courage. More than 360 times, the Bible tells us not to fear. We feel fear over unpaid bills, lost jobs, illness and being unable to take care of ourselves when we’re older.Īnd yet the Bible tells us that we’re not to have a spiritof fear in our lives. Certainly in life, there will be times when we will experience genuine fear-of a bad report from the doctor, of getting a call in the middle of the night when your children are out on the road somewhere. Even the psalmist said, “When I am afraid” as he asked for the presence of the Lord. So when he spoke, he emphasized a Greek verb which translates as “to prevail by God’s dominating strength.” All of us are called and challenged to be strong in the face of our fears.įear is a human emotion that we all experience. ![]() Squeezing out a living from the land or working with your hands was harsh and taxing. The phrase “act like men”applies to everyone. In 1 Corinthians 16:13–14, Paul said: “Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. We need strength of character and the courage to stand for light and truth. We don’t need weak preachers presiding over weak churches preaching a weak message to a dying world! We need the courage of the prophets and the apostles. But it is time for followers of Christ to turn away from weakness and be decisive, determined, and devoted no matter what the cost! Many Christians and many churches are unwilling to take a stand for truth and righteousness, for the Word of God, and the testimony of Jesus. We live in a time when people are vacillating and compromising all around us. Courage is a virtue that should be sought by every Christian and every church today. He stands upon convictions, not convenience. It means facing opposition, and in some cases persecution, for the Gospel’s sake.Ī courageous Christian is one who stands on principle, not preference. Having courage means standing against the intimidating fears that challenge our faith. We long for strength to stand with hearts abandoned and lives given over to Christ.īeing spiritually courageous means having conviction and an uncompromising commitment to the Word of God. Courage is one of the most valued of all virtues. I can’t think of a more needed choice than choosing courage over fear. There are many important spiritual choices we must make in life. ![]()
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