Let’s Be Courageous
If ever we needed to rely on God’s Word and His promises it is today. In this world where all around us is sadness, grief, sickness, sorrow and fear, we need to go back to the Bible and claim all the riches within it for ourselves. In Joshua 1, God chose Joshua to lead the children of Israel. No doubt Joshua was full of fears, but God encouraged him to go on. In verse 5 He told Joshua, “As I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.” In verse 6 He said, “Be strong and of a good courage,” while in verse 7 He further exhorted,” Only be thou strong and very courageous.” Finally, in verse 9, God actually commanded Joshua, “Be strong and of a good Courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.”
As Christian women, we also need to follow this advice. Let’s claim God’s promises for ourselves. We are needed today to strengthen and encourage one another. We must stand firm in our faith, seeking to witness and tell others what we have in our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. God has promised that He will be with us, so let’s live our lives believing this.
In Philippians 4:6 we are told not to worry about anything, and yet, all around us we see Christians worrying and upset. Why? Perhaps it is because we haven’t claimed all the promises for ourselves. Perhaps we don’t really believe God. Yet He tells us in Jeremiah 31:3 that “He has loved us with an everlasting love.” In 1 Peter 1:24 & 25 we read that “the grass withereth and the flower thereof falleth away: but the Word of the Lord endureth forever.” If we have Christ in our hearts, we are to trust Him for these promises. God did not intend for us to walk this earthly pathway alone. He wants to share in our lives … each day, moment by moment.
As women of God, let’s start our day, every day, with prayer and Bible reading. Let us live and walk close to our Lord, believing His Word. If we ask Him to help us to be strong and courageous, then in turn we will be able to help others. Let us worship first, then go forth to witness, serve, and fellowship with other believers. In 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 we are told to carry on and not lose heart. “Though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.” How? By getting into the Word of God; by reading and praying daily. All around us we see people relying on things that are tangible and material. All they have is this world; their treasure is in this world; when it is gone they have nothing. Our treasure is in our blessed Lord Jesus Christ and no one can take our treasure from us. Thus we are encouraged to go on for our Lord and be courageous women of God.
There may be more sorrow around us, more fears, threats of war and burdens to life than ever before; therefore, we are all the more needed in this world today. If we claim God’s promises as our own, then we must press on. And in so doing, let us remember that it is an honor to be called by Him into loving, working and serving others, and through it all —as we continue to pray and praise —we will experience the peace of God in our hearts (Philippians 4:7).