This blog is kinda serious, because I am so very serious!! Shhhhh….maybe someone will believe this! No, this first week of 2011 has been weird. Lots going on. I get on facebook and it is more like prayer-requestbook. It seems we are all going through some tough things. I think my problems are so big, but everyone has stuff…and some of it seems enormous these last few days.
So I’ve been thinking a lot about how God tells us over and over in scripture to have courage….be strong & courageous….do not fear. I opened my Bible Sunday and started reading right where it opened: in Revelation 21:6-8. “He said to me:’It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children. BUT THE COWARDLY, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars – they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.’” (Empasis mine.)
There is so much I would love to talk about in this one small passage, but one thing at a time. Did you catch what I saw??? Cowardice is listed right up there with murder, lying, sexual immorality, idolaters, etc. WOW! That has made me really think this week about what He is asking of me.
I am often scared and overwhelmed by the things He asks me to go through. I DO NOT have courage. BUT, it dawned on me this week that He knows that. He isn’t asking me to have my own courage. He is asking me to have His courage…His Spirit lives in me – therefore I can be courageous.
I’ll be honest, I’m going to have to pray about this more. Cry out to Him for the courage to face even the things that seem small to some people. It has been made very clear to me this week (in numerous ways) that I am right where God wants me…..DESPERATE for Him. I cannot do any of this in my own power. I am not smart enough, I am not fit enough, I am not savvy enough, I am not talented enough (you get the picture) to even make it through one day. I NEED Him. I NEED His power and His courage and His strength, His talent, His creativity to survive. I am thankful that He is gracious enough to have brought this to my attention.
Do I have the courage to totally lean on Him? To live each day to make Him known more? To allow God to totally show Himself off through me??? Do you? 2011 – the year of courage!
Gina
I thought I had left a comment about this. I really like what you’re saying. I think that at the crux is everything is DO I TRUST HIM. If I trust Him then, like you said, that is where my courage comes from. Keep on posting!! Love it!