Living Courageously: You Can Face Anything, Just Do It Afraid by Joyce Meyer Page B
Book: Living Courageously: You Can Face Anything, Just Do It Afraid by Joyce Meyer
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Authors: Joyce Meyer
Tags: RELIGION / Christian Life / Inspirational, Religion / Christian Life / Spiritual Growth, Religion / Christian Life - Personal Growth, RELIGION / Christian Life / General
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and over in the Bible. It doesn’t mean not to feel fear, but it does mean not to give in to it when we do feel it.
The Word of God is filled with stories of men and women who did astonishing things by faith, and we are never told that they didn’t feel fear. In some instances we are clearly told that they did feel fear. Moses was afraid when God appeared to him in the burning bush, Elijah was afraid of Jezebel, surely Abram felt fear when God told him to leave his home and all of his relatives and go to a place that would only be revealed to him after he was on his journey. Esther spoke of her fear of being killed by the king if God didn’t give her favor when she went before him to plead for her people. Surely Daniel felt fear when he walked into the lion’s den, but he courageously did it afraid. Whether you are familiar with these Bible stories or not, let me assure you that they are accounts of normal people just like you and me who were prompted by God to face their fears and do amazing things.
Joshua was facing a huge task when God told him to fear not and be courageous. What are you facing right now, or what might you face in the future? Whatever it is, you need not fear it, for God has promised to be with you, just as He promised to bewith Joshua. Although we may not be equipped to handle some of the things we confront in life, God is. There is nothing too hard for Him! On more than one occasion, God told Joshua to be strong and courageous and keep going forward. We not only feel fear at the beginning of our journey, but it also shows up unannounced at various intervals along the way. The answer to fear is always the same: “Be strong and courageous, for God is with you.”
The answer to fear is always the same: “Be strong and courageous, for God is with you.”
The need for courage is the reason we should encourage one another. Fear runs rampant in the earth and seeks to hinder all progress, but God has given us the Holy Spirit to encourage us, and He exhorts us to encourage one another. One right word of encouragement from you at the right time may keep someone else from giving up.
God told Moses, before he died, to encourage Joshua.
But Joshua son of Nun, who stands before you, he shall enter there. Encourage him, for he shall cause Israel to inherit it.
Deuteronomy 1:38
Moses also told the people to encourage Joshua.
But charge Joshua, and encourage and strengthen him, for he shall go over before this people and he shall cause them to possess the land which you shall see.
Deuteronomy 3:28
God knew that fear would attack Joshua and that he would need encouragement all along the way. Are you good at encouraging people? It is a vitally important ministry and one that noneof us should ignore. When I stepped out to obey the call of God on my life, I had many who discouraged me, and only three who I can remember who encouraged me. Thankfully, by the grace of God, I was able to confront the many fears that came against me with the courage of God, and you can do the same thing. Even if you have no person on this Earth who is encouraging you, you do have the Holy Spirit, and He will encourage you if you will listen to Him. When all men fail us and we feel terribly alone, God is with us just as He has always been. The apostle Paul said, “At my first trial no one… [even] stood with me, but all forsook me. May it not be charged against them! But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me…” (2 Timothy 4:16–17). Just as the Lord stood by Paul and gave him strength, He will do the same for you.
Equipped for the Task
You can be assured that anything God leads you to do, He will equip you to do it. You may not feel or see the abilities and courage that you need, but they will arrive the moment you need them. In God’s economy, we must believe first and we will see later. When we trust God and take the steps of faith He is leading us to take, He never fails to provide what we need.
For this reason I am
The Word of God is filled with stories of men and women who did astonishing things by faith, and we are never told that they didn’t feel fear. In some instances we are clearly told that they did feel fear. Moses was afraid when God appeared to him in the burning bush, Elijah was afraid of Jezebel, surely Abram felt fear when God told him to leave his home and all of his relatives and go to a place that would only be revealed to him after he was on his journey. Esther spoke of her fear of being killed by the king if God didn’t give her favor when she went before him to plead for her people. Surely Daniel felt fear when he walked into the lion’s den, but he courageously did it afraid. Whether you are familiar with these Bible stories or not, let me assure you that they are accounts of normal people just like you and me who were prompted by God to face their fears and do amazing things.
Joshua was facing a huge task when God told him to fear not and be courageous. What are you facing right now, or what might you face in the future? Whatever it is, you need not fear it, for God has promised to be with you, just as He promised to bewith Joshua. Although we may not be equipped to handle some of the things we confront in life, God is. There is nothing too hard for Him! On more than one occasion, God told Joshua to be strong and courageous and keep going forward. We not only feel fear at the beginning of our journey, but it also shows up unannounced at various intervals along the way. The answer to fear is always the same: “Be strong and courageous, for God is with you.”
The answer to fear is always the same: “Be strong and courageous, for God is with you.”
The need for courage is the reason we should encourage one another. Fear runs rampant in the earth and seeks to hinder all progress, but God has given us the Holy Spirit to encourage us, and He exhorts us to encourage one another. One right word of encouragement from you at the right time may keep someone else from giving up.
God told Moses, before he died, to encourage Joshua.
But Joshua son of Nun, who stands before you, he shall enter there. Encourage him, for he shall cause Israel to inherit it.
Deuteronomy 1:38
Moses also told the people to encourage Joshua.
But charge Joshua, and encourage and strengthen him, for he shall go over before this people and he shall cause them to possess the land which you shall see.
Deuteronomy 3:28
God knew that fear would attack Joshua and that he would need encouragement all along the way. Are you good at encouraging people? It is a vitally important ministry and one that noneof us should ignore. When I stepped out to obey the call of God on my life, I had many who discouraged me, and only three who I can remember who encouraged me. Thankfully, by the grace of God, I was able to confront the many fears that came against me with the courage of God, and you can do the same thing. Even if you have no person on this Earth who is encouraging you, you do have the Holy Spirit, and He will encourage you if you will listen to Him. When all men fail us and we feel terribly alone, God is with us just as He has always been. The apostle Paul said, “At my first trial no one… [even] stood with me, but all forsook me. May it not be charged against them! But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me…” (2 Timothy 4:16–17). Just as the Lord stood by Paul and gave him strength, He will do the same for you.
Equipped for the Task
You can be assured that anything God leads you to do, He will equip you to do it. You may not feel or see the abilities and courage that you need, but they will arrive the moment you need them. In God’s economy, we must believe first and we will see later. When we trust God and take the steps of faith He is leading us to take, He never fails to provide what we need.
For this reason I am
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