Origin of Courage

Origin of Courage

1 Thessalonians 2: Our friends, you yourselves know that our visit to you was not a failure. ² You know how we had already been mistreated and insulted in Philippi before we came to you in Thessalonica. And even though there was much opposition, our God gave us courage to tell you the Good News that comes from him. 

 

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“There will be hundreds of people in the audience” were the words that made me nervous. I was asked to be one of the speakers at a regional meeting and I had never spoken to an audience of this size. I asked for tips to control my nervousness. One person said “practice”, another said “Don’t practice, use a three point outline.” The differing perspectives made me more nervous.

 

• I was scared to be in front of people.
• I worried about the validity of message.
• I replayed in my mind how I could possibly mess up in front of a lot of people.

 

Paul, Silas and Timothy expressed  the “opposition” they faced in places like Philippi and Thessalonica. They had been slandered, ridiculed and insulted. This could have been very discouraging if they had to rely on their own courage, but they did not have to.

 

My Observations

• Sometimes I get scared, BUT GOD is there to help me through my fears.
• Sometimes I get nervous, BUT GOD is there to calm me down and lead me to a still place.
• Sometimes I get anxious, BUT GOD is there to give me courage.

 

Mustering up courage when I am scared seems impossible. I mean, when I am fearful, I make fearful decisions. I may not even think straight enough to apply logic. Words like “Don’t be afraid” make me more afraid. BUT GOD has a remedy.

 

HE says to me “I got this.” HE gives me the courage to speak about HIS SON when I am worried about what people may think or if someone may oppose HIS message. GOD gently reminds me that if HE is for me, who can be against me? I am glad GOD owns courage and is willing to give it to me to speak about the Good News that comes from HIM.

 

Challenge

• What opposition do you think the writers faced?
• Have you ever been worried, nervous or scared?
• Will you turn to the one who owns courage and ask HIM to give you the right words to present the “Good News” to those HE sends you to today?

Cured by Encouragement

Cured by Encouragement

Acts 20: When the uproar had ended, Paul sent for the disciples and, after encouraging them, said goodbye and set out for Macedonia. ² He traveled through that area, speaking many words of encouragement to the people, and finally arrived in Greece, ³ where he stayed three months. Because some Jews had plotted against him just as he was about to sail for Syria, he decided to go back through Macedonia. ⁴ He was accompanied by Sopater son of Pyrrhus from Berea, Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, Gaius from Derbe, Timothy also, and Tychicus and Trophimus from the province of Asia. ⁵ These men went on ahead and waited for us at Troas. ⁶ But we sailed from Philippi after the Festival of Unleavened Bread, and five days later joined the others at Troas, where we stayed seven days.

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Feeling lost, I attended a meeting with other out of work people. “What am I going to get out of this?” I asked myself. I mean, I should be meeting people with jobs, not people who are down and out like me. Someone approached me and introduced himself. He had been out of work for a year. He smiled and encouraged me. I felt better. Maybe this group isn’t so bad.

• Many times I needed to hear encouraging words.
• Many times I just wanted to hear that it would be alright.
• Many times I desired to hear I was on the right path.

Paul gathered the disciples after the riot. Some were probably a little shaken, especially those who were grabbed and put in front of the public. He encouraged them without making the situation seem lighter than it was. Paul left and went to other places, spreading encouragement.

• GOD gives me access to people who can encourage me.
• GOD sees my troubles and heals me when I encourage others in the middle of my troubles.
• GOD grows me to encourage people who are going through something I have been through or I am going through right now.

People need relief, especially when difficult times seem to go on and on. Encouragement is in short supplies these days. When I am feeling low, sometimes the best way out is to speak life and encourage someone. When I hear the words I am saying, it ministers to me, sometimes more than the person I am speaking to. I am grateful GOD has sent the HOLY SPIRIT to comfort me.

• Are you troubled?
• Does it seem like there is no way out of your situation?
• Will you be encouraged that GOD hears your cry and wants to use this situation to bless many people through you and only you?
• Will you encourage someone today even in the middle of your troubles?

Partying and Worrying

Luke 21: ³⁴ ‘Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you suddenly like a trap. ³⁵ For it will come on all those who live on the face of the whole earth. ³⁶ Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.’

³⁷ Each day Jesus was teaching at the temple, and each evening he went out to spend the night on the hill called the Mount of Olives, ³⁸ and all the people came early in the morning to hear him at the temple.

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Worried about my future, I decided to go on a trip with friends. We all piled into a hotel room dreaming of the clubs we would hit that night. Although the distraction of having ”fun” was welcome, I still had a ton of worries on my mind. The party lifestyle was not a remedy.

• There have been times when I sought out worldly “fun” to ease my pain.
• There have been times when I was going through problems, so I sought out something to distract me from those problems.
• There have been times when I felt so low that I needed something to pick me up.

JESUS gives HIS final warning to HIS followers not to fill their hearts with the partying lifestyle nor with worries of life. Both would distract HIS followers from seeking HIM daily.

• GOD wants me to look for HIM to guide me daily.
• GOD wants me to seek HIS solutions to my problems.
• GOD wants me to pray that I may be ready for HIS return every day so that I may be ready to stand in front of HIM.

Being prepared for the return of CHRIST seems antiquated in some folk’s mind. I mean HE has been gone for thousands of years, why would HE return today. JESUS wants me to live my life as if HE was going to return tomorrow. Since I do not know what preparation HE is doing or why HE delays HIS return, I still have the obligation to seek HIM.

GOD wants me to act like the world is about to be on fire and HE wants me to diligently seek those who choose to reject everything HE has already told us. I can now fill my heart with prayer.

• Are you worried so much that you want the party lifestyle?
• Are you so distracted with life that you have not thought about GOD at all during your day?
• Will you set your mind on GOD just a little today so you can see what HE has in store for you?

Coming out of Hiding

Luke 1: ²³ So it was, as soon as the days of his service were completed, that he departed to his own house. ²⁴ Now after those days his wife Elizabeth conceived; and she hid herself five months, saying, ²⁵ “Thus the Lord has dealt with me, in the days when He looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.”

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“How’s the job search coming?” were the innocent yet increasingly annoying words from the community. Wanting to express their concern and solidarity was nice, but there were no jobs to be had in this extreme period of unemployment. “I just want to hide” were my thoughts.

• There were times when I just wanted to hide.
• There were times when I was ashamed and frustrated.
• There were times when I wanted everything to be as everyone expected but they were not.

Whether it was traditional or not, Elizabeth hid herself differently than others. She may have had years and years of innocent people asking “Do you have kids?” as their first question. She may have had mixed emotions about this miracle baby as she moved herself away from the community for the last five months of her pregnancy. She could have been delighted and nervous, but for years prior, she carried herself with GOD’s peace.

• GOD says to me “I will take care of you.”
• GOD says to me “Do not be afraid of humans, but fear the LORD your GOD.”
• GOD says to me “Do not be anxious for I have many promises for you.”

Walking in a spirit of peace is not always easy when those around me are anxious. BUT GOD gives me something to handle them and me, namely peace. GOD tells me to calm people down in the middle of storms and when I do, I in turn get calmed down.

HE wants me to show people that what is more important than their anxious question is my relationship with the living GOD. The peace that comes from HIM draws others to HIM and that is the mission HE gives me when I am in a trial.

• Are people asking you their anxious questions?
• Are you getting frustrated with their nervousness and disbelief?
• Will you stop trying to gain their approval and seek to calm them down by telling them you are related to the all-powerful GOD who takes care of you everyday?

Small Steps

2 Chronicles 8: ¹⁶ All Solomon’s work was carried out, from the day the foundation of the temple of the Lord was laid until its completion. So the temple of the Lord was finished.

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Two o’clock in the morning I was awake pondering all of the items I had to do to nail down my business. There were several people still left to contact all kinds of documents to create and the thing we were building seemed to have numerous starts and fits. “When will this ever be done?” I asked GOD.

• Sometimes it seems like the road gets longer and longer.
• Sometimes when I think I am nearing the end another twist gets added and I have to wait.
• Sometimes I see the road ahead and I think there is too much.

Overwhelmed is the feeling I get when I look too hard at the “big” picture. I mean when I try to fit all the pieces together they just don’t add up. There seems to be this or that to do and something inevitably gets broken. When will relief come?

• GOD says to me “Be anxious for nothing” which takes trust.
• GOD says to me “I will lead you besides still waters” which relaxes my mind.
• GOD says to me “I will always be with you” which removes my doubt.

When I had a long way to run, it seemed impossible but when I focused on taking the first step then the next and the next, I soon looked back and had run nine miles for my practice. My mind cleared and GOD said to me “take small steps and see how far you will go.” GOD’s path is not filled with anxiety. HIS road is filled with faith, obedience and trust which enable me to let go of any worries.

• Are you feeling overwhelmed?
• Do you have anxiety?
• Can you relax a moment and talk to GOD about your worries out loud?
• Will you let the SPIRIT of peach overcome you in a way that surpasses all knowledge?

It Takes Time

1 Chronicles 4: ¹⁸ All these things that Solomon made amounted to so much that the weight of the bronze could not be calculated.

¹⁹ Solomon also made all the furnishings that were in God’s temple:

the golden altar;

the tables on which was the bread of the Presence;

²⁰ the lampstands of pure gold with their lamps, to burn in front of the inner sanctuary as prescribed;

²¹ the gold floral work and lamps and tongs (they were solid gold);

²² the pure gold wick trimmers, sprinkling bowls, dishes and censers; and the gold doors of the temple: the inner doors to the Most Holy Place and the doors of the main hall.

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Staring out the window I longed to be outside.  Why do I have to fill out this multiplication sheet for homework? It seems so repetitious! Can’t this just be done?! Can’t school just be done?

• Some things seem to take forever to me when I want them to be done.
• Some lessons seem to drag on and on to me when I want to be finished.
• Some parts of life seem to so slow when I want it to be fast.

It seems like the lessons I don’t enjoy take the longest and I this applies to more than education. I mean can’t GOD just hurry up and give me patience? I get so focused on where I think I should be that I can’t sit and wait on GOD’s pace for HIS deliverance. Oh, I believe HE can deliver, but why does HE take so long?

• GOD knows the plans HE has for me, plans to prosper me.
• GOD knows the exact day and time HE wants me to execute HIS plan.
• GOD knows the sin and times I truly worship HIM and HE has factored all of it in HIS great plan for me.

Looking back on times where things moved too fast, I realized I wish they hadn’t. When I got to the position or place, I wasn’t ready. All eyes were on me and I was making mistake after mistake. GOD knows when I am “ready” and HE takes HIS time preparing me daily. HE calms my anxieties and tells me to take one step at a time each day.

• Are you looking for “success” with anxiety?
• Do you think life will be so much better if “this thing” would happen?
• Can you stop looking at the future and enjoy where GOD has you today?
• Will you look at the training GOD is giving you today as an opportunity for HIM to make you great?
• Can you praise HIM for taking HIS time?

I’m the most humble person I know

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1 Peter 5: ⁶ Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. ⁷ Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

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As the speaker stammered over their words I thought to myself, “I can present better than that person, why am I not on stage?” I mean from the unscientific poll I took, all the people around me believe I am the better speaker and quite honestly I “deserve” to be in that spot. I met with my boss and got this response, “you’re not ready.”

“Hmph! Not ready!? They don’t know how “excellent I am!”

• When I am proud I am not pleasing GOD.
• When I think more highly of myself I am not pleasing GOD.
• When I believe I “deserve” more than what I am getting I am not pleasing GOD.

Sometimes my desires get in the way of hearing GOD. I mean I want my way so bad that I close my ears to HIM and head down my own path. When I run into trouble on my path then I turn to GOD or possibly blame HIM for my situation. Since GOD despises self-made pride, what am I to do? Should I lack confidence? Should I not speak up? GOD has another way.

• GOD wants me to give HIM credit for every idea and plan.
• GOD wants me to ask HIM what HE wants me to do with every idea and plan.
• GOD wants me to be able to accept HIM changing or stopping the idea or plan.

For a goal oriented person like myself, “failure is not an option.” I will make sure “this” thing works but it usually causes me great anxiety in the process. GOD wants me to let HIM take care of all the ideas and plans and know HE cares for me so I can let go of the outcome and pay more attention to the process HE is taking me through to grow me.

• Has your confidence turned into arrogance?
• Do you believe that if you are not there things would fall apart?
• Are you anxious about “failure” just because you said something should succeed and GOD may want it to fail?
• Can you let go of the outcome of “that” idea or plan and let GOD decide on its success?

A big stress reducer

1 Timothy 6: ⁶ But godliness with contentment is great gain. ⁷ For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.

⁸ But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.

⁹ Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.

¹⁰ For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

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“Car” was the answer to the question what would you buy first if you had “x” amount of dollars. It seemed like we had many of these conversations. We would talk about vacations, houses, gadgets, clothes and jewelry. When the raises and bonuses were passed out we immediately went on a shopping spree to get more stuff.

Even when something broke there were no worries because we could just buy a new one. I guess the sleepless nights, political coos and not seeing my family was worth it, right? Hmm…

• When I think about losing my stuff I get stressed.
• When I look at bills mounting higher than cash I feel anxious.
• When I see new stuff has come out and my old stuff is obsolete I get discontent.

What is it about the “stuff” that makes me want it so bad? Is it the commercials that say my life will be better or is it the reaction from the crowd that points at me for having the latest thing? I don’t know what it is but I want it! Or maybe I don’t.

• GOD wants me to be content so I should take my eyes off of stuff.
• GOD wants me to have peace so HE says “don’t desire stuff so much.”
• GOD wants me to remain in the faith so I should guard my mind against the anxieties of the world and allow GOD to handle my finances.

I want to be rich but does GOD want me to be rich? Can I handle wealth or will I become the thing GOD hates the most namely an arrogant, proud, useless soul who cares more about the stuff than people. Being wealthy is not the problem, GOD blesses many. The “desire” to be wealthy is where I open myself to doing “anything it takes” to get there.

• Are you doing anything it takes to get more money?
• Are you content?
• What drives your worries the most?
• Can you let go of some of your worries and focus on what GOD is doing in your life?
• Won’t you spend some of the time you normally spend chasing your dream on GOD?

Seven steps to peace

Philippians: ⁸ Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. ⁹ Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

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“Why is the sky so grey” and “why is there so much snow” and “why is that person driving so fast” and “who is this salesperson calling me” and “what is this slop they are serving for lunch.” This wintery day came to mind because I remember I had a lot of complaints. 

It seemed like everyone who was going crazy was aimed at me. In fact I think I had a problem with the way GOD was handling the situation that day.

• When I complain I can’t find peace.
• When I see everything that is wrong without seeing what is right I can’t find peace.
• When I set a selfish expectation of GOD I can’t find peace especially when HE acts like HE doesn’t hear me.

My idea of “peace” is a utopia that I dreamed up. It includes all my desires being filled without any consequence for my actions. BUT GOD doesn’t define “getting my way” as peace. In fact it seems quite the opposite.

• When I am falsely accused I can find peace in holding onto the truth.
• When I am tempted to use my gutter mouth I can find peace in using noble language.
• When I see an opportunity to get away with something I can find peace in doing what is right instead.
• When I have foul thought flash in my mind I can find peace in focusing on the pure.
• When I see someone acting ugly I can have peace seeing the person as lovely as GOD sees them.
• When I want to complain I can find peace when I look at what is admirable.
• When I feel like delivering something that isn’t “up to snuff” I can find peace when I am nudged to do it with excellence rather than cutting corners.

GOD is the holder of peace. HE leads me and guides me to much better places when my thinking is on HIM. I can truly find rest.

• What are you fighting about?
• Have you lost your peace?
• Can you stop thinking about negative things for a moment?
• Will you seek peace by thinking positively.

When anxiety calls

Philippians 4: ⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! ⁵ Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

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Three O’clock in the morning seemed to be my usual time to wake up with many things on my mind. It seemed like the pressing matters of yesterday would always spill into today, ruining my tomorrow.

I knew I would have only a couple of hours before I needed to get up so maybe if I would just get “this one thing” done I could put my mind to rest. Funny, I seemed to never just do “one” thing. Where is my rest?

• When I set unattainable expectations I place pressure on myself which leads to anxiety.
• When I try to please everyone I place pressure on myself which leads to anxiety.
• When I look at my circumstance as something I have to fix I place pressure on myself which leads to anxiety.

Many sleepless nights I wondered about “what if.” What if I fail, what if they do something to me, what if I’m not good enough were all questions that added turmoil to my countenance. Then when someone tells me that I shouldn’t be anxious, I get more anxious because I’m anxious.  How can I let it go?

• GOD wants me to rejoice when I am anxious so I can focus on HIS greatness instead of my issues.
• GOD wants me to pray when I am anxious so I can have a frank conversation with HIM letting HIM know my fears, worries, doubts.
• GOD wants me to thank HIM for handling the situation even before I see the solution so I can let it go.

Once I let GOD handle people, things and situations I actually don’t have much to worry about. In the middle of the storm HE provides me with peace that doesn’t make since. I mean I should be hysterical and yet I can feel rest. GOD is the keep of my heart.

• Are you anxious?
• What are you worried about?
• Can you let just a little of your worries go?
• Will you stop trying to control the situation a moment and praise GOD for the things HE has done?