Tag Archives: courage

June 10
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“Then they called out in Hebrew to the people of Jerusalem who were on the wall, to terrify them and make them afraid in order to capture the city. They spoke about the God of Jerusalem as they did about the gods of the other peoples of the world — the work of human hands.” (2 Chronicles 32:18-19, NIV)

Today’s scripture from the book of 2 Chronicles actually begins with an account of the siege of Jerusalem by the ruthless and powerful Assyrian army.  In order to gain tactical advantage, the Assyrians taunted the watch-standers of Jerusalem by insulting the Lord God — in Hebrew!

It helps to know that Hebrew, in that day, was not a world language.  It was a minority tongue.  That the Assyrians would use Hebrew to taunt the people of Jerusalem is a great example of what modern warriors call “psychological operations” or “psy ops.”

The take-away I am offering from this lesson is that we, as disciples of Jesus, should not fear assaults on our faith, even when these affronts come in the vernacular most familiar to us; or when they come from persons with great standing or power.  It’s all “psy ops,” and it is designed to erode our confidence in God; and to persuade us to abandon our posts as sentinels and as beacons of light.

The story continues: The people of Jerusalem did not lose heart. They remained in the city, despite the insults of the Assyrians, and God delivered them in time from the Assyrians.

When you are in distress, stand firm.  Divine help is coming.  God will either deliver you from the peril — or through it.  – Luther

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April 11
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“‘Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine [Goliath] will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.’ Saul said to David, ‘Go, and the Lord be with you.'” (1 Samuel 17:36-37, NIV)

Yesterday, we were encouraged to use our memory of God’s goodness to provoke us to be grateful.  Today’s scripture encourages us to use our memory of God’s faithfulness to provoke us to trust and faith in our heavenly Father — at all times, and in every circumstance.

David’s faith, confidence, and courage at the great, public moment of his confrontation with Goliath had as its foundation the lesser, private moments in his life when God had been equally faithful.  God’s power and faithfulness is no less when we’re facing a giant before an audience of thousands, than it is when we were confronting ordinary foes in the wilderness. 

When facing the giant (whatever or whomever it might be), recall our heavenly Father’s faithfulness and power in the less public periods of your life.  It will give you the faith, the confidence, and the courage you need to overcome!  – Luther

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