How joyful are those who fear the Lord and delight in obeying His commands... They do not fear bad news; they confidently trust the Lord to care for them. They are confident and fearless and can face their foes triumphantly. — Psalm 112:1, 7-8 NLT * |
Today is the day you’re going to obliterate discouragement from your life.
One of the biggest battles we face is discouragement. Everybody has to fight this.
One day as I was praying, the Lord asked me to state aloud the opposite of courage. “Fear, of course,” I said. No, it’s discouragement, God whispered. Suddenly, I saw the word discourage in a whole new light! We should view discouragement as the opposite of courage, and, therefore, it is to be given no place in our minds. Yet it’s something we often tolerate. We don’t recognize it as an enemy to our faith, so we pamper it and coddle it, we lean into it and feel sorry for ourselves when it comes. But why? When we know that God is our source of joy and courage, we have no reason to fear or be discouraged. When discouragement inevitably comes knocking at our door, here’s what we need to do: -
be strong and of good courage.
Think of a clear example of bravery in the Bible. Joshua was one of the children of Israel who left Egypt to embark on the great exodus. He and Caleb were among the twelve men sent from the tribes of Israel to spy out the land of Canaan. This was the land God promised to them. Yet ten of those spies didn’t believe the Israelites could secure it. Only Joshua and Caleb declared with confidence that the Lord would surely deliver Canaan into their hands. All twelve leaders saw the same things, but they didn’t see them the same way. Ten chose the path of their own ability, which led to discouragement, and only two saw God’s ability.
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When we know that God is our source of joy and courage, we have no reason to fear or be discouraged.
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When we know that God is our source of joy and courage, we have no reason to fear or be discouraged. |
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This was the reason God said, Be strong and of good courage
. — Deuteronomy 3:16 to Joshua seven different times — whether it was through Moses, the elders, or God Himself — before entering the promised land. The Lord knew this would be one of Joshua’s greatest challenges. Discouragement occurs during the droughts in our lives. It arrives in the middle of the battle when we feel deserted by God. The true enemies to the Israelites weren’t the intimidating giants living in the promised land. No — the enemies were the insulting whispers in their minds to remain in fear.
Joshua and Caleb feared God more than any threatening enemy. Because of that, they became the only two original members of the exodus to enter and possess the promised land.
Dear heavenly Father, give me the courage to dispel discouragement with words of faith and hope from You. May I delight in the fear of You, for it is “a fountain of life, to turn one away from the snares of death” (Proverbs 14:27). In Jesus’ name, amen. Excerpted with permission from Everyday Courage by John Bevere, copyright John P. Bevere. |
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Have you ever thought of discouragement as the opposite of courage? How does that change how you look at and feel about discouragement? Does it make you want to fight it? Discouragement is an enemy to faith! Let’s be courageous! ~ Devotionals Daily |
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Step bravely into courageous living and bolder faith |
Everyday Courage: 50 Devotions to Build a Bold Faith |
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+ Free U.S shipping with code EASTERFS |
It takes courage to live out your faith boldly, especially in the face of hostility or suffering. What gave Joshua and Caleb the courage to follow God's commands despite fear? What gave Esther the courage to risk her life and trust God's plan for His people? What gave the disciples the courage to live out their faith, even to the point of being martyred? They leaned into a greater fear, one that conquers all others—the fear of the Lord. The fear of the Lord gives believers the power to live with uncompromising faith—a powerful reality we see played out in the pages of the Bible as well as in our lives today. In Everyday Courage
, respected Bible teacher, speaker, and bestselling author John Bevere reminds us through Scripture, devotions, and examples from the fathers and mothers of the faith that we, too can live with courage because the fear of the Lord swallows up every other fear in our lives.
As you rediscover the power of holy fear in your life, you will step bravely into courageous living and bolder faith—every single day. | |
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Each entry in Everyday Courage offers:
- A Bible passage to help you discover how to fear God—and why the fear of the Lord is your ultimate source of strength
- A thoughtful reflection on the day's Scripture
- Stories of biblical figures and other heroes of the faith who lived courageously
- A powerful prayer to seek courage every day
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The Awe of God: The Astounding Way a Healthy Fear of God Transforms Your Life |
| Drawing Near: A Life of Intimacy with God
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The God Who Sees Online Bible Study |
The God Who Sees Online Bible Study |
Even when we feel invisible or forgotten, God is near. He is El Roi, the God Who Sees.
Friends - Jesus has never taken his eye off us. He always knows what we are facing in this life . . . He sees, you, He loves you, and He’ll never leave you. Will you join us for the FREE The God Who Sees Online Bible Study with Kathie Lee Gifford and Joanne Moody? Registration is now open and the study begins March 4th! |
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this devotion with someone who needs it today |
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