40 Days of Fasting & Prayer--Day 36

That God’s presence would INVADE my courage

(Psalm 27)

I have never had the honor of serving in the United States military.  I have no stories of behind-the-lines bravery.  I have never laughed in the face of danger and if I did, it was because I just didn’t recognize him.  I don’t know what certain death looks like because I’ve gone to great lengths to avoid the introduction.  We attribute these kinds of experiences to courage.

I have never been keen on taking large risks that could harm my body.  I won’t be friends with adrenaline junkies. We attribute this kind of action and testosterone as courage.  My aversion to pain far outweighs my need to be accepted.  I might like to watch fights and violence (like most guys) but I have zero interest in being part of it.  I watch a heavy weight boxing match and know that there just isn’t enough money to entice me to participate in such an event.  Call me a wimp but at least my face is intact. 

I’ll likely never need to take up arms, and jumping out of a plane isn’t in my forecast.  How can God invade my courage then?  I think it lies in how one defines courage.  Courage: the ability to confront fear, pain, risk/danger, uncertainty, or intimidation.

When I was 28, I left the stability and safety of my career to go into ministry.  I had a job making enough money to live comfortably on.  I left it for a ministry where I would make less than a fourth of what we were used to.  Some might call it courage and others might call it foolhardiness.  It could arguably just be called stupidity.  I didn’t think of it as courage at the time, but I do now.  Even more, my wife should be considered courageous for going along with her husband’s decision.

We live in a time when the church needs great courage.  We can be certain that we will face uncertainty.  To have great courage will require that we have great faith in what God wants to do.  God is calling the church up.  He is calling us to great exploits.  He is looking for a people willing to have courage in the face of opposition and uncertainty.  He will ask us to take steps that make no sense.

This kind of courage is impossible to have without having heard from God.  David shows us this when he says, “Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then will I be confident.”  Confidence in where God is bringing you causes the infusion of courage needed to steps into the realms of the unknown.

“Father, Your Word says that those that know YOU will do great things.  Courage only comes when we know the Creator of courage.  I ask today that You would invade my courage so that I can walk in the great things that I’m destined for.”