As the Day Begins “I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day.” — 2 Timothy 1:12, NIV Paul wrote these words while suffering for the gospel. He did not need to pretend that his circumstances were comfortable or thatContinue reading “The Courage to Face the Day”
Tag Archives: Christian courage
When God Uses Uncomfortable Words
DID YOU KNOW Words carry power. A sentence can restore courage to a discouraged person, clarify what has been hidden, or call someone back from a destructive path. Words can also wound, mislead, and inflame. Scripture therefore teaches us to speak with grace and wisdom. Yet the Bible also contains divine declarations so severe thatContinue reading “When God Uses Uncomfortable Words”
When Silence Costs Too Much
As the Day Begins “Peter and John replied, ‘Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.’” — Acts 4:19–20 Morning Meditation Peter and John were not naturally fearless men. Peter had previouslyContinue reading “When Silence Costs Too Much”
Dare to Set Your Heart Apart
The Bible in a Year “But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way.” — Daniel 1:8 Daniel was probably still a teenager when Babylon invaded Judah and carried him away from everything familiar. He lost hisContinue reading “Dare to Set Your Heart Apart”
When Fear Freezes Your Feet
On Second Thought “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” — 2 Timothy 1:7 Have you ever watched an opportunity pass while fear held you motionless? Perhaps you wanted to introduce yourself, apologize, offer help, share your faith, or attempt somethingContinue reading “When Fear Freezes Your Feet”
When Faith Steps Out of the Shadows
The Bible in a Year “Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus.” — John 19:38 Joseph of Arimathea presents us with an uncomfortable picture: a genuine disciple whose allegiance to Jesus remained hidden. John does notContinue reading “When Faith Steps Out of the Shadows”
Loving Someone Enough to Stand in Their Way
As the Day Ends “Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.” —1 Corinthians 16:13 As this day closes, Paul’s words ask us to examine whether we stood firmly in the faith or allowed the desire for approval to soften our obedience. “Stand fast” translates the Greek stēkō, meaning toContinue reading “Loving Someone Enough to Stand in Their Way”
Who Will Stand in the Breach?
The Bible in a Year “And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.” —Ezekiel 22:30 Ezekiel 22 is one of Scripture’s sobering descriptions of a society collapsing from within.Continue reading “Who Will Stand in the Breach?”
When Kindness Needs Courage
As the Day Begins “For we have not followed cunningly devised fables.” —2 Peter 1:16 Peter’s words come from an eyewitness who had seen the majesty of Jesus Christ. He was not offering a religious legend or a story polished to impress an audience. The Greek word translated “cunningly devised” is sesophismenoi, related to sophizō,Continue reading “When Kindness Needs Courage”
When Fear Loses Its Authority
DID YOU KNOW Fear has a way of making earthly power look larger than it really is. A hostile person can appear overwhelming. A threatening circumstance can dominate our imagination. A religious authority, employer, institution, diagnosis, financial crisis, or personal failure can begin to feel as though it has the final word over us. JesusContinue reading “When Fear Loses Its Authority”