Daily Nuggets of Grace Part 5 Courageous!

Scriptures: Joshua 1:1-9, Daniel 6:6-28, Isaiah 41:10

Practicing Courage

What picture does the word courage bring to your mind? A child standing up to a bully for a friend. An adult approaches his boss about problems in the workplace. A rescue worker risks his life to save another. What are you facing today that will require courage? 

In the Bible, Joshua has just been handed the reigns of authority over the Israelite people, who numbered more than a million. In addition, they were entering a new territory with the plan to completely usurp the people and the land for themselves, and make it their nation’s new home. How would you feel about your new job responsibilities if you were Joshua? 

The Lord continually encouraged Joshua to be strong and courageous in his new role, and he was. Obeying the Lord by following His truths was also vital to these instructions that would lead Joshua and the Israelites to success. 

Remember Daniel, an Israelite captive serving in his assigned government job in Babylon? He was commanded to pray to the false gods of the land and not to the true God of Israel. Daniel courageously risked his life to walk in truth, and God honored him for it. 

What about Esther, an Israelite captive chosen to be queen of King Xerxes in Persia? An edict had been announced calling for the annihilation of her people. Esther feared for her life at the thought of approaching the king. Despite her legitimate fear, she acted courageously and appealed to Xerxes to spare her people. 

All of these people practiced courage. Does that mean they were not scared? I’m sure they were scared, or they wouldn’t be human! If Joshua wasn’t scared, why did God repeat the command to be courageous three times? You can practice courage while still feeling afraid. Courage is not needed when fear is absent. 

Courage is directly linked to faith and truth. Knowing God’s truth and choosing to act according to that truth, even when you feel afraid, is the source of courage. 

Courage is not the absence of fear. It’s making the right choice in the face of that fear. 

Reflect and Respond

Everyone has courage. The question is whether we practice it or not. You don’t have to be out there risking your life to show courage. Start small. Where is the Lord calling you to stand courageously in His truths—even if you feel afraid? 

Pray

Lord Jesus, thank You for walking by my side daily and giving me the strength to practice courage today. Please show me where I need courage. You helped the men and women of the Bible practice courage, and I know you will help me, too. Thank You, in advance, for what You are doing through me today.

Scriptures: Romans 8:15-16, John 8:42-47, Psalms 56:3-4, 1 John 5:19-20

Releasing Unhealthy Fears

People are afraid of snakes, but not all snakes are harmful. Many people fear flying in an airplane, but air travel is, for the most part, very safe. Good swimmers can be afraid of deep water, wondering what might be down there below them. 

Fear is an emotional and physical response to something we perceive as dangerous or harmful. A healthy, legitimate fear must have two parts: it must be present and powerful. For example, the fear of swimming in deep water could be legitimate if the person is swimming in shark-infested waters. The fear of something attacking is both present and powerful. 

The fear of sharks while swimming in a neighborhood swimming pool is not legitimate. This would be called an unhealthy or irrational fear. 

An unhealthy fear lacks presence or power. A fear of snakes may be legitimate if you live in an area with venomous snakes. They are both present and powerful. However, this becomes an unhealthy fear if you live without snakes that can harm you. They may be present, but they lack power. Continuing to fear the harmless snakes results from believing a lie that the harmless snakes will hurt you. 

The base of every unhealthy fear is a lie. 

Unhealthy fears can consume and overwhelm our thoughts to the point we can’t function well in life. We then miss out on the abundant life the Lord has for us in Christ. 

Understanding healthy and unhealthy fears is helpful. There is no shame in being afraid when fear is legitimate. However, unhealthy fears are not based on truth. We still perceive something as dangerous, even though it lacks the power to harm us or is not present. 

Our enemy, Satan, wants to paralyze us with fear-filled lies. He is the father of lies. Remember, as children of God, we are never alone, and we have the power to fight the father of lies. We overcome unhealthy fears by standing firm in the truth. 

Reflect and Respond

God is right by your side anytime you feel afraid. Discern what kind of fear you are dealing with today. If it is unhealthy, identify the lie behind it. Find scriptural truths to counter that lie. Memorize those truths and repeat them often. 

Pray

Lord, you care about all I am afraid of today. Help me to take my unhealthy fears and hand them over to you. I choose to turn to you when I am afraid. I stand in my position as your child and trust you to protect me.

Scriptures: Psalms 23, Psalms 27:1-5, 1 John 4:16-18

Understanding Healthy Fears

What is fear? 

Fear is an emotional and physical response to something we perceive as dangerous or harmful. A legitimate fear must have two parts: The danger must be both present and powerful, such as the fear of swimming in shark-infested water. 

An unhealthy fear is a fear of something that may not be present or powerful, like being afraid of swimming in a shark-less swimming pool. Sharks are powerful, but they are not present. 

What is a healthy fear? It is a fear response to something you SHOULD be cautious of, such as petting a wild, growling animal or getting too close to a fire. We face many healthy fears every day and make choices on how to navigate them. 

In the Bible, there are many instructions to “fear not.” David says in Psalm 23, “I will fear no evil.” Even though we have many opportunities to fear, the Lord does not want us to live in fear. Fear holds us in bondage and often draws us to rely on ourselves for protection. 

God wants us to trust and rely on Him for protection and guidance. Through this trust, He calls us into a beautiful life of walking with Him. 

In the Psalms, David addressed fearful situations. Passing through the valley of the shadow of death is a frightful task. Having enemies attack him, armies besiege him, and wars break out against him, must have been terrifying. How did David have courage instead of fear? What gave him confidence? He put his trust in the Lord. He reminded himself that God was his shepherd. 

God is present with us and powerful to protect us. 

You may still feel fearful about certain things that warrant healthy fear, but you can turn to God for strength and courage. Remember, He is always present with you. Even if fear is powerful, God is all-powerful and can help you through it. 

Reflect and Respond

Yesterday, you discerned between your unhealthy and healthy fears. If fears hold you back from truly living the life God has for you, stop now and ask Him for His help. Trust the Lord with your fears and accept His courage to stand in truth. God is present with you. He will protect you. 

Pray

Dear Lord, thank you for helping me understand healthy and unhealthy fears. I don’t want to be bound by fear. I want to trust You and live the abundant life You have for me. I choose to come to You in trust when I am afraid and seek Your guidance. Thank You for always being with me.

Scriptures: 2 Timothy 1:7, Ephesians 1:18-21, 1 Peter 5:6-11, 2 Corinthians 10:3-5

A Powerful Inheritance

When children play and act out scenarios, they often act as if they have much more power and authority to make things happen than in real life. They bark out commands, make animals speak, and knock out whole cities with the swipe of their hand. 

On the contrary, as adults, we often feel powerless to deal with our daily circumstances. We feel inadequate to handle a situation. We don’t know what to do because we feel paralyzed with fear. 

But did you know that as children of God, we can access incredible power through our risen Savior? In Ephesians 1, we read about God’s incomparably great power. This is like the power that raised Jesus from the dead; it is part of our inheritance! We have it today. 

Did you also know we have a cunning enemy who watches our every move, looking for opportunities to trick us into doing wrong? Yesterday, we mentioned him as the father of lies. This is Satan. He roars out the lies that are behind the fears that keep us stuck. 

Christ won the spiritual battle against Satan and evil when He died for our sins and rose to life again, but we fight our own daily battles as Satan tries to deceive us with lies to get us off track. 

We overcome these lies with the truth, but the battle can become long and tiresome. Rely on the incomparably great power granted you through Christ to stand firm in your faith and press on in the battle. The joy of the Lord is also your strength as you walk daily with Him. 

With all this power, strength, and joy at your fingertips, you can see your way out of the bondage of fear. You can enter into a life of courage and confidence in Christ. 

Reflect and Respond

Today, as you face your fears in life, how can you lean into the incredible power Christ gives you to fight back the lies and fears Satan brings? Christ is already the courageous Victor; you can also be brave in His strength. 

Pray

Jesus Christ, I am so grateful for your payment for my sins on the cross and your mighty resurrection. I want to know and use the power you grant me to stand firm against the roaring lions in my life. I choose your truth over lies and fear. Help me to walk closely to you today and every day.

Scriptures: 2 Timothy 1:7, Ephesians 3:16-19, Romans 8:1, Psalms 91:14-16

Secure in His Love

Have you ever had a coach or friend give you a pep talk? A pep talk is a motivational speech that strongly encourages action. In the Bible, a teacher named Paul, wrote a letter to his student, Timothy, that included some pep talks. 

Timothy was far from home sharing about Jesus. Being young, he may have felt intimidated and fearful. Paul said God did not give Timothy a heart of fear. Instead, God gifted him with the tools of power, love, and the right mindset. 

As followers of Jesus, we understand this pep talk applies to us as we serve the Lord, too! God has given you power, love, and a sound mind. 

We already discussed our access to the power that raised Jesus from the dead. Today, let’s focus on God’s love and how it can help us be courageous. 

The story of God’s love weaves throughout the Bible. We are not doomed to hopelessness. God showed His immense love for us by sending His Son to pay the death penalty, saving us from our sins. This is deep love, and He offers to walk with us daily as our loving Father. God is the essence of true, pure love. 

If you’ve ever been in the presence of someone who truly loved you just as you are, then you have tasted the love of God. He loves us completely and works for our good. His secure love gives us the confidence to trust Him and His Word. We choose to believe we can fight Satan’s lies with God’s mighty strength and words of truth. We don’t fear failure or defeat because God lovingly stands us up and moves us forward again without condemnation. 

God is ready to answer us when we call on Him. He is with us in trouble, ready to rescue us because of love. The troubles may still be present, but God is with us to carry us through them. Call on Him today and lean into His great love for you. 

Reflect and Respond

How can you rest in God’s love today? His strong, loving arms are wrapped around you, keeping you safe and secure. His love will help you move forward with His wonderful plan for your life. 

Pray

Lord Jesus, You are so loving and kind. Thank You for equipping me for Your work and giving me the security and assurance of Your love and power to do the task. I know I am not alone. When I am afraid, Your love strengthens me to stand against the lies until they are demolished.

Scriptures: 2 Timothy 1:7, 2 Corinthians 10:3-5, Galatians 5:22-26, Philippians 4:8-9

From Bondage to Freedom

Have you noticed that Satan’s primary way to influence us toward fear is through our thoughts? You THINK something is harmful or dangerous, and you react with fear. The Bible is clear that Satan can deceive people. He is called the father of lies, after all. These lies can become embedded in our thinking and mature into beliefs. 

Once we truly believe the lie, it will feel true. Even when reading the Bible, we will be tempted to dismiss God’s truth because our lie is so strong in our thinking. It becomes a stronghold that will wreak havoc in our spiritual lives. 

These strongholds don’t have to last forever. We can use the tools God gave us to demolish them. Remember, we don’t have a spirit of fear. God gave us power, love, and a sound mind to take control of our mental situation. 

We demolish stronghold lies by capturing the thought, identifying it as a lie, finding the truth in God’s word, and claiming it for ourselves until we begin to believe the truth instead of the lie. 

It is possible to renew our minds and break down strongholds, an essential practice for growing to maturity as a follower of Christ. 

Philippians 4 urges us to focus our minds on what is true and good and noble. We tend to do the opposite when confronted with fear. We fret about what might happen instead of what is true. We think about the failures of others instead of what God wants us to do. We focus on the mess instead of thinking about what is excellent and praiseworthy – the presence and power of God with us. 

There are many scriptures about renewing and controlling our thoughts and minds. If it were not possible, God would not have put it in His Word as instruction for us. 

Since the mind is the critical pathway for Satan to trip us up, we must take seriously how we think. Through the Holy Spirit, we have self-control to manage our minds. It is our choice to obey God and do it. 

Reflect and Respond

What lies are you continually stumbling over? Ask the Lord to help you see them as lies. Begin keeping a list. Pick your most often repeated mental lie and choose to reverse it. Find the scriptures that direct your thinking toward the truth. Begin repeating the truth daily until you sense less and less of the lie and more and more of the truth. 

Pray

Oh, Jesus, thank You that there is a way out of this mental bondage! I know I have lies that I don’t recognize. Help me see them as lies and help me find the truths in Your Word that can begin to renew my mind. With your help, I choose to start today.

Scriptures: Psalms 131:2, John 14:27, Philippians 4:4-7, Ephesians 6:10-20, Psalms 34:1-5

From Fear to Peace

Have you seen a baby become fussy and upset? Others may try to comfort him, but it is not until his mother takes him in her arms that he settles enough to fall back to sleep. Or you may have watched a young child scrape a knee while playing. She runs to her parent, who calms her down and cares for her. She returns to playing within minutes as if the injury had never happened. 

When we face hard times and feel our adversary is shooting arrows of lies and fears at us, we can run to our heavenly Father’s arms and trust Him to protect and calm us. Standing there and letting the arrows wound us repeatedly would be unthinkable. It would also be prideful to think we can bat away every arrow to protect ourselves with our strength. We would quickly tire and be defeated in the battle. 

Scripture is clear that we cannot fight the devil’s arrows on our own. We do not need to take a relentless beating as if we’re defenseless, either. We must rely on the Lord and the wonderful gift of His truths in the Bible to fight back the enemy’s attacks. We can be in the battle but entirely at peace in our Father’s arms, just like a young child. 

As we wrap up all we have learned this week, we are challenged to make the daily choice to stand firm, fully dressed in the armor God provided, and using the weapons of His Word and prayer. We do not need to give in to fear and lies. The Lord wants us to rest in His peace and love. 

Reflect and Respond

What can you do today to remain strong in this battle? Have you made your lie list and found the truths to counteract? Meditate on God’s truth as you lean into the power available to you in Christ. The choice is yours today. 

Pray

Lord, thank You for teaching me that I have everything I need to face my fears and walk with You in truth. I choose to take these steps forward with Your strength and power. Thank you for the peace You give me as I walk closely with You.