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| What makes the Hottentot so hot? What puts the "ape" in apricot? What have they got that I ain't got? Courage! |
Cowardly Lion: "Life is sad, believe me, Missy, when you're born to be a sissy, without the vim and verve. But I could change my habits, never more be scared of rabbits, if I only had the nerve. I'm afraid there's no denying I'm just a dandy-lion, a fate I don't deserve. But I could show my prowess, be a lion not a mouse, if I only had the nerve. Oh, I'd be in my stride, a king down to the core, I could roar the way I never roared before, and then I'd r-r-roof and roar some more. I would show the dinosaurus whose king around the forest a king they'd better serve, why with my regal beezor I could be another Caesar, if I only had the nerve." (Nathan Lane's Version)
Sometimes the Lord will stretch us beyond our comfort zone by presenting us with tasks that make us uncomfortable and causes anxiety. Someone said, in that case, we should just do it afraid, but its not that simple. When I'm nervous about something you can see my anxiety, but when I'm confident you can see my confidence. I would rather do it with confidence than do it afraid because I believe it is more effective than stumbling though it.
The Wizard in the Emerald City of Oz told the cowardly lion that he was the victim of unorganized thinking, and that he confused courage with wisdom. Lion thought he didn't have courage because he ran away from things (but sometimes running away from a situation is the brave thing to do). The Wizard awarded Lion with the medal of courage for his conspicuous bravery against the wicked witch and inducted him as a member into the Legion of Courage.
So, where does courage come from in the face of fear? It comes from God.
- Phil. 2:13 (ISV) For it is God who is producing in you both the desire and the ability to do what pleases Him.
- Phil. 1:6 (ISV) I am convinced of this, that the One who began a good action among you will bring it to completion by the Day of the Messiah Jesus.
- Phil. 4:13 (ISV) I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.
ISV = International Standard Version
The Holy Spirit is here to replace our fears with boldness and our anxiety with courage. The Lord caused the hearts of the people of Jericho to melt and their courage vanished when they heard the terror of the children of Israel had fallen upon them. No courage remained in them, and at the same time, God built the courage of the children of Israel as they marched around the city walls of Jericho.
After Moses died and Joshua was given the order to lead the children of Israel into the promised land, the Lord gave Joshua a command to be courageous. This was not a suggestion, but a command.
The Lord sent the commander of His powerful army to fight on their behalf. They overtook the city of Jericho and destroyed all inhabitants (except for Rahab the prostitute and her family). Every person and animal was killed. God gave them courage.
Courage is built in us. That is why God told Moses to recount their victories in the hearing of Joshua. He became rooted and grounded in it, and was not shaken by the size of their enemies.
My cousin Phillip was a US Marine soldier. He said that in boot camp, there were men who arrived all gung-ho and ready to storm the battle fields on day one. Then there were others that came in with trepidation and dismay about the uncertainty of what they might face. The job of the commanding officer was to bring the gung-ho soldier down to a teachable level and bring up the ambivalent soldier with courage and instill a warrior spirit in him. I believe in the same way, the Lord put us through a spiritual boot camp to hone our warrior spirits to carry out His will.
The apostle Paul said the Lord shall supply all my needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. That includes all the tools we need to carry out His will for our lives. So then I will look to the hills from whence comes my help. My help comes from the Lord.
My advice... don't do it afraid! Do it with conviction, courage, fearlessness and a determination that keeps looking to the Lord for the will and the do to carry out your mission.
Don't call me a conqueror - I am no average conqueror. I am more than a conqueror.
- Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. Rom.8:37
- Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 (NKJV)
- No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, And their righteousness is from Me,” Says the Lord. Isa. 54:17 (NKJV)
Go in peace... armed with courage.