2020 has been anything but “normal”, with COVID, masks, business shutdowns, death, elections, fear, isolation, social distancing, diminishing hope….my gosh, what will 2021 be like?
Looking forward to it? Neither am I. Are you really not looking forward to it? How do you really feel? Does the battle seem too difficult and the valley too low? The mountain too steep and the darkness too great? Have we just lost the courage to continue?
Seems like the opposite of courage to me….so how can we have limitless courage in the face of all this?
God commands His people to take courage in places like Psalm 31:24 where He says:
Be strong and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord.
When God selected Joshua to replace Moses as the leader of the Israelites, He spoke these words in Joshua 1:9:
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.
You see, God knows that, like Joshua, you and I are facing some big battles in this upcoming year and He promises us that He will be with us wherever we will go.
The key to limitless courage is to remember the promises of God and apply them.
When we know the Lord, we can stand on His promises just as Paul did, even while in prison facing certain death. From prison, Paul wrote this in Philippians 3:14:
I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Paul could do this despite persecution, beatings, rejection, loneliness and discouragement because his eyes were on the ultimate prize: hearing the words “Well done!” from his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Won’t you join me in practicing limitless courage and apply the promises of God in 2021?
(by Heidi Williams)