Tag Archives: courage

Every good and perfect gift

 

 

 

Every good and perfect gift is from above. James 1:17

 

Do you like to receive gifts? According to Gary Chapman and Ross Campbell, authors of The 5 Love Languages,  receiving gifts is one of the ways some people best express and receive love.

 

What comes to mind when you think of “the best gifts ever?” For some the answer might be jewelry. For others technological gadgets, new tools. It has been said that “the best things in life are free.” If you agree you might think of a quiet walk in the park, watching a beautiful sunset, spending time with someone you love, or watching a child in a moment of discovery.

 

Certainly, forgiveness and life itself would be included in your list of ‘best’ gifts. But how do we achieve these? Your world view will lead you to one of two conclusions: “best gifts” either result from our own efforts and deeds or they come as a gift of love from God. Sometimes we receive these gifts and sometimes it seems we are oblivious to them.

 

There is a fable of a man who died and went to heaven. Upon arrival he was given a welcome tour where he was shown many great mansions and wonders. Coming to one building with no windows, he asked to go in but was encouraged and his guide to not pay any attention to it. The man insisted on seeing it and once inside he discovered a huge trove of beautifully wrapped presents. Looking closer he saw that each one had a tag with his name on it. Asking why they were here, the man was told, “These are the blessings you were freely given in life, but never received; they are gifts you never opened and so never enjoyed.”

 

God describes His very best gifts in the love letter He wrote to us, the Bible. When we receive and open these we discover forgiveness, eternal life, love, peace, joy, and hope. We receive undeserved grace and mercy, compassion. We are filled with strength, wisdom, and courage. When we enjoy His gifts we are embodied with goodness, faith, perseverance, contentment, and the character of the living God. We don’t earn these by our own doing. They are free gifts from a loving God who knows the true desires of our heart and longs to graciously give them to us.

 

It’s true. The best things in life are free: good and perfect gifts from our Heavenly Father – love, life, laughter, friendship, forgiveness, freedom, and so much more. Receive and open the gifts He freely offers you today and every day. Live thankfully and share them with others and discover yet another great gift, the joy of living.

 

Every good and perfect gift is from above.  James 1:17

 

 

Be steadfast – stand firm

 

 

Pushed against the wall, seemingly oppressed on every side, exhausted and yet we so often automatically look to what strategy we can employ to resolve the problem. But often the strategy that bests serves us is not to dive forward, not to launch a new attack in our own effort, but to remain steadfast and stand firm.

 

“Stand firm,” we are told, once we are fully protected by God’s armor (Ephesians 6:10+). “Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong (1 Corinthian 16:13). “Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:58). “And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast” (1 Peter 5:10).

 

What does it mean to remain steadfast in the middle of a battle? To be steadfast is to be a different kind of victor. Using dictionary terms a steadfast victor is loyal, faithful, dependable, steady, true, constant and trustworthy. S/he is determined, resolute, relentless, single-minded, unwavering, unhesitating, unfaltering, unyielding, and uncompromising.

 

This is our job, to have the courage to stand firm and remain steadfast in the face of seemingly overwhelming odds. Great courage is born out of great hope. And great hope is placed in a great, powerful, and faithful God.

 

“Be strong and of good courage. Do not fear or be afraid…for the Lord your God, He is the one who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6

 

“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.” Ephesians 1:18-21

 

 

“God will put a hero in you.”

A young man who was recovering from tongue cancer said this. He lost half his tongue to cancer and went on later to audition in a national singing contest. Can you imagine the courage it would take to overcome such odds?

We all need courage. It might be something classically heroic like running into the path of an oncoming car to save a young child. Perhaps you need courage to stand up to a lifetime battle you or a loved one is facing. It takes courage to give up what you have and your worldly ambitions to follow Jesus. Sometimes it takes courage to get up and face another day, just to take another step on a very long and lonely journey, to reach out to encourage another in the midst of your inner pain.

But where do you find such courage? Is it something you develop over time or something given to you? Sarah Young’s devotional, Jesus Calling, is written as if Jesus Himself is responding to you. One excerpt reads: “Time is a trainer, teaching you to wait upon me, to trust me in the dark. The more extreme your circumstances, the more likely you are to see my power and glory at work in your situation.”

God reveals His power in you as your courage. He listens to you and answers by putting a hero in you.

Psalm 40:1-3 I waited patiently for the Lord;
he turned to me and heard my cry.
He lifted me out of the slimy pit,
out of the mud and mire;
he set my feet on a rock
and gave me a firm place to stand.
He put a new song in my mouth,
a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear the Lord
and put their trust in him.

Moses waited until God was ready to empower Him. King David waited until God’s time to make him the warrier king. Paul waited for God’s call to be revealed with power on his missionary journey. But I don’t think they waited passively. Rather they kept pursuing God while they waited on Him.

What are you waiting on that takes such courage? Do you believe that God can put a hero in you? Ephesians 6 tells us He can empower us to withstand and overcome great battles by standing firm, protected by His armor, waiting on Him to usher in the victory. It may be today, or maybe tomorrow. It may take months or years. But this I know. Courage and victory come from waiting on God. Persevere in your faith. Be strong and courageous in the small things of life and you will be strong and courageous in the big things.

Wisdom – Courage – Strength

Since I accepted the Lord at age 15 I have consistently asked God for three things in my life, based on Joshua 1:6-9. . .
Wisdom (implied)
Courage
Strength.

I’ve always known that if I had riches or talent without these things they would be worthless, and if I had these three I needn’t be concerned with anything else. Now, believe me, there was a LOT of turning to the right and left (v7) in my life! You have no way of knowing how much I turned from God or ignored Him. Even as a “devoted follower” it seems I could not consistently ‘stay awake’ while He prayed in the garden for me. But nonetheless, God has been faithful and ever patient and gracious to grant me my three requests.

On the day of admission to the hospital, my nurse walked into the consultation room wearing a necklace with three words inscribed:
Wisdom
Courage
Strength

I was stunned by this gentle reminder that God has been, is, and will always be faithful no matter what life or cancer throws my way. One day since my diagnosis of Leukemia and I am already on my way to getting treatment!