Kick fear’s butt!

COURAGE noun | cour·age | /ˈkərij/

1. the ability to do something that frightens one
2. mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty

In October of 2017, my friend and I were sitting at the dining room table talking about how a year had gone by since a certain event had happened. I was shook thinking that a year had gone by so quickly. I mean, I was seriously disturbed.All at once I thought, “OMG, what have I done in that time? I didn’t get my health and/or weight in check, I am still at the same job, I haven’t started the things I wanted to start – needed to start. WHERE DID THE TIME GO?!

Over the next few days, I had spent some time in prayer and some time in quiet and was led to write several goals to be achieved by the end of 2018. Something about writing it down, makes it so real and attainable.

I wrote down 9 things and the first one was, “kick fear’s butt!“. Now, I am not saying that I live everyday and every moment scared and fearful. No, not at all. I am bold and courageous quite often in many areas of my life. But I will admit that there are some things that keep getting postponed for fear of failure…or fear that I will mess it up. It’s time to get over that! The enemy will use fear to try to keep you from fulfilling God’s plan. It’s time to have courage and do it in spite of those fears… even those things. God wants so much more from me and has so much more for me to do!

When I think of courage, I think of Joshua…’After the death of Moses the Lord ’s servant, the Lord spoke to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ assistant. He said, “Moses my servant is dead. Therefore, the time has come for you to lead these people, the Israelites, across the Jordan River into the land I am giving them. I promise you what I promised Moses: ‘Wherever you set foot, you will be on land I have given you— from the Negev wilderness in the south to the Lebanon mountains in the north, from the Euphrates River in the east to the Mediterranean Sea in the west, including all the land of the Hittites.’ No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live. For I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will not fail you or abandon you. “Be strong and courageous, for you are the one who will lead these people to possess all the land I swore to their ancestors I would give them. Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do. Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”’ -Joshua 1:1-9

I imagine that there may have been some level of fear when the Lord God told Joshua what he wanted him to do. That’s a pretty big job! But the Lord assures Joshua that the promises of Moses are promised to him as well. He tells him that no one will be able to stand against him, that the Lord will be with him, will not fail or abandon him and tells him to “be strong and courageous” 3 times; the last time commanding him to be strong and courageous, and to not be afraid or discouraged because the Lord will be with him everywhere he goes.

I too hear that same voice speaking to me to ‘be strong and courageous because my time has come’. And I will rest in His promises to protect me, lead me, guide me. I will study the Word and meditate on it day and night. I will prosper and succeed in everything I do.

I am strong and courageous because God is with me! And I am kicking fear’s butt!

This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”’ -Joshua 1:9