Be Not Afraid

Joshua Chapter 1 has been one of my favorite passages, and a major formation word for my life. Therefore, I really appreciate this word from Darrin Patrick - 4 Ways Courage Grows:

Risk is at the heart of Christianity. Risk is codeword for faith in Scripture. And there's a great definition of faith in Hebrews 11:1, “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” Faith is risky.

You have to exercise faith to become a Christian. But faith is also the lifestyle of a Christian. Playing it safe will not satisfy us. But we need courage to take risks and face our fear. The good news is that we can grow in courage.

All the great leaders in the Bible have understood this. Few have demonstrated this better than Joshua. Here are four observations from his life on how spiritual courage grows:

1 Find Moses and Serve Moses

Have you seen the Ridley Scott’s Exodus: God and Kings? It's nowhere near as good as the classic Ten Commandments with Charlton Heston. But he does show something of the mentor-mentee relationship between Joshua and Moses. Joshua rarely speaks, but he does watch Moses speak to God. Eventually, Moses calls the curious Joshua to his side.
This is a reminder that Joshua was once a young, inexperienced man. Before God called him to lead his people, he was Moses' assistant (Exodus 33:11). By serving Moses, Joshua has plenty of opportunities to grow in courage.

So who is that mature Christian that you can serve? Who can show you what it means to take risks?

2 Deal with Your Fear of Failure

Can you imagine taking over for Moses? How would you like to be Lebron James’ son trying to make it in the NBA?

God understood that this would be a challenge for Joshua. Listen to what He says, "Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you" (Joshua 1:5).

Recognize it's not about your ability, but your availability. God will give you what you need.

3 Do What You Know

A life of faith is a life of obedience. It is the "ordinary" risks that pave the way for the "extraordinary" ones. Most aspiring leaders are looking for that spectacular vision from God. Whenever they come to me for counsel, I ask them these two questions:

Are you doing anything right now that you know you shouldn’t do? (sin of commission)
Are you not doing something right now that you know God wants you to do? (sin of omission)

It is a risk to obey God in a broken, sinful world. Exercise courage in what God has as said to do or not to do.

4 Soak in the Word

Listen to what God says as he commissions Joshua to lead His people:

This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. (Joshua 1:8)

What does it mean to meditate? It is to think and ask questions about what God has said to hear what God is saying. The Holy Spirit can speak to us in any way He chooses. It just so happens that the vast majority of the time He chooses to use Scripture.

When we encounter temptation or uncertainty, the Spirit calls to mind Scripture. The Spirit speaks to us. He opens our eyes. He shows us the truth.

The more we meditate on God's Word, the more we can hear the Spirit speaking. And the Spirit will not lead us to play it safe. He will invite us into a life of risk. He will give us courage.

Facing Your Fears

Good post by Darrin Patrick on facing your fears in the new year-

A new year, a new list. Right?

Before you think my inner cynic is coming out, know that I am not against New Year’s resolutions. I just don’t think they are the first list we should be writing down. And that’s part of the reason we lose traction right around the Super Bowl.

This year, start with your fears. List them!

That is what motivates most of our resolutions. Literally, we can be running from our fear on the treadmill. Or lifting the weight of fear off our chests. A friend of mine, who is now a personal trainer, confided in me that he still sees “that scrawny kid” when he looks in the mirror. His arms are twice the size of my thighs!

You can accomplish a lot trying to avoid painful feelings. But you also miss out on a lot of opportunities. Fear not only distorts what you see in the mirror, it causes you to fixate on yourself. Living in fear blinds you to the needs of people in and around your life. It saps your energy for risk and adventure. Everything you’ve got is spent holding up this shield of resolutions.

In Psalm 3:3, David describes God as “a shield about me.” The Bible often describes God as a shield. In David’s day, there were actually two types of shields used. There was a lighter, round one that you could carry in one hand, and hold a weapon in the other. But there was also a long, rectangular shield that was so large at times that another person had to carry it.

When Goliath came out against God’s people, the “giant” had his own shield-bearer (1 Samuel 17:41). When David heard this, he left his baggage behind (v22) and went out with no armor (v39). When David wrote Psalm 3, I imagine he recalled this encounter in mind. He was not alone. God was his shield-bearer.

If you are going to say no to fear, you need to see God as David saw Him. Don’t try to lift it on your own. Let Him take care of it. He’s got big enough arms!

Kneel and Stand

HT @LeighGray

Majority Rule

From challies.com

Dismantled

“Grace dismantles your confidence in you, while it gives you more hope and courage than you have ever had.”

            — Paul David Tripp @PaulTripp

HT: Of First Importance

Jesus is Greater....

"Jesus is greater": This should be a complete sentence all by itself. However, I love how those three simple words are continued in this little piece by Justin Buzzard:

Jesus >

Jesus is greater.

JESUS > Sin + Fear + Guilt + Regret + Discouragement + Need + Pain + Shame + Failure

Jesus is greater than sin, he took on, paid for, and beat your sin.

Jesus is greater than fear, he is bigger than whatever makes you afraid.

Jesus is greater than guilt, he has made a complete atonement for our guilt.

Jesus is greater than regret, he redeems our broken past.

Jesus is greater than discouragement, he is never discouraged even though he knows the worst about you, your circumstances, and life in this broken world.

Jesus is greater than need, he knows all of your needs and your needs are not difficult for him.

Jesus is greater than pain, he knows your pain and is stronger than what is hurting you.

Jesus is greater than shame, he cleanses dirty people, making us whiter than snow.

Jesus is greater than failure, he loves to work with failure–it’s his specialty.

JESUS > Sin + Fear + Guilt + Regret + Discouragement + Need + Pain + Shame + Failure

Hat Tip: Peter Cockrell