Courage

It Takes Courage…

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“Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. 14 Do everything in love.”

1 Corinthians 16:13-14 NIV

Courage is not the absence of fear…Courage is the willingness to move forward without knowing the outcome…to admit we don’t know the answers…to be patient…Having courage is placing your trust in God ahead of fear…it is about not allowing fear to stop you or defeat you.

  It takes courage to seek the Light…to surrender your plans for God’s plan…

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“For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.”

2 Timothy 1:6-7 NIV

(This photo was taken on Lake Superior near the Apostle Islands)

Strength Comes From God

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“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Matthew 11:28-30 NIV

Goodness Of God by Jenn Johnson

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“Do you not know?
    Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
    the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
    and his understanding no one can fathom.
29 He gives strength to the weary
    and increases the power of the weak.
30 Even youths grow tired and weary,
    and young men stumble and fall;
31 but those who hope in the Lord
    will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
    they will run and not grow weary,
    they will walk and not be faint.”

Isaiah 40:28-31 NIV

(This photo was taken at a lake near Plymouth, Minnesota)

God Is With You

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“I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
    where does my help come from?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
    the Maker of heaven and earth.”

Psalm 121:1-2 NIV

Father God, in You I have all I need.  When trials come sometimes I forget that You are in control.  I need You to make me strong and courageous.  Please give me courage I need to trust in You.  Remind me that You are with me, and that You will continue to instruct and guide me no matter what happens.  In Jesus name, Amen.

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“The Lord will keep you from all harm—
    he will watch over your life;
8 the Lord will watch over your coming and going
    both now and forevermore.”

Psalm 121:7-8 NIV

(This photo was taken in Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado)

Patience And Persistence

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“I remain confident of this:
    I will see the goodness of the Lord
    in the land of the living.
14 Wait for the Lord;
    be strong and take heart
    and wait for the Lord.”

Psalm 27:13-14 NIV

“Let your eyes look straight ahead;
    fix your gaze directly before you.
26 Give careful thought to the[c] paths for your feet
    and be steadfast in all your ways.
27 Do not turn to the right or the left;
    keep your foot from evil.”

Proverbs 4:25-27 NIV

Father God, we know You have a plan for our lives, and that You want to bless us.  Help us lean into that promise!  Sometimes it is hard to see past our present struggles.  Thank You for loving us even when we have doubts and fears.  Fill each of us with Your hope and give us courage to carry on.  In Jesus name, Amen.

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“The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love.  The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.”

Psalm 145:8-9 NIV

(This photo was taken in Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota)

It Takes Courage

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“Then Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the presence of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you must go with this people into the land that the Lord swore to their ancestors to give them, and you must divide it among them as their inheritance. 8 The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”

Deuteronomy 31:7-8 NIV

God is with you, God is for you…He will never leave you or abandon you.  Believe it and be courageous.

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“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.”

Ephesians 6:10-13 NIV

(This photo was taken at Sapphire Point near Dillon, Colorado)

He Gives Us Strength

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“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.”

Joshua 1:9 NIV

Father God, all of our hope is in You.  You are all we need.  Thank You for being our protector and the source of our strength.  No matter what we face, we ask for Your courage and endurance to handle it well.  Please guide us with Your wisdom in our decisions and give us peace.  Thank You for all that You did, all You are doing, and all that You will do for us.  Amen.

Shout To The Lord by Darlene Zschech

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“I can do all things through him who gives me strength.”

Philippians 4:13 NIV

(This photo was taken in Mount Rainier National Park in Washington)

Rise Up

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The bible states things very clearly…it doesn’t say you may or might face trouble in this world, no…it is clear that we will face trouble and hardship.  Jesus gives us the bad news and then immediately gives us the Good News when He says…

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

John 16:33 NIV

He tells us take heart, which means be strong, be courageous and today rise up from the ashes of trouble and suffering because He is with you.  Trust the words of Jesus, believe and Rise Up!  Amen.

Rise Up by CAIN

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“Arise, shine, for your light has come,
    and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.
2 See, darkness covers the earth
    and thick darkness is over the peoples,
but the Lord rises upon you
    and his glory appears over you.
3 Nations will come to your light,
    and kings to the brightness of your dawn.”

Isaiah 60:1-3 NIV

(This photo was taken near Arches National Park in Utah)

Humility

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14 “if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

2 Chronicles 7:14 NIV

Good and Gracious God, please show me the things I am withholding from You.  I want to walk humbly with You.  Teach me to prioritize Your ways over my ways.  No matter how difficult the circumstances, I want to deny my self-centered desires and seek You first.  In Jesus name, Amen.

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“He must become greater; I must become less.”

John 3:30 NIV

(This photo was taken at Bear Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado)