Courage has been defined as “the ability to do something that you know is difficult or dangerous.” While we may not be faced with dangerous situations often we are daily faced with the difficult. For instance, it is difficult to be generous in a world that is selfish. It is difficult to swim against the tide of our culture in order to follow the paths of God. It is difficult to forgive others when they have hurt us, yet God requires it. It is difficult to be satisfied with what God gives when those around us seem to have more. It is difficult to trust God in those areas where we have no control such as illness or personal situations.

Life takes courage, and the Christian life takes even more courage because God calls us to a very different life than those around us. A life of obedience, followership, putting Him first, choosing righteousness over sin, and allowing Him to renovate our hearts and lives. In fact, Jesus says that to truly live, we need to die to self. That is a courageous choice.

Choosing courage is a prerequisite to following God. As Moses was transferring the leadership mantel to Joshua at the time when the Israelites were going to enter the promised land, this is the instruction he gave Joshua. 

Joshua 1:6-9. “Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them. Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 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.”

Three times Moses says “Be strong and courageous.” And he connects that courage with following the Law of God, following Him closely. Moses knew that Joshua and the people would be faced with all kinds of temptations as they entered the promised land. Temptations to forget God, to assimilate into the lifestyles of those around them, to follow other Gods, to live in fear of the threats around them. 

We face the same kinds of pressures to conform to the patterns of our world, to do our own thing and to downplay the life that God has called us to. It takes courage to align our lives with the teachings of God. It takes courage to be willing to look different when that is necessary. It takes courage to trust God with our circumstances rather than trying to force something ourselves. 

Meditate today on the word courage as it relates to your followership of Jesus. Where are you showing courage and where do you need more of it? Thank God for the courage he has given to you in areas where you are doing well and ask Him for the courage to do better in areas where you are not. The life of discipleship is a life of courage. We are called to courage. 

Father, I pray that you would give me the courage today to make the right choices in my life so that I follow you more closely. I know that dying to self so that I can find true life take courage. Through your Holy Spirit, give me that courageous spirit today. Amen.