Courage

As we prepare for the Lord’s coming there are many things that are happening around us that can cause us to be fearful.  As the Word of God tells us in Mark 13:8: …there shall be earthquakes in diver’s places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows.  It seems that we are continually going through one battle after another.  We can’t seem to get out of one obstacle before we are facing another.  But thank God He tells us to be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. (Deuteronomy 31:6)  Our tests and trials will either draw us closer to the Lord or cause us to pull away.  As for me and my house we will serve the Lord (Joshua 24:15).  When we think about courage we think of the story of Daniel.  The other counselors and presidents sought King Darius to make a decree that anybody that worshipped another God for thirty days would be thrown into the lion’s den. When Daniel heard that the decree was signed he went home and with his windows open he bowed down on his knees three times a day to pray and give thanks to God.  The counselors and presidents went to King Darius and told them that Daniel was dishonoring the decree.  King Darius had no choice but to throw Daniel into the lion’s den.  It took a lot of courage for Daniel to kneel down and pray knowing that the when he did pray that he would be thrown in the lion’s den.  He knew the lions were in there and that at any moment they could devour him alive.  But, Daniel had courage and faith to trust in God.  When the king arrived the next morning and he cried out to Daniel was your king able to deliver you?  Daniel answered, “My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocence was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.  (Daniel 6:22)  When we wait on the Lord: and are of a good courage, and He shall strengthen our heart: wait, I say, on the LORD. (Psalm 27:14)  Let us pray for courage to be bold for Christ and to stand up as Daniel did and be a witness to those around us.