By Dr. DAN ERICKSON
I am praying and challenging the church in America to become courageous Christians. We can see life and all of its challenges through a different set of lenses: God’s word. His word gives us courage in the midst of our fears, sufferings and uncertainties.
If Satan can cause us to lose heart and stop believing, then we will settle in, hunker down and not enter into God’s promises. We will continue to live in our own personal wilderness. Yet God has called us to rise up, stand out and transform the world – to become an unstoppable force. God wants us to claim his promises in the midst of life’s challenges.
In An “Unstoppable Force – A Christian Manifesto,” I wrote:
“If The Unstoppable Force is going to make an eternal difference, it will face difficulties, temptations, testing and persecution like nothing that has ever been brought against the church in our nation. The enemy is alive and seeking to kill, steal and destroy the influences of we who live by a higher standard, a greater truth. The Force has to stand strong, be courageous and never give up on proclaiming the truth – no matter the consequences. For to live is Christ and to die is gain.” (Joshua 1:1-9, John 10:10, Philippians 1:19-21)
Out of the two million Jews that were called to enter the promise land, only Joshua and Caleb believed it was possible (Numbers 13). They were literally one in a million!
In Joshua 1, God challenged Joshua with these courageous words – words we need to heed ourselves:
“Moses My servant is dead. Now therefore, arise, go over this Jordan, you and all these people, to the land which I am giving to them – the children of Israel. Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you, as I said to Moses. … No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you. … Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage, do not be afraid nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:1-9)
If there has ever been a time we need to have unstoppable courage, it is now. Courage is the mental, moral and spiritual strength to resist opposition, danger and hardship. It comes from the inside out. Courage is not the absence of fear, uncertainty or even failure. Courage is discovered and developed in the midst of these challenges.
Fear + Endurance = Courage
Where do you need a dose of God’s courage today? Where do you need to give a good dose of God’s courage? Do you encourage or discourage? We can only give what we have already received for ourselves. If a faith-filled believer can’t give courage, then who can?
Become one in a million and imagine the possibilities!
