My Daily Dose of Courage

Then He spoke a parable to them, that men ought always to pray and never lose hope.  (Luke 18:1) Our Lord is sharing something essential with His disciples — prayer is the only way to maintain a hopeful outlook through the bleak seasons we are sure to experience; in other words, the prayerful saint is the hopeful saint, and Jesus wants us to never lose our hope, so we must pray! The Lord told us clearly that we will suffer tribulation in this world; yet we are to be of good cheer, because He has overcome the world, and we are overcomers in Him. We all would lose hope for some people and circumstances apart from the assurance we receive from prayer and intercession. The Lord has ordained prayer as His formula for spiritual sustenance and success. Then He (Jesus) said to them, “Why do you sleep? Rise and pray, lest you enter into temptation.”  (Luke 22:46)  A praying saint may travail and suffer, he may struggle and wonder when God will answer, she may grapple with feelings...

When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!” For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish which they had taken; and so also were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men.”  So when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him.   (Luke 5:8-11)   A man cannot honestly understand who he is until he encounters a true man of God. Only when he is confronted by the holiness in another can he compare the true measure of himself against God’s standard of manhood —  “I am a sinful man, O Lord!”   Immediately the decision must be made. “Do I shrink back in fear, or do I answer the call in my spirit to follow Jesus?”   It is God’s will that no one remain the same once they’ve encountered Jesus. Peter would have turned back,  "Depart from me…" ...

“These things I command you, that you love one another.”   (John 15:17)   Many believe love to be a voluntary emotion, and that we should love according to what we feel in our hearts. If so, does God honestly expect us to love unlovable people, or those who hurt us and mean us harm? Does God expect us to love those we don't like, who are nothing like us, or whose behavior we disdain? These are difficult questions to wrestle with as we learn to love as Christ commands, and this is where we must surrender our understanding and receive the love poured in our hearts by the Holy Spirit. Otherwise, it is impossible to get beyond ourselves and our fears into the realm of holy love.   It may seem odd that Jesus  commands  us to love, but it makes a remarkable difference to see love as a commandment and not an emotion. Jesus can command and empower us to love, because He has taken it out of the natural realm and placed it in the framework of the spirit. He did that ...

"It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life."  (John 6:63)   "But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment."  (Matthew 12:36)   What a marvelous blessing it is to become a wise steward of the tongue! Jesus tells us His words are spirit and life — much more than syllables and sounds, but they are alive and living and able to accomplish the purpose for which they are spoken. There are no idle words from the mouth of God, and as we mature in Him, there will be fewer and fewer from us. Our words are pregnant with meaning and effect, and the Lord will hold us accountable for them. Perhaps we should give longer and wiser consideration before we speak.   The Lord is pleased when we speak words of blessing and truth, and when our speech reflects His express viewpoint. The lips of the child of God should release the sweetness of the...

“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give you.”  (John 15:16) This is the divine order of the life of God's servants. The Lord calls and chooses us out of the world, appoints and commissions us into His service, plants and places us where He desires, and we come to Him for everything pertaining to life and godliness. That is God's plan, and it cannot be defeated or frustrated by any ungodly force or being. It is Jesus who holds the keys to time and eternity, and His purpose will always be fulfilled in those who walk closely with Him.  "And you will be hated by all for My name's sake. But not a hair of your head shall be lost. By your patience possess your souls."  (Luke 21:17-19)   Friendship with God is the sovereign choice of Jesus, and He offers it to whomever He wills. It is an awesome honor to be called apart from ...

Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church. Then he killed James the brother of John with the sword.  (Acts 12:1-2)   The church of Jesus Christ is never at home in this world, and the more contrast there is between the children of light and the children of darkness, the more uncomfortable our lives here will be. That is why it is such a sad thing to witness Christians endeavoring to be friends with the world, "giving back," serving the community, etc. These sound like noble and desirable goals, but the Lord saved us for a much higher purpose — to glorify Jesus Christ. Yet, some are drawn back to the world out of a sense of their own righteousness and the needs of men that have nothing to do with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. For them, the offense of the Cross has ceased, because they seek to please people and to be highly thought of for their good works. This is a strong temptation, because it appeals to a sense of our own adequacy...

" No longer do I (Jesus) call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all the things I heard from My Father I have made known to you."   (John 15:15)   The Lord has many followers, but few friends. Friends are those who draw closed to Jesus on His terms, and His terms are spiritual, not soulish, emotional, or religious. Friendship with Jesus draws us into the realm of spiritual intimacy where the love, knowledge, and counsel of God are made available to us and no one else. Close friends are free to share themselves with one another and enjoy that freedom because of a bond of trust developed over time and experiences. We know we are friends of Christ when He is the Lord of our lives; then the knowledge of God is poured out on us abundantly, and we begin to hunger for it more and more each day.   You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.  (John 15:14) Most human friendships are based on affinitie...

Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.  (1 Samuel 30:6) David’s example in this passage is a tremendous testimony to the heart of a worshiper who is fully engaged with the Lord through prayer and obedience. David's response to the catastrophic events he faced was not natural, but supernatural – an outgrowth of a daily life of devotion. When he might have resorted to self-defense, depression, despondency, deflecting, accusing, and sulking, he teaches us to go to the secret place and seek the mind of Christ. When others were demanding immediate action, David waited and prayed. When he could have sought man’s advice, David inquired of the Lord. The relationship with God he had cultivated in his daily life became his salvation in the crisis, and so must it be with us all.   That which is inside us comes out wh...

In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us . . .  (1 John 4:10)   The Bible is a love letter, though we often fail to realize it. From Genesis to the Revelation, the Bible’s all about love. From the Fall of Man to the Cross of Christ — from Egypt through the desert to the Promised Land — from Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob to Peter, James, and John — from the snake to the dove — from the Glory leaving the temple to the Holy Spirit falling at Pentecost – yes, from Alpha to Omega it’s all about love. This love finds its perfection in God Himself, and is offered to us in Jesus, who is God Himself — and poured out on us in the Holy Spirit, who is God Himself. Yes, the Bible is all about love and all about God, who actually  is  love.   . . .  not that we loved God . . . It is a wonderful thing to come to God on His terms — spiritual terms — and to leave our emotions and passions out of the equation. God's love is not dependent on any happenstance o...

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.  (John 3:16)   This is perhaps the most quoted verse in the Bible, and rightly so. It is the best news ever proclaimed, the simplest and most direct answer to life’s most important question. It is the revelation of God’s love manifest in Jesus — whose life on the earth, death on the cross, resurrection from the dead, ascension to the right hand of God, and His return comprise the central reality of all time and eternity.  For God so loved the world …  Everything that has ever been done or said will be measured by the words spoken in this verse. There is no truth beyond it, no one or thing outside its reach, no man, woman, or angel above it, and no thought that isn’t subject to it. God’s love given to us in Jesus Christ is all that truly matters, and it is the key to the door we must step through to be at peace with a holy God. What ...

Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him." Then they said to Him, "What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?" Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent."  (John 6:27-29)   With God, success isn’t primarily about reaching our goals, but it’s about what our goals are. If we reach our goals but they are not what the Lord would have for us, then we are not truly successful. Our success in God’s eyes depends entirely on what we are working for. So, what does God tell us we are supposed to work for? In this passage Jesus tells us,  “Don’t labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life…”  In other words, don’t spend your life on things that won’t matter in the end. Spend your life knowing and obeying Jesus Christ, who is the Bread o...

Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, “But Lord, what about this man?” Jesus said to him, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me.”  (John 21:21-22)   ". . .  what is that to you?" What the Lord chooses to do with and for others is none of our concern. Comparison and envy are the root of all insecurity. God distributes opportunities, goods, and attributes according to His wisdom, and He is not accountable to us for an explanation. We are, on the other hand, accountable to Him for that which He has given us! There is a great deal of wisdom in this.   "You follow Me." Our walk with God is a very personal one, and while we are members of one another, there is a beautifully unique work He is doing in each one individually. We are to come alongside and build one another up, and to be sure not to interfere in God's sovereign work in others. This takes a great deal of self-control, but that is what God expects. We must remember His specifi...

And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, also how he had executed all the prophets with the sword. Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, "So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time." And when he saw that, he arose and ran for his life, and went to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there.  (1 Kings 19:1-3)   Elijah was fresh off the greatest spiritual victory of his life, as God had proven Himself in the eyes of all Israel. Yet, at the voice of the evil Queen Jezebel, he cowered, ran, and isolated himself from the people, work, and will of God. This episode in the life of Elijah is truly a warning to us. Even after our highest spiritual moments and victories, we can be more vulnerable than we know – and Satan will seek to deliver a death blow to our faith when we least expect it.   A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire; He rages against all wise...

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me . (John  14:6)   And He said, “Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father.”   (John 6:65)   This word, "No," is where the freedom of a saint is found. "No" is restrictive and limiting at first glance. Yet, it is the narrow road that leads to freedom, and a precious few find it, but bondage is found in the multitude of distractions and traps that await the Christian who wanders from the way God prescribes. Remember, Jesus said He is the only way. So, while there are many ways, there is no other  Way . The saint who walks in the way Jesus speaks of is free from the fears and faults that accompany every other way. That freedom manifests in the boldness to come to the throne of God where we will receive love, grace, and understanding in our times of need. It is the freedom of one who is no longer held by ...

Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.  (1 Corinthians 4:2)   While the Lord never instructs us to trust in men, He does expect men to become trustworthy – and He has every right to expect such, because He’s given us His Holy Spirit to accomplish that work in us. Yes, God has entrusted us with much, and He expects much in return. The scriptures make it crystal clear that we will give an account for our lives, therefore the Lord expects us to live well and walk by faith. Are you being trustworthy and faithful in God’s mind? It’s a matter of great importance, so you need to be sure.   "Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?"  (Luke 18:8) This is the essential question we must ask ourselves, "When Christ returns for me, will He find me being faithful to Him?" Some think that Jesus will be looking for great works, prosperity, successful ministries and ministers, revival, wealthy and victorious saints, an...

For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.  (Romans 12:4-5)   The word “member” takes on its true meaning through Paul’s explanation. Our membership makes us a living and necessary part of the larger body of believers, and it is essential to the well-being of the body that we function properly. God has so formed us that we do not work very well alone, but there is an interdependence that follows the model set forth in the Trinity – distinct Persons, distinct roles, oneness, unity, and perfect love. Let the same be true of the local church and its members.   Satan is sure to oppose every effort to establish and maintain a healthy body of believers, and we do well to be aware of his wiles and works against our unity and purpose. The spiritual opposition is fierce, but the victory is ours if we stand our ground and refuse to be separated from e...

But he (Samson) did not know that the Lord had departed from him.  (Judges 16:20b)   And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.  (Ephesians 4:30)   We must always be careful to handle ourselves in a way that realizes the constant presence of God wherever we are and whatever we do. Respect and reverence for the Holy Spirit is the solemn and awesome privilege of every believer. Carelessness in our personal habits dulls our ability to hear and discern the still small voice of God. He will not shout over the din of the world or the busyness of our schedules. So, we must be careful not to grieve Him away -- some of us have done so and do not realize it.   Every Christian must come to realize what makes us the children of God -- the Spirit of God has been given to live in our hearts. That is the only difference between us and every other well-meaning religious person, and that difference is consequential and eternal. P...

In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, Who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.  (Ephesians 1:13-14)   The hope that Christians possess is much more than the emotional, feel-good phenomenon the world clings to. Our faith is not “blind,” but we seek the eternal over the temporal; and it is much more than, “Don’t worry, be happy.” Christians enjoy a powerful and effectual outlook that is assured by the presence of God Himself in the Holy Spirit. He is our “guarantee” that all we hope and wait for is real.   When we believe in Jesus Christ as our Savior and Redeemer, we enter into a relationship with the Father that gives us peace and eternal security, and we give Him glory in return. The apostle Paul calls it,  “. . . this grace in which we stand . . .”  – and...

In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, Who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.  (Ephesians 1:13-14)   The hope that Christians possess is much more than the emotional, feel-good phenomenon the world clings to. Our faith is not “blind,” but we seek the eternal over the temporal; and it is much more than, “Don’t worry, be happy.” Christians enjoy a powerful and effectual outlook that is assured by the presence of God Himself in the Holy Spirit. He is our “guarantee” that all we hope and wait for is real.   When we believe in Jesus Christ as our Savior and Redeemer, we enter into a relationship with the Father that gives us peace and eternal security, and we give Him glory in return. The apostle Paul calls it,  “. . . this grace in which we stand . . .”  – and...

For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.  (Matthew 16:27)   It has been taught that the Lord is preparing us for our breakthrough, our destiny, and some blessed or exalted place on this earth — but that is not true. The Lord is preparing you for His return, and He is preparing you for heaven! Heaven is the prize, not anything we can achieve in this world. The success we seek on earth may very well distract and deter us from the real prize; and that prize is the crown we will receive for our faithfulness to God in the midst of a sinful world.   The Bible consistently teaches us the necessity of spiritual preparedness; because we will not have time to get ourselves ready when Christ returns -- we must  be  ready. In other words, preparedness is a state of being for the Christian. Therefore, the Holy Spirit is not simply preparing us for that Day, He  is  that preparation...

Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.  (Revelation 1:3)   Jesus Christ is clearly in control of all things in heaven and on earth, and the Book of Revelation is the most prominent presentation of this fact in the scriptures. The Revelation (or Apocalypse) given to John by the angelic messenger is a heavenly vision whose interpretation must be rooted in wisdom, maturity, and sober thinking, lest the reader be carried away by unwarranted speculation and endless argument. There is much in this book to disagree on, if we choose –- yet, Jesus Christ Himself is the central point being made, and that fact cannot be debated. Any interpretation or teaching on the Revelation that does not increase our joy and expectancy concerning Christ's return is unfruitful and unbiblical. We do well to heed the instructions and warnings in this book, for if He finds the elect unprepared when He retur...

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.  (Jeremiah 29:11)   A primary key to living a life of fruitful maturity in Jesus Christ is allowing the Holy Spirit to give us the heart of the Father for everyone and everything around us. God desires to broaden our horizons, deepen our understanding, pour great wisdom into us, develop our personalities, and cleanse our paths. He always has our best interest at heart, and He orders our steps to insure the experiences that will complete and sanctify us. God wants to enlarge our hearts, to increase our appreciation of His goodness and purpose for our lives. He desires we see His sovereign hand in all things, and we believe that obeying His Word is the key to every blessing He has laid up for us.   Therefore, our circumstances must not deter our faith, because God is able to even use our hardships for His glory. Jeremiah the prophet spoke this ...

So David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die. However, because by this deed you have given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, the child also who is born to you shall surely die.”  (2 Samuel 12:13-14) This sordid tale of lust, adultery, deception and murder seems out of place in the life of "a man after God's own heart" — but there is David — guilty and deserving of death, and there was not going to be an easy road back to right-standing with God. David had strayed far from the Lord. His success had drawn him into a moral malaise that he was completely unaware of, and his heart had become cold and craven — just like his predecessor, Saul. (If we are not careful, we can become what we despise.) He had ignored the word of God and everything he knew was right, and his conscience was the casualty. Since David covered his ears and refused God's correction, he...

It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.  (John 6:63)   It often astounds me how dense I am – how slow I am to recognize the hand of God and to believe what He says. Perhaps I’m not simple enough, and I complicate things more than I should. Sometimes the promises in the Word of God seem too good to be true, especially in the light of my difficult circumstances. Yet the Lord holds me accountable to what He says to me. When He speaks, His words are spirit and life — and like a child learns to heed his parents, so must I learn to believe God and expect everything He says to manifest in its time! Thus, the successful Christian life boils down to this one thing; “Do I hear what God is saying, and do I believe what I hear?” The Holy Spirit gives life to those who hear and believe. “ Lord, help me hear, believe, and obey Your every word!”   Let's Pray -  Dear King, I set my heart to believe ever...

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed . . ."  (Luke 4:18)   Healing is a result of Christ’s love, compassion, and concern. It is His will, His good pleasure, and it is well within His authority to heal us from every malady. Jesus delivers life and liberty to all who will receive Him, and He alone has the power to evict evil spirits who have taken up residence in the human soul. Our Lord not only heals, but He establishes a culture of well-being in and around those who will receive His touch. Obedience and belief in His word draw us close to Him and provide a fruitful path of health, restoration, and abundance.   In Your presence is fullness of joy!  (Psalm 16:11)   The question has been asked many times, "If Jesus still heals people, why don't we see ...

As I urged you when I went into Macedonia—remain in Ephesus that you may charge some that they teach no other doctrine, nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith.  (1 Timothy 1:3-4)   There is no shortage of theories, philosophies, ideas, and alternatives to a simple, living faith in Jesus Christ — and there is no shortage of people who push them. It sad to see so many falling for the tricks of Satan, who would rather have you believe anything but the truth as it is given to us in Christ and Christ alone. The devil loves to appeal to our intellect, our sense of self-importance, and the desire we all possess to believe what seems right to us, instead of accepting the simple and unadorned truth of the Gospel and Person of Jesus Christ.  Be sure to place your all on Jesus. He is the Word of God, and the only thing God is saying to us. He is the only way, the only truth, and the only life. There is no...

Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.   (1 Corinthians 4:2)   While the Lord never instructs us to trust in men, He does expect men to become trustworthy – and He has every right to expect such, because He’s given us His Holy Spirit to accomplish that work in us. Yes, God has entrusted us with much, and He expects much in return. The scriptures make it crystal clear that we will give an account for our lives, therefore the Lord expects us to live well and walk by faith. Are you being trustworthy and faithful in God’s mind? It’s a matter of great importance, so you need to be sure.   "Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?"   (Luke 18:8) This is the essential question we must ask ourselves — "When Christ returns for me, will He find me being faithful to Him?" Some think that Jesus will be looking for great works, prosperity, successful ministries and ministers, revival, wealthy and victorious saint...

Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart . . .  (Luke 18:1)   Pray without ceasing.  (1 Thessalonians 5:17)   Prayer is the ultimate expression of faith in a God we cannot see or touch, yet we believe He can see and touch us! It is the glue of the spiritual and experiential in the Christian life, binding together the impossible and the possible, the hoped for and the achieved, the task and the reward. Prayer stills our hands and moves the hand of God; it drops us to our knees and lifts the burdens of life. It is the ever available, infinite, inexhaustible resource of heaven, the key to the doors of eternity, and the flame that lights the fuse of powers, authorities, thrones, and dominions, visible and invisible things. Therefore, let us resolve to pray more and more as the Day approaches, for God hears and answers prayer.   Prayer is the sure sign that a man has ceased striving and began trusting. Prayer is the first opti...

Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days.  (Daniel 6:10-11)   The children of the King are known by their fierce dedication to God’s house, God’s Word, and prayer; accordingly, Daniel set his face toward Jerusalem three times a day to worship and pray to the Father. It did not matter what was going on around him, because he had made up his mind as a very young man that it was more important to be right before God than to be accepted by men. He meant no disrespect toward any earthly authority, thus he served the kings of Babylon and the Medes and Persians honorably for more than 70 years. Yet, Daniel’s custom of seeking the Lord’s face was one that he was not willing to forsake in the moment of testing —  He knelt down on his knees three times that day, and p...

"For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."  (Matthew 6:14-15)   Jesus quickly forgave and forgot when men offended Him, and He found no need to be right or defend Himself when He was accused or attacked. He reconciled all things good in the light of His Father’s sovereign will. Therefore, He encourages us to do what He modeled for us – forgetting, letting go, and pressing forward toward the vision of glory the Father places in our hearts.   When we don't forgive, we keep those who sinned against us in the prison of our resentment; and someone has to guard that prison -- us. So, we are chained to bitterness and misery, unless we do as Jesus commands -- forgive. There is no time in our fleeting lives for fretting over offenses, slights, and old hurts from days gone by. While we all experience hurtful things, the Lord offers us freedom...

Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.  (Philippians 3:13-14)   The Christian life is one of constantly moving forward, and Jesus demonstrated this by His fierce determination to glorify His Father and finish the work He was given. He knew His earthly life would end tragically on the Cross of Calvary; yet, nothing could deter Him, even for a moment. His was a life of moving on in the will of God. The same must be true of us.   Jesus refused to be weighed down or distracted by things going on around Him. Every encounter, every conversation, every activity, and every moment of rest in our Lord's earthly life was ordained by God, that all righteousness might be fulfilled, and nothing left undone — "It is finished!" People would come and go, love Him or hate Him, bless ...