Strong And Courageous

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

What do you think it takes to be strong and courageous? Is it a woman fighting breast cancer, a man who takes a bullet for the President, or a firefighter who rescues someone from a burning building? Could it be exemplified in a child who refuses to be bound by physical impairment, or what about someone who defends their beliefs and actions even when it goes against "the norm"?

I think those are all good answers, to be honest, but the commonality between those people is really answers the question on courage. There is no physical characteristic that defines courage or strength and there is no particular action that defines them either. What is interesting is how the words strong and courage are intertwined in the Bible. Nearly all of the instances of the word courage in the Bible are contained in the phrase 'be strong and courageous'.

True strength is a matter of the mind. Think of strength as your shield. When your mind is strong it comes from having the right perspective on life. Armed with that strength you are prepared to defend yourself against whatever life throws at you from day to day. Many people, including yours truly, draw our strength completely from the Lord. You might say He is the ultimate defense.

If strength is all about the mind, then courage comes straight from the heart. When we talk about courage it is often accompanied by a fight. There is a battle to fight, sometimes against nearly impossible odds, and it takes heart to fight it. For some of us, simply navigating through a normal day requires some amount of courage. The courage that comes from the heart allows us to take the knowledge of our minds and go on the attack. The Bible is the ultimate tool in this battle. You will find that it can serve you well through any of life's situations.

Strength and courage are both characteristics that show a person's spirit. They come from a place of power deep within you, a place that was designed before you were ever born. Everyone has them. We just haven't all quite figured out how to access them. Start with God and let Him be your shield, and then add the Bible's knowledge to your arsenal and you can fight everything from the smallest of events to the deadliest of circumstances with the strength and courage provided to you by the King of kings and Lord of lords.