A compilation of encouragement to help you walk boldly as a Woman of Faith!
Be Bold
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not be terrified or dismayed (intimated), for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
Joshua 1:9 (AMP)
God had to repeat himself in this scripture so the people in the back could hear it! Or at least that’s how I imagine the tone that this was the tone that he used when he had to tell Joshua for the THIRD time to “Be Strong and Courageous”. If you travel back to verses 6 and 7, you will see that he issued this command to help reassure Joshua that He was with him.
Joshua went on to become a Biblical Hero but he didn’t earn this title without facing opposition repeatedly. Like Joshua, we often need a reminder and those reminders typically come while we are facing something that would cause us to be afraid and possibly question God’s presence in our lives.
I believe that God issued this command multiple times in Joshua 1 and throughout scripture because He knows that we will be confronted with uncertainty and put to the test in everyday life. Learning to Live Bold is a process and if you desire to do so, be prepared to be confronted with the thing that terrifies you the most. This is a tough pill to swallow but we must remind ourselves that no matter what, God is with you!
God’s Promises Regarding Fear
Knowing what the promises of God are in his Word is an essential step to Living Bold. There are many promises in His Word but I am sharing five of my favorites today from the Amplified Bible. You can memorize and personalize these scriptures. Quote them often in prayer or even as a personal reminder that God is with you!
Isaiah 41:10
Do not fear [anything], for I am with you;
Do not be afraid, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you, be assured I will help you;
I will certainly take hold of you with My righteous right hand [a hand of justice, of power, of victory, of salvation].’
John 14:27
Peace I leave with you; My [perfect] peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be afraid. [Let My perfect peace calm you in every circumstance and give you courage and strength for every challenge.
Psalms 27:1
The Lord is my light and my salvation so why should I be afraid?
The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble?
Deuteronomy 31:6
Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble in dread before them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not fail you or abandon you.”
Psalms 118:6-7
6-The Lord is on my side; I will not fear.
What can [mere] man do to me?
7-The Lord is on my side, He is among those who help me;
Therefore I will look [in triumph] on those who hate me
Take Courage
“ When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out in fear. But immediately He spoke to them, saying, “Take courage, it is I! Do not be afraid!”
Matthew 14:26-27
In our first devotional we talked about God’s commandment to Joshua which is the same for us today. He commanded Joshua to “be strong and courageous” and reminded him that he could do so because he would be with him. Today we see Jesus echoing his Heavenly Father while walking on a stormy sea towards the disciples.
Let’s be honest, I think we would all be a little spooked if we saw someone walking towards us on water in the midst of a storm! However, Jesus was no ordinary man and His message to His disciples was very clear: Take Courage. Do not be afraid! One of his disciples, Peter, decided that he would trust Jesus in that moment and walk out on the water. All went well until he got distracted by what was going on around him and he took his eyes off of Jesus. Jesus didn’t let him drown but he did call him out in verse 31, “Oh you of little faith, why did you doubt?”
What we have to realize is that we can’t take courage and hold on to doubt and unbelief. Taking courage will require us to look to Jesus continuously because when we begin to look around at our circumstances, doubt will creep in and we will become paralyzed by fear. I believe that Jesus is always reaching out to us just as He reached out to Peter. Reach out and take His hand today.
The Cost of Fear
Living in fear can be extremely costly. If you are wondering how, I’ll explain it to you. Fear can cause us to waste time through procrastination or plain stagnation. This same procrastination can create situations where we miss out on valuable opportunities. Missing out on these opportunities can prevent us from developing critical relationships. Ultimately fear can create insecurities which are the breeding grounds for low self esteem, anxiety, and regret. If we don’t take the necessary steps to break the cycle of fear, we will live a depleted life.
This is absolutely not what Christ gave his life for! His word in John 10:10 says, “I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).” He paid the ultimate price so that we wouldn’t have to. How long will you allow fear to rob you of what is rightfully yours as a Daughter of the King?
We have to make the radical decision to reject fear and it’s hold on our lives. Again, fear is real but it doesn’t have to rob you. At the same time, we all make the conscious decision to protect our physical and earthly possessions. We lock the doors to our house, our cars and even that room in the house that you don’t want anyone going into. We place password protected locks on our devices with hopes that our confidential information isn’t compromised. We should begin to use that same vigilance spiritually. Not only do we need to shut the door, we also need to lock the door and throw away the key!
A Prayer For Boldness
Father God in the Name of Jesus, we come to you now thanking you for being good
We thank you that you are in control of our lives
We thank you for helping us to be lead by your Holy Spirit that indwells every Believer
We thank you for your Grace and your Mercy
We thank you Father God that you have not given us the spirit of fear
We thank you that you are always present, walking with us
We ask that you would help us to feel your presence in tangible ways everyday
Help us to know Your voice and to listen when you speak
Forgive us for the times that we did not take You at Your Word
Help our unbelief
Remove all fear, doubt, worry, and help us look to you
Help us NOT to be lead by our feelings and emotions
We thank you for giving us Power, Love, and a Sound Mind according to 2 Timothy 1:7
Thank you for helping us to Take Courage in areas where our natural inclination is to sit back
We thank you that as we step out with our eyes on You that you will take us by the hand and lead us by your Spirit
Help us to go forth this week with complete confidence in You!
In Jesus Name we pray, Amen.