At CANDACE, we are beginning a journey to realize our identity in Christ. When we read through the Bible, God has SO much to say about who we are because of our relationship with Him through Christ. So where do we start?
While viewing this blog, we can't help but notice the name of our ministry, CANDACE. The C is for COURAGEOUS...so let's start there.
When looking up "courage" in the bible, the first scriptures to appear are found in the book of Deuteronomy. God knew how much his followers would need to remember to be courageous once they accepted His promises, so he warned them often to be brave.(Deuteronomy 31:6, 31:7, 31:23)
This is not unlike today, once we accept to live by the promises of God, we need courage. The courage to live differently, the courage to face rejection when we share the changes God is making in our lives, and the courage to trust God as we follow Him by faith (not focused on what we see).
It becomes clear early on that we will struggle when we try to walk this walk without courage.
So how do we walk as Courageous women when we face fearful situations everyday?
1) Being courageous means ACCEPTING THAT FEARFUL SITUATIONS WILL COME. Throughout the Bible, believers faced circumstances that caused, if nothing else, momentary fear. God knew His children would experience fear. He also commanded that we be courageous in spite of those fears.
2) Being courageous means being aware that OUR COURAGE COMES FROM GOD THROUGH OUR FAITH IN JESUS! Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith... (Hebrews 12:2). It is from Him that we get what we need to face our fears. Without Him, we are NOTHING, which brings us to #3...
3) The foundation to being courageous is KNOWING GOD IS WITH US! After telling the Israelites to be courageous, God immediately followed up with the promise that He would be with them.The one Truth Christians have to embrace, to be courageous, is that God is with us, no matter how we feel.
4) Being courageous rests in BELIEVING AND ACTING ON on the promises of God.We have the choice to focus on what God says or what others (even the voices in our heads) say. In the book of Joshua, Chapter 1 God directs him to, "Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go." Our courage, and success, depends on who we listen to.
5) Being courageous means MAKING A DECISION and FOLLOWING THROUGH. The evidence of one's courage is demonstrated in their actions. You demonstrate courage by how you respond to a challenging situation. As Christians, we can't be wishy-washy. We have to seek God for wise decision-making, AND then we must ACT on those decisions. Our indecisiveness has a negative impact on us, as well as others around us, including our children. NOTE: Your decisions may not always be popular, or understood by everyone, but if you know you are following God, stand firm. (Acts 27:25)
6) Being courageous means understanding that GOD IS GREATER than anything we face. Greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world (1 John 4:4). We can't just quote this verse without acknowledging that we will be tested on whether or not we really believe it. No matter how enormously overwhelming the problem you're facing, remember GOD IS GREATER!
There are many other examples of courage in the bible. For more on Godly courage, go to http://www.youversion.com/ or http://www.biblegateway.com/, and do a keyword search on the word "courageous" and read about what God says.
On the subject of Courage, we are reposting this note from Habibah Sulayman from our CANDACE on Facebook page:
ReplyDeleteJUST THROW IT
"I was driving home from an early morning workout with a lot on my mind and a heavy heart. I have shared with a few people about my childhood experiences with sexual and emotional abuse & physical abuse as an adult. I am finally facing all of this pain after 36 years of running and hiding myself in food, sex, men, busyness, etc.
It has been really hard--I must be honest in saying that it is the hardest thing that I have ever had to do. God has been slowly removing all of the crutches that I'd been leaning on but one. He left the hardest and strongest crutch for me to release myself.
I have become a fan of baseball for over the last couple of years and I am a fan of the pitcher. I watch in amazement of how he goes to the mound and musters what look like all of the strength in his body to throw this ball sometimes as fast as 96 mph.
I also like the umpire--I love how he catches that fast ball without flinching. I also love how the umpire gives the pitcher signals on what type of ball to throw--fast, curve, etc.
It intrigued me when I learned that baseball gloves are made of buffalo or kangaroo leather because of the toughness of the skin and it's ability to receive the impact of the fast ball without breaking.
The book of 1 Peter was written by the Apostle Peter to churches in Asia Minor who were suffering--In 1 Peter 5:7 he tells them to "Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you." (NIV)
To cast means to throw something with all of your might--Just like the baseball players do when they are in the game. God is just like that baseball glove--He is strong enough to handle the cares and concerns that you throw towards Him. He won't break!!
For most of us Christian women--we struggle with this idea because we are the Superheroes who take care of everyone and everything in our lives. So the idea of throwing all of what concerns us--hurts us, scares us, pains us, frustrates
us--on someone else is so against our nature. We don't want to burden, or burnout, those who love us.
But God is so different--He actually welcomes the fast balls of our lives. He is standing behind homeplate (just like the catcher) sending us signals on what ball to throw--He never minds how fast, or how hard, or how big the things are that we face. He just keeps telling us to throw--Use all of the pain, shame, and fear that we have mustered in our hearts and spirits and just throw it to Him "who is able to keep us from falling" (Jude 1:24)
I realized that I was using this last crutch because I was afraid that God wouldn't really be able to catch my pitches. So after much prayer--I released my crutch and hobbled to pitching mound and God was there-- at home plate. He said "Baby I am here--just throw it!" I told Him I was afraid--He said, "I know, but throw it anyway!" I said it was so big--He said, "I know, Beloved--dont worry 'cause I got it--Just throw it!!"
So I took a deep breath, closed my eyes, raised my arm while mustering all that I had in me and threw it!!
And He caught it--without flinching.......
What are you struggling with in your life ? This time of year which is supposed to be joyous and family-oriented--has become so stressful for many women. Another year is coming to a close--as you look back, dread and stress comes. There are so many things to be done and never enough time...
God told me to tell you to just THROW IT!!!"
Peace
Habibah