Over the years I have heard more than one pastor say that some form of “Do not fear” is in the Bible over 300 times. Obvious to all who realize it, God does not wish his people to live in fear. Instead, we see multiple times in the Bible where God uses people to display a courageous heart in spite of the circumstances. Just to list a few: Joshua, Daniel, David, Rahab, Esther, Mary, and Paul. Hopefully their names jog some memory of the Biblical accounts of their lives. This list is not made up of “super” humans but ordinary people who did one thing very well. They trusted their heart to the loving Father who could strengthen them in spite of their circumstances. As we walk out our faith in relationship with Jesus, His spirit is available to show us how to trust and walk victoriously with a courageous heart.
In our Beloved Warriors Boot Camp book, we outline in detail what God asks us to do with our heart, and what he does with our heart when we trust him. He is faithful to be a strengthener for his people and help them overcome the spirit of fear. Paul told Timothy that God had not given him a spirit of fear, but the Holy Spirit that produces power, love, and self-discipline in his life. (2 Tim. 1:7)
Often used as a godly example, the Proverbs 31 woman gives us a couple hints on how to have a courageous heart. “She is clothed in strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.” (Prov. 31:25) Have you looked into the future recently and started laughing? I admit, I have not with all that is going on in our world today. Bottom line here: she did not worry. She did not spend her time looking ahead in fear and worrying about outcomes. In fact, it says instead “a woman that fears the Lord is to be praised.” (Prov. 31:30) This reverential fear is meant to show how she trusted God first above all else. Her courageous heart secured in her a knowing that worry would not help, fearing the future would not help, but her God had the future in his hands.
In this Proverb we see clearly a woman that was not only, not a worrier, but she was also a woman of ACTION. As we all walk with the Holy Spirit in our lives, he calls us to take action with the courageous heart he is building inside us. Most of the time, the actions are so simple. The list we see in this passage shows us how she took care of the needs around her. Whether it was her own family, close friends, or the poor….she chose to take action in the present moments of her day to courageously serve others.
Today I encourage you to trust that your Father wants to build in you a courageous heart that dominates over fear and worry. He does hold the future and desires for your present moments to be ones that display the power, love and self-discipline the spirit inside of you produces. Who in your life could use a visit, phone call, or a card? How can you meet a small need today of someone that needs help? Take action over worry, Beloved Warrior, and live victoriously with your courageous heart!