A way to pray when you need courage

 

 

 

Hello… how are you?

Life on the other side of my computer screen kept me away from this space. I miss meeting with you, for I am a people person. A doer. An Adele enthusiast. A teacher with a passion for the Word of God.  “Away” is challenging for me! I am obviously sharing my musings again and writing book #2 with a dear friend. Will you pray for us to have courage? Our topic is touchy.

Speaking of courage…

I remember my college speech class. They taught us techniques to calm our nerves. Imagining a naked audience supposedly did this. I tried it the next time I presented.

The thought of naked people did not bring me courage. #justkeepingitreal

You may not be a public speaker, but I bet an area in your own life causes you distress. Perhaps your prayers to God for courage appear to hit Heaven’s figurative ceiling. I get this, friend. Let’s pause and revisit a scene in an ancient garden. We are going to learn an important lesson about courage there.

 

 

Remember back with me to the garden of Gethsemane. Jesus finished his last supper with his closest friends. One disciple was out betraying Him. The other disciples were falling asleep. Jesus knew what God was asking. The time had come.

 

Jesus prayed, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet, I want your will to be done, not mine.”

~Matthew 26:39b NLT

If it is possible.

Let… suffering be taken away.

Yet, I want your will.

Fourteen words. Perhaps the most pivotal words ever spoken. They embody courage. They are courage. How often do we surrender them in prayer or are we working for more courage? Do we hope courage will fall upon us once we listen to the soundtrack of Braveheart? Or trust courage will fill us if we were more like Batman, She-Ra, or George Washington?

This line of reasoning needs to stop. Just like the naked people technique. #seriously

We have a God that created us in His image. He fills us with His courage whenever we ask for it in humility and trust. Our prayers do not bounce off figurative ceilings. God is not dead nor deaf. He hears. God sees our heart attitude when we talk with Him.

Remember the garden. Follow Jesus’ example.

Go ahead, lay the 14 words above on top of your life. Ponder them. Pray them over big and seemingly insignificant stuff. For courage:

• confronts and helps a loved one bound up in destructive behavior
• accepts the terminal diagnosis
• leaves the comfort of a prosperous career to serve the poor and needy
• believes Jesus is who He says He is- inviting Him to be Lord and Savior over your life
• says sorry, making things right
• rises out of bed despite paralyzing anxiety or depression
• embraces runny noses and reading the same Curious George books for the 100th time
• loves grey hairs and muffin tops
• risks rejection, believing someone else in the room is desperate for a friend too.

One Degree Moment:

God knows what you are going through and the courage you need to push through it. He will not compete, however, with ridiculous techniques or She-Ra. He wants you. Click on out of here and ask for courage as Jesus did in the garden. Remember 14 words. If Jesus uttered them, so can we. So must we.

Ready yourself for a fresh dose of courage. Your sphere of influence desperately needs you to have some.

And thank you, God, for NOT making naked audiences a source of courage. #ican’teven