BELIEVING BRINGS COURAGE

I am always amazed that the more I know God, I realize how little I know. Have we only scratched the surface of the awesomeness of Gods wisdom and knowledge? My answer would be a resounding YES. When we spend quiet time with God and seek His face, ask Him questions and give thought to His direction, He reveals so much insight to those who will spend time to seek His wisdom. For one thing, I understand when reading His Word that He is most pleased when we have that courage by having that strong confidence in God. He is direct at telling us that He is not pleased if we shrink back in fear (Heb 10:38). He even tells us that people who are cowards will not enter the Kingdom of God (Rev 21:8). If you read this verse in the Amplified Version, it really hits hard about the repercussions of being a coward (being fearful). It strikes me to notice that the word "coward" tops the list in amongst other characteristics such as adulterers, people who are contemptible, murderers, lewdness and those who practice magic arts will have their place in the lake of fire. Just like in items we purchase at the store, the most amount of any ingredients are listed at the top and this particular word is listed at the top. Therefore, I find it very needful to take heed to this. I did not understand in the past "why" this would be. After thinking on this, I believe it's because people who have a form of cowardice, don't end up believing His loving trust for them in which He takes great offence to this. Although we often know what the Word says, I believe many times alot of people don't know the "How to" method of obtaining this reality. So I would like to put it in simple terms to help each one be able to use the tools to develop that strong God-confident courage within us that is pleasing to God. First, we have to believe that having courage is not only pleasing to Him, but we need to know that He takes great offence to His Children shrinking back in fear, like I just mentioned in the previous paragraph. Secondly, if we will take time to KNOW HIM so we can believe Who He really is, we will walk and live by having strong confidence and being courageous in Him. We can't truthfully say we KNOW HIM when we live in fear. It's simply a matter of CHOOSING to believe Him. It has nothing to do with any natural ability or human strength. Otherwise, we are relying on our own ability which will also fail. Therefore, it has nothing to do with any anyone's natural ability, but has to do with making choices. Choose to BELIEVE HIM (Who He really is; What He can do by simply looking at what He has already done and His un-matched loving character towards us). If we believe He is ever so present with us, we will never have to fear because we are confident and believe He is always with us. "Thou I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil because Thou art with me"(Psalm 23:4). Whatever we are going through, we can choose to BELIEVE His love, His goodness and His care for us. And if we happen to be going through situations that may not be favourable, we can still choose to believe He is preparing us to be the type of people He can equip us to be by going through whatever type of circumstances we may need to go through. What more does He have to prove His love for us when you see the life of humility, sorrows, pain, suffering right to His last breath He took for us? How can we not receive or believe His love for us when we take the time to consider what He has done? For alot of people, we simply have to stop making excuses and choose to believe in His love and care for you no matter what. Having that strength and courage of Christ within is so precious and priceless. Just the fact that we choose to simply BELIEVE HIM is so simple which many don't understand because we make it more complicated then necessary. I like what it says in Rom 1:16 "For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, for it is the Power of God working unto salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jews, then for the Gentiles". Notice that when it mentions not being ashamed and having the Power of God working within anyone. But it only works in those who BELIEVE. Just simply choosing to believe Him empowers us and gives us courage. This is primarily the reason why people remain fearful, doubtful remain fretful is because they don't believe Gods love and care for them. We forget who God is when we continue to worry, being fretful, fearful and doubting about situations that comes our way. Being concerned about what we don't understand is one thing, but it is another issue when we fail to remember the One whom we should know and/or choose not to believe. People who choose not to believe are destroyed (read John 3:18b). I see time and time again the people who choose not to believe or deny Gods love and care for themselves are the ones who never have any joy or peace within. What more does God have to do for us to prove His love and care for us when we look at the life of Christ Jesus Himself and what He accomplished for us? To find practical ways of fanning this flame of courage within us, we need to speak this assurance and make an example of confessions to Him such as: "I Trust You dear Lord because of Your great love for me". I find when I say this to myself over several times with a smile on my face (putting action to what I believe), I can feel an overwhelming sense of His peace within me that is priceless. I enjoy seeing a vision of that spirit of fear running away from me when I believe and know His love and presence is always with me. Paul says in Phil 3:10, when we know Him (His love and care for us), we will have that Resurrection Power of Jesus working within us. We have confidence and courage in the Lord because we KNOW HIM and not just know about Him. I believe the amount of courage we have from trusting in the Lord goes hand in hand of how much we choose to believe in Him. You will never develop courage when you fail to believe. It all comes down to this: CHOOSE to either believe Him, His love, His care for you that will give you His Peace, His Strength and courage to move forward by being confident in God, or choose not to believe and remain fearful and continue to live in doubt and worry that will never bring true peace. Be blessed and Choose life (Him) so that you and your descendants may live (Deut 30:19). In the Matchless Name of Jesus Richard Ministry Encourager Answers2Prayer http://sites.google.com/site/greatestbuilderforourlife http://www.answers2prayer.org/