I heard a sermon from Dr. David Jeremiah last night.  It was on Gideon.  Dr. Jeremiah made a statement that hit me right between the eyes.  Gideon actually knew the will of God.  He said we are much like Gideon--we, too, know the will of God-we just lack the courage to do the will of God!  I was dumbfounded! 

     There have been many times, and I mean many times, when I knew the will of God--I just lacked the courage to do what God through scripture has bid me to do.  How to live-how to be-who to serve-the list is endless! 

      I believe even our wayward children KNOW the will of God-they just lack the COURAGE to do the will of God.  This has actually been a great comfort to me this morning.  There is a situation in my life that I am terrified to take an absolute stand on--because I might lose the relationship with someone I dearly, dearly love.  (Luke 14:26-"If any [man] come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.)  So, if anyone really reads this blog--please pray for me to have courage to do and stand up for the will of God.

      I have also come to the conclusion that boldness is not neccessarily courage.  More often than not it is just a way to be the center of attention-to hear oneself talk as if one truly knows the answer-to rationalize ones sin.  I am not saying that all boldness is sinful, but if this gift from God is not tempered with the Holy Spirit and scripture--then it becomes a hurtful vice in the hands of the enemy. 

     Courage on the other hand is usually a quiet submission to the will of God.  It may take on decibals as God's will is being obeyed, but courage is not without fear, so I believe it starts out with the all important meek and gentle spirit.  The enemy does not like this kind of "quietness".  That is why the scriptures tell to "stand", not talk!  The enemy cannot twist our "stand" like he can our words. 

     Yes, obedience takes courage.  Even for a homeschooling, stay-at-home mom.  Submission to my husband-training up my remaining child for the glory of the LORD-to be a keeper of the home-to be discreet-dress to glorify God-serve others-etc.  All of this takes courage!  A quiet daily courage fortified and nourished by the Holy Spirit and the Holy Scriptures.

     It takes courage to live out our truest convictions even in our own churches.  Our churches-not all, but many-have become so watered down and very much like the five of the seven churches of the book of the Revelation.  Left their first love, luke warm, married to the world, ungodly doctrines mixed in, the dead church.  It takes courage to truly live out our beliefs and faith in the presence of these types of churches.  (I have found that all churches contain attributes of the seven churches in revelation.)  Hmm...makes me think-do I have courage?