...strong

At the zoo, a man watched as an attendant entered a wildcat cage through a door on the opposite side.  He had nothing in his hands but a broom.  Carefully closing the door, he proceeded to sweep the floor of the cage.  The onlooker observed that the worker had no weapon to ward off an attack by the beast.  In fact, when he got to the corner of the cage where the wildcat was lying, he poked the animal with the broom.  The wildcat hissed at him and then lay down in another corner of the enclosure.

He remarked to the attendant, "You certainly are a brave man."       "No I ain't brave," he replied as he continued to sweep.

"Well, then, that cat must be tame."       "No," came the reply, "he ain't tame."

"If you aren't brave and the wildcat isn't tame, then I can't understand why he doesn't attack you."

The man chuckled, then replied with an air of confidence, "Mister, he's old -- and he ain't got no teeth."

Some situations don't require much courage.  Others, however, require a great deal of courage.  Take, for example, 

• the choice Daniel was given -- stop praying to God or face the hungry lions (which weren't toothless!).  
• Moses -- live a life of luxury in the king's palace, or align himself with God's people.   
• Esther -- keep quiet and not cause a commotion, or stand up against evildoers at the risk of losing her life.

How we need such courage in our own lives!  

Courage to stand for the truth regardless of the consequences.  

Courage to live a life where Christ comes first regardless of what others might think.  

Courage to confess the name of God to a world which regards us as fools.

I am reminded of Joshua who was given a huge responsibility to take over the role of leadership from Moses and lead the children of Israel into the land of Canaan to face a host of enemies.  Three times in Joshua 1, God said to Joshua, "Be strong and of good courage".  Those can be empty words spoken to a man who is trembling in his boots, but God gave Joshua a basis for his courage -- "Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." (Joshua 1:9). 

Joshua's strength and courage had to be found in God alone, because it was God who was going to do all the work. There was nothing that was going to take place in the life of Joshua or in the lives of the children of Israel that God would not be involved in.  Every step that Joshua took, every piece of land that he claimed, every battle that he won would be the direct result of God working for him.  Joshua could have courage for what was about to take place because as long as he was following God's will, God was there by his side.

What challenges are you facing today?  

What fears do you have?  

"Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all you who hope in the LORD." (Psa. 31:24)