Weekly Devotional: Becoming Strong and Courageous

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” — Joshua 1:9 NIV

Every day we are presented with new opportunities, new situations and new knowledge. Sometimes these new aspects in life can lead to fear. We may worry about our future, safety, money, society or a variety of other things. In a world that can be fear inducing, how do we become strong and courageous people?

Becoming a strong and courageous person requires us to turn our eyes to God and not to the worries and troubles of this world. When we shift our focus and trust to him, we are able to find strength.

In This Weekly Devotional:

• A Call to Courage
• Power, Love, Self-Discipline
• How to Have Courage

A Call to Courage

“Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord.” — Psalm 31:24 NIV

It is no secret that God wants us to live lives as courageous and strong people. Both the Old Testament and New Testament include many verses detailing that idea. As Christians, we are called to courage. Instead of living a life of fear, worry and doubts, we are called to live each day with strength by relying on God.

Next time we feel the temptation to fall into the trap of fear, we can remember the words found in scripture that encourage us to be strong and courageous. We can embrace the call to courage and strive to live our lives bravely.

Power, Love, Self-Discipline

“For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.” — 2 Timothy 1:7 NIV

At times, it can seem impossible to have courage and strength. Perhaps fear is our natural reaction to a situation, or we are overcome with anxiety about a looming future event. In fact, these reactions can come so naturally to us that we forget that we are given the power to overcome them through the Holy Spirit who is always with us in our Christian walks.

Does that mean it is easy to overcome fear and chose courage? No, but that does not mean it isn’t worthwhile. It is also okay to be afraid at times — it can even be beneficial. However, when we continually choose fear and let that drive us instead of desiring to honor God and be guided by him, that is when we need to reevaluate.

How to Have Courage

“The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” — Deuteronomy 31:8 NIV

There is no simple recipe or formula for creating a courageous attitude. In every situation, having courage looks different. However, courage is not dependent on our situation but on who we depend on.

Here are some ways we can find courage in the midst of fear:

• Pray: We are never alone. Praying about receiving courage is one way we can take a step toward bravery and away from fear. God will answer our call.
• Turn to scripture: Scripture is full of courage with none more courageous than Jesus Christ himself. As we open the Bible, we can read how other people were strong and courageous and that can help inspire us to be as well.
• Take a step back: Sometimes we need to take a step back from our situation in order to see it clearly. We can look at the bigger picture. Will the event we are afraid of actually impact us as much as we think? Sometimes we need to acknowledge our fear, and taking a step back allows us to see our situation with a new perspective.
• Spend time with courageous people: When we spend time around people, they begin to rub off on us. The more courageous people we surround ourselves with, the more we will be encouraged and inspired to act with strength and courage.

Building your courage is easier when you surround yourself with a strong community. Grand Canyon University has an encouraging and vibrant student body. There are also many events on campus to help you get connected and involved while earning your degree.

 Approved by the local outreach coordinator of the Office of Spiritual Life on March 13, 2023