Being Strong and Courageous in the Lord

I had the opportunity to preach yesterday morning at the New Limerick Baptist Church which is about 15 minutes away from where I live in Houlton.  I was feeling kind of nervous about the message that I was going to preach even though I have been preaching for many years off and on.  The message was about being strong and courageous in the Lord.

I felt the Lord telling me to just lean on Him and allow Him to work through me during the service and He did just that.  I find it hard to let go of control sometimes.  Do you ever feel that way?  We like to do things our way and we don't want anyone to help us.

The Lord wants to use us to spread the Gospel to those around us, but far too often we get in the way of way God wants to do.  We get afraid and we end up doing nothing.  The Lord wants to use us for His glory.  We are just jars of clay with a precious gift within ourselves and that gift is the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit will enable us to do far greater things than we could ever possibly do in our own power.

I felt very unprepared yesterday, but I am glad I felt weak so God could show His strength and power.  My mother came along with me and she said I showed no nervousness at all and it seemed as if I had been doing it for years.   I took notes with me, but I didn't even need them nor did I look at them.  God is so good.  The words flowed out of me like a fountain, but I know all the credit goes to the Lord Himself.  I am just His servant.

One of the verses of scripture I used was Joshua 1:9 which says,

"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.”        


We are weak and frail people.  We stumble.  We fall.  We fail and we sin.  God is rich in grace and mercy.  The Lord is so very patient with us, thankfully.  I am thankful that the Lord can use us to proclaim the truth of His Word when we humble ourselves before Him allow Him to use us for His Glory, Honor, and Praise.

We need strength and courage in this world in which we live in.  We can't walk this Christian walk on our own.  We need the Lord to carry us through and to empower us through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.  The Lord is with us wherever we go.  The Lord will equip us to do those things that He has called us to do.  We just need to be obedient to His call on our lives and trust Him to do His work in us and through us.

Lord,

Thank You, that you can use us even though we fail a lot and we are weak in strength and we sometimes feel fearful.
Help us to have strength and courage that comes from You.
We surrender ourselves into Your loving hands.
Use us for Your Glory.
May Your Name be praised and lifted up.
In Jesus Name we pray,
Amen.