Courage in the Lord
The Lord was with Jehoshaphat ... his heart was courageous in the ways of the Lord. (II Chron. 17:3, 6)
Josh. 1:1-9; Deut. 31:6-8; I Chron. 22:13, 16 and 28:20; Isa. 41:10; John 14:27; Acts 28:11-15
What Is God Saying?
Jehoshaphat was one of the good kings of Judah, yet he lived in dangerous times. Alive and well were the influences of Baal worship. The Northern Kingdom of Israel was a prime example of what can and does happen when God's ways are abandoned, but Jehoshaphat ‘strengthened himself against Israel’ (II Chr. 17:1) and sought the God of his fathers. He sorted out the basic priorities of a prospering nation. The laws of God were given their rightful place. Priests and Levites were sent to instruct the people in the Book of the Law. Courts of justice were established. He sincerely sought the will of God for himself and all his people. As King, he could have told the people, Do as I say. As a good King, he said, Do as I do. This took courage but it paid dividends. ‘The Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked shall perish’ (Ps. 1:6). ‘The way of the transgressors is hard’ (Prov. 13:15). Jehoshaphat was a successful King. He was successful because he was ‘courageous in the ways of the Lord.’
How Does This Apply To Us?
It takes courage to walk in the ways of the Lord. There is competition and distraction from the ways of the world all around us. That is only natural since ‘the friendship of the world is enmity with God’ (James 4:4). The ways of the world are often in conflict with the ways of God. It not only takes courage to walk in the ways of the Lord, we also find courage in the ways of the Lord. Joshua needed courage and found it because of God's Presence. ‘Be strong and of good courage ... the Lord your God is with you wherever you go’ (Josh. 1:7; Deut. 31:8).
Sometimes we find courage from others whom God brings into our lives. After a stormy journey ending in a shipwreck, Paul was weary, bitten by a viper, and still on his way to prison. He was greeted on the Appian Way at Three Taverns by brethren from Rome. ‘On seeing them, Paul thanked God and took courage’ (Acts 28:15). In His mercy God gives us His Presence and the presence of others and we take courage from both.
Pray With Me
Loving Father, thank You for the blessed awareness that You are both eternal and eternally present. As surely as You were with Jehoshaphat then, You are with me now. You were present then and Your presence gave him courage of heart that kept him in the ways of the Lord. Lord, let this truth of Your eternal presence shine through all my past failures, through all my present doubts, and all my fears about the future. Let it bathe my consciousness with cleansing grace. Let it flood my soul with healing peace. Let it fill my heart with courage each day.
Thank You, Lord, for showing me that, though Your ways are not always easy or pleasant, the end of Your ways is always perfect—perfect joy, perfect peace, perfect salvation. To keep the ways of the Lord that lead to the wealth of the Lord calls for courage. It is the way of the Lord to say no when it is popular to say yes. It is the way of the Lord to choose the narrow gate to life, rather than the wide gate to destruction. Lord, be with me now. Let Your promises give me hope. Let Your truth guide me. Let your presence give me a courageous heart.
In the name of Him by whose strength I can do all things. Amen.
Moving On In The Life of Prayer
It takes courage to live according to God's will. It takes faith to believe His ways are always right. We find faith and courage through prayer. According to Brother Lawrence, ‘Prayer is the practice of the Presence of God.’ Prayer cultivates the awareness of His Presence. We must keep on practicing the Presence of God.
