She Is Strong and Courageous 30-Day DevotionalSample

Seek Courage – Mary, Mark’s Mother

God’s courage can help you face your fears and do what’s right, no matter the circumstance. In today’s devotional, encounter the Apostle Mark’s mother who displayed great courage during a time of severe persecution.

“When he realized this, he went to the home of Mary, the mother of John Mark, where many were gathered for prayer. He knocked at the door in the gate, and a servant girl named Rhoda came to open it. When she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed that, instead of opening the door, she ran back inside and told everyone, ‘Peter is standing at the door!’

‘You’re out of your mind!’ they said. When she insisted, they decided, ‘It must be his angel.

Meanwhile, Peter continued knocking. When they finally opened the door and saw him, they were amazed. He motioned for them to quiet down and told them how the Lord had led him out of prison.” (Acts 12:12–17)

Pray: Lord, help me to hunger and thirst for your promises found in your Word. 

Observe: Courage is the ability to confront fear with unwavering faith and to face conflicts, difficult tasks, illnesses, and loss with strength. Courage is also our willingness to say and do what’s right, regardless of popularity or profitability.

We all need courage, but we don’t naturally possess it—we must intentionally seek it. Too often, we instinctively strive to protect and nurture our own self-interests. Embracing what is right over what is safe can be a daunting challenge. But we don’t have to face our fears alone.

The greatest source of true courage is found in Jesus Christ. When we recognize Christ as our provider of courage, he can give us the power to make wise decisions, regardless of the consequences. He can deliver us from our fears and give us the courage to take on new challenges, confront conflicts, pursue career changes, and face illnesses, losses, and a multitude of other adversities with unwavering faith.

Mary, the mother of Mark, embraced faith-filled courage and offered her home as a place of prayer and refuge for believers during a time of severe persecution.

Courageously seek courage from God by implementing the following four steps:

1. Acknowledge God’s presence and his promise to be with you at all times.

2. Pray God’s Word and stand firm in his assurances.

3. Trust God completely with his plan for your life. 

4. Wait for God’s timing, being confident he knows best. 

Interpret: God wants us to stand firm in our faith and exercise our God-given courage at all times, even when facing persecution. 

Apply: Is God calling you to stand firm in your faith? Exercise your courage muscles today and share your faith with a stranger and offer to pray for them. 

Pray: Father, thank you for your presence and promises. Help me stand firm in my faith and give me courage to pursue your will and your ways.