Inside Out: A 40 Day Journey to Transforming Your HeartSample

Fearful Heart --> Courageous Heart

Conspiracy theories seem to be multiplying as people try to make sense of our world. What is really going on behind the scenes? Be it in the government, the health industry, the stock market, or the elite in Hollywood, conspiracy theories are becoming front-page news. When we don’t know what is happening or what will happen in the future, we can become fearful. Isaiah 8:12 says, “Do not call conspiracy all that this people calls conspiracy, and do not fear what they fear, nor be in dread.” How are we not to live in fear when the world around us seems to be so untrustworthy? We don’t know who to trust or what is true anymore.

Fear controls some of us. We fear for our safety or our children’s safety. We fear what people may think of us. We are afraid to go where God is asking us to go or do what God is asking us to do because the risk seems too great. The Israelites were also controlled by fear. When they arrived at the edge of the Promised Land and spied out the people who lived there, they felt like the inhabitants were too strong and powerful to conquer. With their eyes, the cities seemed too great to overcome. Here’s what they said in Deuteronomy 1:28-33, “Where are we going up? Our brothers have made our hearts melt, saying, “The people are greater and taller than we. The cities are great and fortified up to heaven. And besides, we have seen the sons of the Anakim there.’” Moses reminded them to be courageous because God is on their side. “Then I said to you, ‘Do not be in dread or afraid of them. The LORD your God who goes before you will himself fight for you, just as he did for you in Egypt before your eyes, and in the wilderness, where you have seen how the LORD your God carried you, as a man carries his son, all the way that you went until you came to this place.’ Yet in spite of this word you did not believe the LORD your God, who went before you in the way to seek you out a place to pitch your tents, in fire by night and in the cloud by day, to show you by what way you should go.” The Israelites only trusted what they could see, not what God promised them. They allowed their fear of men to stop them from gaining their inheritance.

When we misplace our trust, fear will arise. We aren’t to put our trust in people’s opinions. We aren’t to put our trust in money. Instead, we are to put our trust in God. It is God who goes before us. He fights for us. He has a plan. He will have the final victory. Do our hearts trust God when there are significant obstacles in front of us? Are our hearts full of fear or full of faith? Do we shy away from what God is asking us to do? Do we take a stand against injustice? Do we share the gospel? These steps of faith require us to have hearts of courage.

God says to Joshua in Joshua 1:9, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” God is encouraging Joshua to move forward to fight and retrieve the Promised Land. He had to lead in faith and courage while the Israelites felt fearful. Our calling is to be strong in our faith and courageous also. Children are growing up in the most anxious, fearful generation ever. They need us to bravely step up, moving forward in faith believing that God is with us, God goes before us, and God will have His plans accomplished in the end. 2 Samuel 10:12-13 says, “’ Be of good courage, and let us be courageous for our people, and for the cities of our God, and may the LORD do what seems good to him.’ So Joab and the people who were with him drew near to battle against the Syrians, and they fled before him.” We need to be courageous to fight the battles that will save the next generation: battles against sexual immorality, battles between our secular culture, and battles for the souls of the people around us.

When God invites us to enter into His work and fight the good fight, He will be with us. In 1 Chronicles 28:20, David reminds Solomon that God would be with him as he finishes the work God called him to do. “Then David said to Solomon his son, “Be strong and courageous and do it. Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed, for the LORD God, even my God, is with you. He will not leave you or forsake you, until all the work for the service of the house of the LORD is finished.” We can rest assured that God will be with us in whatever He calls us to accomplish.

God promises us His presence. He does not promise that the world will become safer. When the disciples saw Jesus die, they cowered in a room for days, afraid that they too would be taken captive and killed. Yet, after Jesus rose from the dead, he appeared to them and said in John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” Jesus said this to them before he commissioned them to go and share the good news of salvation with others. There would be great risk, and many of them would eventually be martyrs for their faith, but Jesus promised He would give them peace as they stepped out in courage to share the gospel. In the United States, we do not need to fear the same persecution that the disciples faced, yet many of us fear sharing about Jesus with others. This fear prohibits us from obeying Jesus’ command to make disciples. If we want to live as faithful disciples of Christ, we must gain a heart of courage.

When God isn’t our focus, fear will take over. When we lack courage, we must go to God in prayer and read His Word. Psalm 27:14 says, “Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord.” Also, Psalm 34:4 says, “I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.” It is in His presence that we find the peace and courage to move forward and do what God wants us to do. Our fearful hearts can be transformed into courageous hearts when we focus on God and not our circumstances.

Take a Moment:

• Where have you been focusing on your circumstances and not on God?

• Where do you need courage to walk by faith and not by sight?

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, I do not want to live in fear. I want to live a life of faith, believing You are in control, and You are with me. I want to have the courage to step out and do what You want me to do. Help me not to fear people and courageously share Jesus with others. As I wait on You, please give me Your peace so that I can be a part of Kingdom building alongside You. Amen.