Is courage a virtue, an inborn gift, an attitude, a life necessity or a choice? The knowledge and application of courage creates a foundational focus change of the heart giving an expanded version of life.
Definitions:
The English word “courage” has its origins in the Latin work “cuer” meaning heart. In today’s English language it means “the quality of mind or spirit that enables a person to face difficulty, danger, pain, etc. without fear.” (dictionary.com)
The Hebrew the word for courage means “to strengthen, secure (for oneself), harden (heart), make firm, make obstinate, assure”.(Strongs)
The new testament word for courage in the Greek means to “be confident, derived from the root word “to be of good cheer”. (Vines)
Quotes:
“Courage is grace under pressure.” Ernest Hemingway
“Courage is not the lack of fear, it is acting in spite of it.” Mark Twain
“You can not get to courage without walking through vulnerability” Brene Brown
“Courage for the impossible can only be found in the possibility of humility.” Ann VosKamp
“Courage is not having the strength to go on; it is going on when you don’t have the strength.” Theodore Roosevelt
“Success in not final, Failure is not Fatal, it is the courage to continue that counts.” Winston Churchill
“To grow beyond self-rejection we must have the courage to listen to the voice calling us God’s beloved sons and daughters, and the determination always to live our lives according to this truth.” Henri Nouwen
“Courage is not simply one of the virtues but the form of very virtue at the testing point.” C. S. Lewis
Bible references:
“So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.” Deut 31:6 (NLT)
“Be strong and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for and hope for and expect the Lord!” Psalm 31:24 (AMP)
But Jesus was quick to comfort them. “Courage, it’s me. Don’t be afraid.” Matthew 14:27 (Message)
But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” Matthew 14:27 (ESV)“Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong.” I Corinthians 16:13 (NLT)
“And now, dear children, remain in fellowship with Christ so that when he returns, you will be full of courage and not shrink back from him in shame.” I John 2:28 (NLT)
“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
What strikes you as you read these definitions, quotes and scriptures regarding the meaning of courage?
Paradox?
Courage arises from fear, a loss of strength, humility not pride, vulnerability not control, faith not certainty and it is the underlying ingredient for all virtues.
Could it be that the fruit of the Spirit feeds courage or does courage feed the fruit of the Spirit? OR both?
Courage is from the heart of the person. Courage says something about you. Be encouraged to seek courage, accepting your fears and weakness, be faithfully focused on the truth of God’s love for you. More on courage to come……
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