Be Strong And Courageous

She achieved incredible things in nursing, mathematics, and visual illustrations of the body. She made the courageous decision to respond to God’s call. She chose to be strong and courageous.

A few minutes ago, I encouraged you to write down an area or two where you need to trust God. Now I’m going to invite you to pray silently to ask God where you need to be strong and courageous…where is God calling you beyond your comfortable zone?

Silent Prayer

Finding our call often involves the third thing that God commanded Joshua: Meditate on the Word of God day and night. We are to envelop ourselves in the Bible which means surrounding ourselves with the presence of God.

Ann Musico tells this delightful story about her son:

I recently prayed with my 5-year-old son as he accepted Jesus into his life. I carefully explained that Jesus now lived in his heart. Several days later, he was sitting at the table with his head down, holding open the neck of his T-shirt, speaking very quietly. I asked what he was doing and he told me, “Just talking to Jesus.” [Ann Musico, NY, Today’s Christian Woman, “Heart to Heart”]

Meditating on the Word of God isn’t hard, but it does take discipline. We can take time to read a verse or passage over and over. We can memorize verses. We can listen, quieting our hearts to allow the Holy Spirit to speak to us through the Word. We can consider how the Word fits with our lives. We can become emotionally involved, allowing ourselves to feel what God feels through His Word. We can move from meditation to application—connecting our thoughts to action. [A sample from the best-selling Quest Study Bible. Copyright © Zondervan Publishing House.]

All those are simple steps. It’s the daily practice that is hard. I read a fascinating story about Cremona, Italy, where history’s best violins were made. Andrea Mosconi is responsible for keeping the precious, 300-year-old violins in shape that are on display in the museum in the city hall.

Six days a week before the museum opens, Mosconi plays each violin for 6-7 minutes. He starts with basic music scales and then makes his way to Bach, Tchaikovsky, and Bartok. Why does he do this day after day? A violin needs to be played to perform at its best level. “The wood gets tired,” explains Karl Roy, a German violinmaker and one of the field’s top experts. [Bill Norman, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; sources: David Yoder, “Playing Italy’s Finest Violins,” New York Times (6/3/07) and Ian Fisher, “Keeping treasured violins forever young,” International Herald Tribune (6/3/07)]

We’re the same as those instruments. We need to practice our faith to stay vibrant. Remember St. Frances’ prayer:

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.

Where there is hatred, let me sow love;

where there is injury, pardon;

where there is doubt, faith;

where there is despair, hope;

where there is darkness, light;

and where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek

to be consoled as to console;

to be understood as to understand;

to be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive;

it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;

and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen