Courage: mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty
In the movie "The Wiz," Dorothy is on a journey to find the wizard to get back home to Harlem and one of her companions she connects with is the Lion, who needs and desires courage. This Lion was afraid of his own shadow. We, as men, may not be that extreme in being scared, but we carry a lot of insecurities, and many of us question our worth.
I love this definition of courage - The ability to do something brave out of a motivation of the heart; that quality of mind which enables men to encounter danger and difficulties with firmness, or without fear or depression of spirits; valor; boldness; resolution.
The discovery of courage in your heart shows up in many ways. Courage allows you to say "no" to things not part of your vision, like peer pressure or unhealthy habits. It will enable you to ask what is necessary to strengthen your space as a man, such as seeking help when needed. It gives you the ability to deal with challenging situations and or conversations in a very authentic way, like standing up for what you believe in. Courage gives you the confidence to actively move toward achieving those big, harry, audacious goals that are part of your destiny, like starting a new business or pursuing a passion!
Courage can be scary if you don't know when or how best to use it. That's when you must consistently strengthen your heart, mind, soul, and spirit. Here's a scripture that brings courage to life. Moses has just died, and the Lord speaks to Joshua about His promises to him, and Joshua is encouraged by the Lord to have a certain confidence and posture: Joshua 1:6-9
6 Be strong and courageous because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them. 7 "Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then, you will be prosperous and successful. 9 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."
I can imagine that Joshua doubted his ability to lead well in this situation, but his courage came from God, not himself or others. This is a promise from God that if you move according to His ways, you can have the confidence and the correct posture to exhibit courage. Your challenge is to prepare yourself in advance by practicing meditation and prayer daily, empowering you to make courage part of your DNA. Life will always come with challenges and hardships no matter who you are, but one of the ways we can equip ourselves to handle these issues is by being courageous.
Will you be courageous to say "no" to those things that do not honor God and are not beneficial to your family? Will you be brave enough to pursue your goals, legacy, and authenticity in God's truth?
In The Wiz, the Lion finds his courage within himself and is not dependent on any outside influence. I challenge you to find your Courage in God, to feel spiritually connected and guided, and move confidently like a lion!
Exercise Your Power this week-
1. Identify one conversation that you need to have in your life where you need to be courageous and determine when you are going to have it? It is normally a hard or challenging conversation.
2. Place this scripture in a place where you can repeat and meditate on it every day for the next seven days.
3. Review your goals for this year and I am challenging you to go to the next level in achieving them.
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