I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.
–Psalm 27:13-14 NIV
“Be strong and take heart.” What exactly does the psalmist mean? Physically strong? Emotionally strong? Mentally strong? Take heart? How do you “take heart”?
Other translations of this verse use the word “courage.” “Be strong and courageous” is frequently used throughout scripture. “Take heart” means taking the strength of your heart and doing something with it. When you have a strong heart, you have something to stand on. When you can care, trust, be open and vulnerable yet steadfast, you can take your heart, stand on it, and rise up to any challenge. Courage comes from a person's heart, not just from the head. Head knowledge will only take you so far, but when you employee courage through the grace and Spirit of God you will remain confident no matter the circumstance.
Courage frequently requires the willingness to take risks. When your heart is strong and courage comes, you are willing to take risks for the Kingdom. We can fight lions, tigers, and bears when we know there is a safe place to go to at the end of the battle and that God is fighting our battles with us. Being strong and courageous means we can take our heart and engage in the world. We may not know where He will lead us; but that’s okay, we can risk it with God at our side.
Prayer: Lord, life can be challenging and difficult. When I am weak, I can stand on your promises and remain confident in you. Please give me the courage to stay in the fight when times get hard. Thank you for your loving me, thank you for protecting me, and thank you for providing for me. In Jesus' Name!! Amen!
Pastor Damon Owens: Sr. Pastor