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Jason is the founder of Ignite Student Ministries, a dynamic ministry igniting youth, young adults and university students to passionately pursue Christ and transform society in high schools, work places and universities around the world.

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Take Courage

Jason VanaJason Vana
Background Photo Credit: Malabooboo via photopin cc

Background Photo Credit: Malabooboo via photopin cc

Fear. Attempt anything new or great in your life, and it’s bound to show up with one ultimate goal in mind.

Getting you to stop in your tracks.

It will whisper thoughts of failure.
Point out why you can’t do it.
Run a series of what if’s in your mind.
Emphasize the worst case scenario.
Bring up past insecurities.

All to convince you to sit on the sidelines and avoid change.

As comforting as the sidelines can be, we were never created to avoid life – to bury our heads in the sand and avoid any form of risk.

You were created for more.

It’s why fear attacks.
It can sense the greatness within you and does all it can to stop you.

Fear is a powerful indicator that God is calling you to something great.

Right before Joshua led the children of Israel into the Promised Land, God gave him a familiar command.

“Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them. 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 to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 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. 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 1:6–9

Be strong and courageous.

God doesn’t tell Joshua that He will make him strong and courageous.
He doesn’t say He will remove all fear.
He doesn’t even mention that Joshua has nothing to fear.

God simply says to be strong and courageous.
Because He knows there is every reason for Joshua to be afraid.

He’s taking over leading the Israelites after their greatest leader just died.
He has to turn these nomadic wanderers into fierce warriors.
He has to lead them in victory over a people who had occupied the land for years.
And his mentor and teacher was gone.

Fear was a natural response, but Joshua had a choice: give into the voice of fear and stay just on the edge of the promised land, or take courage and face the very thing of which he was afraid.

Joshua chose to take courage — and brought the children of Israel into the land God promised them centuries before.

God never promises to erase fear.
Instead, He commands us to take courage — and remember that He is always there, no matter what we face.

Question: Where do you need to take courage and face fear today?

Jason is the founder of Ignite Student Ministries, a dynamic ministry igniting youth, young adults and university students to passionately pursue Christ and transform society in high schools, work places and universities around the world.