Courage Is the Core of Encouragement.

Welcome to the Midweek Encouragement on this MoHF.com website. I hope you will be blessed as you have occasion to check in here. It’s a long way between Sundays. That’s why I am offering these devotional thoughts to help you through your hectic week.

I am writing this on Thanksgiving Thursday. The family has gathered on the farm in Indiana. The turkeys (plural) have been marinated in some sort of spiced brine. Soon they will be carefully lowered into a vat of 325-degree oil to fry. Outdoors, of course. And the rain has held off. The chill and aroma in the air, the giggles of five grandkids, the love, the laughter – the family around the table sharing thanksgiving thoughts and prayers. We are all safe, warm and blessed.

Okay. We talked politics - the men, that is. My son-in-law, Trey, a biotechnical engineer, my son, David, with his Master of Science degree from the University of Edenborough, and me. The topic was the uncertainty of the election outcome. It pitted our frustrations with the divided media against the demand for hard evidence of fraud in a court of law.

Uncertainty! This opinionated discussion ushered in a fog of discouragement. We found reasons to be optimistic, and reasons to be pessimistic.

But the thanksgiving celebration pushed all else aside. When we stop looking left or right, and simply start looking up, courage invades our hearts, silencing all other voices. Joy and peace comingled in every heart.

I love what God said to Joshua as the leadership mantle of the whole nation of Israel was placed on his shoulders after the Moses retired to heaven. God said, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 ESV.

God commanded him to be strong and courageous. It is a command to be obeyed for us as well. The end of the verse tells the reason why we can be courageous: “Lord is with you wherever you go.”

Whatever the future holds, God is in charge, in control, and with us, right here, right now. Remember, the cross defines courage. Hebrews 12:2-3. So, let’s courageously take up our cross and follow Jesus. He is with you and me every step of the way.