Standing with Courage

Bible in a Year:

Be strong and courageous. . . . Do not be afraid or terrified.

Today's Scripture & Insight:

While most German church leaders gave in to Hitler, theologian and pastor Martin Niemöller was among the brave souls who resisted Nazi evil. I read a story describing how in the 1970s a group of older Germans stood outside a large hotel while what appeared to be a younger man bustled about with the group’s luggage. Someone asked who the group was. “German pastors,” came the answer. “And the younger man?” “That’s Martin Niemöller—he’s eighty. But he has stayed young because he is unafraid.”

Niemöller wasn’t able to resist fear because he possessed some superhuman antifear gene, but because of God’s grace. In fact, he had once held anti-Semitic views. But he had repented and God restored him and helped him speak and live out the truth.

Moses encouraged the Israelites to resist fear and follow God in truth. When they’d become fearful after learning Moses would soon be taken from them, the leader had an unflinching word for them: “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified . . . for the Lord your God goes with you” (Deuteronomy 31:6). There was no reason to tremble before an uncertain future because of one reason: God was with them.

Whatever darkness looms for you, whatever terrors bombard you—God is with you. By God’s mercy, may you face your fears with the knowledge that God “will never leave you nor forsake you” (vv. 6, 8).

By Winn Collier

Today's Reflection

What fears are you facing? How does God’s presence bring courage to your heart?

AND OUR DAILY HOPE WITH PASTOR RICK WARREN

You Can’t Trust Your Circumstances to Lead You

by Rick Warren — March 17, 2019

“I desire to do your will, my God; your law is within my heart” (Psalm 40:8 NIV).

If you want to know God’s will, you have to stop being led by your circumstances.

You may be scratching your head and thinking, “Wait a minute—doesn’t God direct my circumstances?” Yes, God does want to direct your circumstances, but you should never let just your circumstances be your guide.

For instance, think about the story of Jonah. God told Jonah to go to Nineveh and preach there. Jonah told God he wasn’t going and even headed in the opposite direction. Here are the circumstances: There was a ship waiting in the port to head for Tarshish. Jonah had the money for a ticket. They had space on board for him to join them. Jonah gets on board. With everything lined up for him to go to Tarshish, he could have easily thought, “It must be God’s will!” But, boy, did it turn out to be the wrong move! You can’t trust circumstances only.

The Bible is filled with examples of when circumstances looked promising yet led to disaster.

In Acts 27 Paul was being taken to Rome as a prisoner. The night before his ship was scheduled to leave, God told Paul in his prayer time that the ship would head straight into a storm. Paul told the sailors and the captain, “Men, I can see that our voyage is going to be disastrous and bring great loss to ship and cargo, and to our own lives also” (Acts 27:10 NIV).

Unfortunately, circumstances kept the men from listening to Paul’s warning: “When a gentle wind from the south started blowing, the men thought it was a good time to do what they had planned . . . Then a very strong wind named ‘The Northeaster’ blew against us from the island. The wind struck the ship, and we could not sail against it. So we let the wind carry the ship . . . We had a hard time holding the lifeboat in place” (Acts 27:13-16 CEV).

That is the story of many a believer who trusted in circumstances. The circumstances looked good but turned disastrous.

Circumstances can lead you the wrong way. You can misinterpret them, put unwarranted trust in them, and Satan can manipulate them. So always check your circumstances against God’s Word.

PLAY today’s audio teaching from Pastor Rick

Talk It Over

Think of a time when you thought something circumstantial was an open door. Did those circumstances confirm God’s will or lead you astray?
Why is it sometimes easier to follow our circumstances rather than God’s Word?
How can God use your circumstances to help direct you in the way you should go?

COMMENTS

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Nadine Walker

This one is difficult to follow. Long discussion needed.

LikeReply71d

Mary Franklin

Hello, i needed this sermon. That third voice always get in the way of my situation.

LikeReply21d

Howard Atkinson

A very thought provoking devotional from Rick today. When things look good in my life and "I'm on top of the world", I can easily talk myself into thinking "this must be God's will". My emotions are all positive, everything lines up, so I think I'll just go ahead. And sometimes it is God's will for my life. But other times, I do things that don't agree with God's Word and of course I get in trouble.

Here's a verse of scripture that helps: "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." Phil 4:6 Notice th…See More

LikeReply241d

Becky King Day

Definitely prayers for wisdom and direction in these situations!

LikeReply11d

Galecy Restrepo

It has happened to me, so I do understand now and why. God plans are the best. Thanks

LikeReply41d

Greg Satterfield

A statement I heard several years ago from Dr Charles Stanley has stuck with me. Here it is: “Focus on God not your circumstances.” No matter what we face in life we must always keep our eyes on Jesus who is the author and perfecter of our faith. Hebrews 12:2.

When the Holy Spirit leads us we must obey even if the circumstances don’t seem to make sense. When we need more help, when we need clarification we need to ask God for wisdom and we need to wait to hear the answer. We need to knock on the doors but take our hands off the doorknob and allow Him to open the door of His choosing an…See More

LikeReply111d

John Halverson

Along with what has been said, God will never lead you in a a direction that is contrary to His word. So we must search the scripture first , it could eliminate a lot of options.

LikeReply61d

Skip Schwarz

Of course Jonah's circumstances were engineerred by God. He got passage on a ship that was going away from Nineveh only to run into a storm where he was cast overboard and swallowed by a "great fish" that just happened to be heading toward Nineveh. He knew he was deliberately disobeying God, so it's hard to imagine he considered his passage on that ship to be a result of God's blessing. While it's certainly true that not all circumstances are engineered by God (such as those that lead to temptations) it certainly appears that God's handprints were all over the circumstances in Jonah's life.

LikeReply51dEdited

KH McDonald

If we find someone is doing what appears to be offensive, I believe God likes for us to pray for them. How much more helpful that can be than speaking negatively about that person to others . . . God disapproves of derogatory comments directed in this manner as they simply are not helpful to us, and more importantly can cause needless suffering and sadness among fellow people.
It can pull friends apart (Proverbs 16:28).
It is judging others when it is not up to us to be the One who does that (Matthew 7:1). Often this behavior is rooted in pride and a heart that has fallen off God's path.

LikeReply41dEdited