A Prayer for Courage

 

Note: Sometime back in December, I prayed about a word to focus on in 2025. This isn’t a new practice for me. I’ve had a theme word for the past several years, and most of them have been chosen through the annual Dayspring quiz. This year, though, the Lord brought to my mind the word courage, and He impressed it upon me so strongly that I knew I had to adopt it as my word for the year ahead. The following is my heart’s prayer over this word.

                Lord, I find it ironic that my request for courage is accompanied by fear and trembling. What must a year hold if You press the word courage on me as a theme? And yet even though I feel the trembling, I adopt this word with joy. Why? Historically I haven’t been easily courageous, and if You think I have it within me to live this way, I welcome it.  

                Joshua 1:9, one of Ryan’s favorite verses, says, “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.”

                And this I hold to with all my might as I take these first steps with You into this new year. As I read that verse over and over, I hear the gentleness in Your voice through the words Have I not commanded you? It doesn’t feel like a chide or reprimand. Just a gentle, excited urge. Haven’t I told you? Don’t you remember? You can do this…

                I close my eyes and imagine You reminding me as You reminded Joshua, “Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed. Be strong and courageous.”

                Courage to do my new job with every ounce of passion in my heart.

                Courage to face hard conversations with grace and love.

                Courage to believe the truth God has spoken over me rather than the loud lies spoken by people who seem easy to believe.

                Courage to persevere when I want to curl up in defeat.

                Courage to travel miles and walk into new situations with confidence.

                Courage to speak the ideas You’ve placed in my heart and believe You’ve sparked them for a reason and they’re worth sharing.

                Courage to be me when others may hint that who I am is too much or not enough.

                Courage to pursue new goals – even ones that have not succeeded before – and believe that this time could be different.

                I have no idea what kind of courage this year will require. I never could have imagined the courage demanded of the last five years of my life. But in those years, I learned I was stronger than I knew, and I have every reason to believe that the coming courage ordered by You is even stronger than that.

                So…courage it is. Be strong. Be courageous. Don’t I remember Your faithfulness leading up to now? In that faithfulness, I can be strong and courageous.

                You, Mighty God, are with me, and what a treasure and comfort that is to my soul.

                Help me find my courage.