Be strong! We are not here to play, to dream, to drift, We have hard work to do, and loads to lift. Shun not the struggle, face it, ’tis God’s gift. Be strong! Say not the days are evil – who’s to blame? And fold the hands and acquiesce – O shame. Stand up, speak out, and bravely, in God’s name. Be strong! It matters not how deep-entrenched the wrong, how hard the battle goes, the day how long, Faint not, fight on! Tomorrow comes the song.
Courage
Priscilla Shirer
The issue of fear is so well-known and important to God that more than three hundred times in Scripture He tells His people—in one form or another—not to be afraid. “Fear not.” “Be ye not afraid.” “Do not fear.” Look it up. It’s everywhere. You know those times when you’re searching high and low for just one verse to tell you what God wants you to do? Well, here’s three hundred of them. And they’re all saying the same thing: “Don’t be afraid.”
Ed Stetzer
Love is sacrificial in its actions and intents. It stands up to injustice, unrighteousness, and oppression regardless of the personal or professional costs to us. I would argue that sacrifice is the most difficult facet of winsome love. Silence is often a tempting alternative to engagement in this age, when the slightest misstep can unleash a disproportionate quality and quantity of outrage. But when we choose sacrificial love, we move from nice words to concrete actions. Sometimes, as we will see, such love requires that we pay a heavy price.
Ryan Duncan
Frodo gave up his peaceful life at home in order to destroy the Ring, knowing the mission would likely claim his life. In the end, even though Frodo survived his journey he could not go back to his life in the Shire. He had given everything to protect the world, and now, he had no place in it. As Christians, sometimes we are called to surrender the things we love most in order to preserve what Christ has done. It may be our hard-won careers, our deepest dreams, perhaps even the desire for a family of our own. It is a cold and bitter truth, but like Frodo, Christ does not leave us alone and without hope.
Mario Murillo
What is wrong with us? We are crippled by the fear of greatness. And we have confused popularity with greatness. A large church is not greatness. Being a mascot for the rich and famous is not greatness. Satan laughs at our idea of success. He does not respect sermons that merely entertain a tame audience. He only respects and fears disciples—men and women sent from God, anointed by God with conviction and authority who are ready to obey the marching orders of the Holy Spirit.
Dan McCollam
Some people think that putting yourself out there into the world is exalting yourself, but it’s not! In fact, it requires humility because we all know how painful it can actually be. It’s pride to not be vulnerable with your creativity. Because creativity is connected to the Divine nature, it is humble, and putting yourself out there is a step into humility. Releasing what’s inside you is not pride. It’s pride to hold onto it.
Billy Graham
Thousands of Christians compromise their faith in Jesus Christ by denying Him. Even some clergymen neglect or deliberately refuse to close a public prayer in the name of Jesus for fear of offending an unbeliever. They cannot endure the persecution that may follow an acknowledgement of Jesus Christ.
Winkie Pratney
The world is never moved by the mildly interested. We have only two choices if we wish to change the world, holy or unholy madness.
A.W. Tozer
If we are good students in the school of life, there is much that the years have to teach us. But the Christian is more than a student, more than a philosopher. He is a believer, and the object of his faith makes the difference, the mighty difference. Of all persons, the Christian should be best prepared for whatever the New Year brings. He has dealt with life at its source. In Christ, he has disposed of a thousand enemies that other men must face alone and unprepared. He can face his tomorrow cheerful and unafraid because yesterday he turned his feet into the ways of peace and today he lives in God. The man who has made God his dwelling place will always have a safe habitation.
Scott Hubbard
Take courage. The clouds that cover you this year may be darker than any you have yet known. They may linger long. They may seem to blot out the sun. But God knows how to take even these clouds, and through them work wonders so marvelous, so unlooked for, that they leave us on our knees in worship.