| |

A Chain of Courage (Guest Post)

Make Your Move: Finding Unshakable Confidence Despite Your Fears and Failures by Lynn Cowell. Guest post at karenehman.com.

Hi Friends, today I’ve invited my friend and fellow Proverbs 31 Ministries author, Lynn Cowell, to share from her new Bible study, Make Your MoveFinding Unshakable Confidence Despite Your Fears and FailuresPlus she’s giving away a copy of her Bible study book (and DVD) to one of you! Here’s Lynn…

***************

Each day I started my workday by telling myself, You can do this! It’s not a big deal. For many people the task I needed to complete was simple – something they could accomplish in a few short minutes. But it wasn’t for me.

Even though this simple act would help others in their walk with Jesus, that motivation wasn’t enough to push me through. The fear of failure crippled me. I finally found the courage I needed to push past my phobia when a story leapt off the page and into my heart.

The first two chapters of the book of Exodus tell the tale of a chain of courage – one act of fearlessness prompting another until the whole of these women’s actions changed history.

Act 1: Shiphrah and Puah, midwives in Egypt, are commanded by Pharaoh to kill all males as soon as they are born. Exodus 1:17 tells us, “The midwives, however, feared God and did not do what the king of Egypt had told them to do; they let the boys live.”

What bravery these women showed in obeying God rather than Pharaoh!

Act 2: Jochebed, the mother of Moses, courageously decides she will not obey Pharaoh, either. Rather than kill her son, she hides him at home. When she can no longer keep his existence a secret, she puts this one she loves in a basket, hiding him in the Nile River.

Jochebed’s faith to take the risk of hiding a baby and putting him in a river is compelling!

Act 3: Miriam, Moses’ sister, stands by, watching the basket boat. But she isn’t just observing. When Pharaoh’s daughter calls for the basket to be brought to her, this grit of a girl steps up and addresses the princess, giving royalty advice on how the child can be taken care of.

Do you see the chain effect one woman’s courage had on another’s?

Shiphrah and Puah decided to go against Pharaoh together.

Jochebed, in the same steps of the midwives, chose courage instead of compromise.

I have no doubt that Jochebed inspired her daughter to show her prowess to the princess.

I want to be a part of a chain effect of courageousness, too!

As a young mother, my mom stepped out of her social norm, embraced Jesus as her Savior and became a prayer warrior for her eight children. Even though several were already adults when she came to know Christ, through her prayers and life testimony, all of us serve Him today.

Seeing my mother’s fearless faith gives me courage to make a difference in my world. Seeing God answer her prayers for her children empowers me to pray for my children’s salvation, asking God that they will follow the steps of Miriam – on the lookout for where God can use them – and when the time is right, boldly step up with the wisdom God gives them.

Friend, where are you in a chain of courage?

Is God calling you to be the first in your family to break out? To step up and bravely make decisions to bring God’s redemption to your family line? To redefine “normal” in your family’s legacy?

Maybe like me, you are blessed to have witnessed the courage of another, and it’s empowered you to be brave. We have to be careful not to grow comfortable or complacent when we’re in the middle of the chain but instead be empowered by the Holy Spirit to keep courage going.

We can start by:

  1. Praying for courage.
  2. Surrounding ourselves with others who are courageous.
  3. Reading stories of others who’ve been courageous in the Bible or in books.

Let’s be brave. Let’s display daring boldness and in turn, teach others to be courageous.

The Giveaway

GIVEAWAY ENDED: CONGRATS LORI (la.norwood) – PLEASE REPLY TO OUR EMAIL WITH YOUR MAILING ADDRESS.

Where is God calling you to make a move in 2018? Comment below for a chance to win Lynn’s new Make Your Move Bible study book and DVD. U.S. Addresses only please. Winner will be announced here on this post on Friday, December 22.

Make Your Move: Finding Unshakable Confidence Despite Your Fears and Failures by Lynn Cowell. Guest post at karenehman.com.

 

In Make Your Move, dive into six stories in the Bible of not-so-well-known women who found themselves needing confidence to make their move, and how they uncovered the faith to get it. Lynn encourages women to leave behind all the unnecessary insecurity this world induces and find confidence in God alone. Watch Lynn’s Make Your Move Bible study trailer and download a sample chapter here.

 

Lynn Cowell is a national conference speaker who is passionate about helping women of all ages understand the importance of Christ confidence. She is the author of several books including her newest study for women, Make Your Move: Finding Unshakable Confidence Despite Your Fears and Failures, and Brave Beauty: Finding the Fearless You , just for girls ages 8 – 12. Lynn and her husband, Greg, have been married for over 30 years and are the parents of three young adults. They enjoy spending time together, especially when it combines the mountains, well-worn sweatshirts, and anything with chocolate and peanut butter. Connect with Lynn today at www.LynnCowell.com.

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

Similar Posts

123 Comments

  1. This may be JUST what God wanted…How can I buy this.
    I want to encourage my daughter who is trying to be brave 6 states away with a hospital admittance for early delivery signs at 32 weeks for her first baby and no family around. If I am late for a Give-a-way,
    please where to buy for a Christmas Gift?

  2. I am grateful for your words that challenge me to meet the need of others through prayer and interaction with those who are hurting. Your illustration of the midwives, Miriam and Jochabed and her daughter are great illustrations of women who met a situation with courage and prayer. May I be one of those who is willing to trust the Lord for His direction in prayer.

  3. The women in my family are proud and courageous. I just watched my Mama handle my step-dad’s death with so much grace and dignity. I admire her courage in the face of conflict surrounded by chaos. Im proud to have a daughter who is going with my grandchildren to church…not just dropping them off. Thanks fir the opportunity to win your book.

  4. This sounds like a fantastic study! Just over a year ago, I struck out on my own and started my own business. It’s been scary at times, and I would love to read more about the courage of those presented in this study.

  5. God is calling me to “Make a Move” back to a life of a serious PRAYER WARRIOR!! The enemy has encroached for too long now, so it’s time to make a move back under the authority of our loving Heavenly Father, under the wisdom of the Holy Spirit. It’s time to take up my “ARMOR”, pray without ceasing, and FIGHT for the right(eous) causes (my marriage, my children, and my “neighbors “)! This is a critical part of our LIFEline with our Father GOD! Choosing to be a PRAYER WARRIOR rather than a “worrier” first thing in the morning will not guarantee me money, beauty or a perfect day, but GOD does promise that He will listen, He will draw near to me, and provide me with strength for today, light for the (right) path, and bright HOPE for tomorrow!! I’m making my move TODAY for that greater promise ahead tomorrow through PRAYER!!!

  6. Not sure where God is leading me next year.
    This study sounds like it could guide me to the scriptures that could help guide me

  7. Thank you for inspiring us to be courageous and follow the lead of wisdom from the Bible. I need to be courageous and apply for a new job that I’ve been longing for for quite some time.

  8. Courage for me is deciding to be comfortable enough in my own skin to face the world with the love of God in my heart and on my lips. Gods love for me helps my ability to show up in life ready to share Christ’s love.

  9. Quite often I’m all out of courage. Sure I do those things that I’m responsible for or I’m good at, even those that require massive effort. But a risky thing, that’s another story. Thanks, Lynn, for pointing me to others who relied on the One our courage is founded on.

  10. I feel like God is calling me to lead a prayer group for moms in my son’s school district. I know this is something that is needed in our schools. This is so far out of my comfort zone because I’m quiet, shy and the thought of leading a group terrifies me! I think this bible study might be helpful to me.

  11. What is God calling me to move in 2018? Empty nest, 1 grandchild, a daughter marrying. Would love to dig into this study!

  12. How profound a statement – a chain effect of courageousness!
    I feel like I’m at a standstill lately. Being afraid of failure (atychiphobia), has hindered me in doing what the Lord has planned for me. To taking those steps, instead of tutoring. I’ve really been thinking about what is God calling me to do in the New Year. I think he wants me to focus on learning more in HIS word and really setting example in my family to have a Life-Giving table! I need to bring the good works and good news into my HOME, so I can work on my children’s spiritual welfare and even my hubby. God’s GRACE and Truth!

Leave a Reply to Cheri Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *