Courage

By Charles Scott
Benjamin Franklin wrote, “Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors and let each New Year find you a better man.”

There is one word that will direct us into better things: COURAGE! We must have courage to admit where we are and courage to go where we should.

Courage is the determination to keep focused on priorities. The leader must consider, “What action would be taken if we had the courage?” We find courage from the Word of God. We gain courage from prayer. We exercise courage by integrity. We build courage through fellowship. We live courage by our values.

Courage is cultivated by time spent in the presence of the Lord. Time and time again, Jesus used the words, “Fear not.” The leader gains courage to confront fear from time spent with Christ. Courage is a statement that there is something more important than fear. Courage is a map of action leading to the priorities of life.

Courage cannot be learned. It is not a textbook subject. Courage is gained on the battlefield of life. Courage is revealed in the struggle, in the conflict, in the disagreement, in the hardship and the dark night of the soul. The leader who wants courage cannot sit behind a desk and think about it; they must go out and do it.

Courage will be required of the PCG over the course of the next year. This courage will understand that things are not straight-forward but sometimes there are detours. It has the wisdom to know when to let go and when to stand strong. It knows to release the anguish of guilt, to reject the naysayer and to resist the routine of yesterday. Courage will throw off the shackles of past mistakes and embrace a visionary future filled with the possibilities of God.

Courage is living in the blessing of God.