Day 3 on Courage – Praying with Courage
A.W. Tozer wrote: “When entering the prayer chamber, we must come filled with faith and armed with courage. Nowhere else in the whole field of religious thought and activity is courage so necessary as in prayer.”
Here are five occasions the Holy Spirit especially prompts us to pray with courage.
❒ Exercising spiritual authority.
I’m consistently amazed by Jesus’ words: “I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you” (Luke 10:19).
When confronted with some demonic manifestation, Jesus expects us to take authority over it, claim the triumph of the cross, and tell it to leave in Jesus’ name. That takes courage in prayer.
❒ Overcoming an ungodly habit.
In our struggle against sin, we often give up too soon. “In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood” (Hebrews 12:4). Saying no to sin, putting it to death, dying to ourselves, and living under the cross until we have full victory takes courage in prayer.
❒ Speaking the truth in love.
In all kinds of settings, with all kinds of people, for all kinds of reasons, “speaking the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15) takes courage we gain through prayer.
❒ Obeying God’s clear Word.
Is there a biblical command we’re conveniently ignoring? A relationship we’re involved in that is not God-honoring? An essential truth of God’s Word we’re not following? Doing whatever Jesus tells us to do (John 2:5) calls us to be courageous in praying through.
❒ Believing God for what seems impossible.
What if we pray and God doesn’t come through? What if we believe God is leading us to pray boldly for something, but nothing happens?
We first need to be really clear about what God is saying. If it’s really big, we need to confirm it with others. If it’s truly of God, it will happen. Through courageous prayer, we “must believe and not doubt” (James 1:6). Jesus added, “Believe that you have received it, and it will be yours” (Mark 11:24). Praying this way takes courage.
Action Step: Pray with courage and pray for courage.
~ Pastor Dave
