Courage and Hope for Every Day

180 Readings to Strengthen Your Spirit

Carolyn Larsen

• Publisher: Revell
• Year: 2022
• Print ISBN:
  9780800740979
• eBook ISBN:
  9781493434343
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Religion

When we get out of bed in the morning, we don't know what the day ahead holds. It could be routine. It could be amazing. It could be devastating. No matter what happens, one of the biggest influences on the direction our days take is our own attitude. We can live in fear, worry, and anxiety, or we can choose to live with purpose, trusting God in every circumstance.

Compact and beautifully designed, Carolyn Larsen's Courage and Hope for Every Day offers you 180 inspiring devotional readings that will help you remember God's presence in your days and see your world from a positive perspective. These short, to-the-point readings illuminate God's promises and show you just how they apply to your everyday life.

1
The Source of Courage

Surely God is my salvation;

I will trust and not be afraid.

The LORD, the LORD himself, is my strength and my defense;

he has become my salvation.

ISAIAH 12:2

Why does fear take root in your heart? Are you afraid you can’t withstand temptations or that you won’t be able to stand against Satan’s attacks? When you invite Jesus into your heart, he becomes your strength to stand against all frightening things. He becomes your shield against danger and your defender against all enemies.

God promises in his Word to always be with you. Read that again: always! He’s the source of your courage. Allow his strength to fill your heart so you can face whatever is before you. Never doubt his power because, after all, he promised it to you.

What can you do when anxiety threatens to paralyze your heart? Push the fear away by focusing on God. Read Scripture. Remind yourself of how he has strengthened and protected you in the past, and remind yourself that his powerful presence is still with you. Step confidently into your day, and refuse to cower in fear.

Start each day by renewing your courage through the quietness of prayer and through rest in God. Ask him to fill your heart with an awareness of his power and presence and to bolster your courage through that knowledge.

2
Perfect Love

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

1 JOHN 4:18

Fear is an interesting emotion. Even when you try to have courage, fear wiggles its way into your heart, similar to the way water manages to leak through the smallest opening. A little anxiety is certainly normal because life does have its tense moments and . . . you’re human. However, all-consuming fear and trust in God’s love cannot exist in your heart at the same time. If you truly believe that God loves you, why are you afraid?

God’s love is perfect. What does that mean to you? Perfect love is deep, pure, constant, steady, forgiving, trustworthy, dependable, protective, sacrificial, and a multitude of other adjectives. Perfect love . . . there is nothing wrong with it and nothing to criticize about it. Grasping, believing, and trusting in God’s perfect love for you helps push away fear because you know God is protecting you and guiding your decisions and steps. He loves you perfectly, so there is no reason to fear. Take courage in his love. Ask God to help your love for him grow deeper so that you have a greater understanding of his care for you.

3
Guarded

You hem me in behind and before,

and you lay your hand upon me.

PSALM 139:5

You’ve probably seen photos of celebrities out in public, surrounded by security guards they’ve hired to protect them. They have a wall of guards around them to make certain no one gets too close. The guards protect their employer on all sides and constantly evaluate the crowd for any situation that might bring danger to them.

Maybe you can’t afford to hire bodyguards to protect you wherever you go. But here’s some news: you have the best bodyguard imaginable—God! The psalmist says God is in front of you and behind you. Nothing and no one gets close to you without God knowing about it. And not only is he protecting you in front and in back, but he also has his hand on your shoulder, guiding your steps and making sure you don’t fall, much like a loving parent who helps a child cross a busy street.

It is amazing to know that God loves you so much that he protects you, guards you, and guides you. He cares about what happens to you every moment of the day. When anxiety begins to rear its ugly head, remember that you are well guarded. Trust your Bodyguard!

4
The Love of a Father

The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.”

ROMANS 8:15

Not every human father is a good father, and if you haven’t had a good father, that may influence how you perceive God as Father. If that’s true for you, read the following description of God as your good Father:

Your good Father wants the best for you. Yes, sometimes that may mean he disciplines you because that’s what a good father does in order to help you learn and grow.

Your good Father watches out for you. He does all he can to protect you, day in and day out.

Your good Father delights in you. He enjoys your laughter. He takes pleasure in your enjoyment of all he provides for you, from the world he has made to the friends and family he has given you. Enjoy it all!

Your good Father is forgiving. Don’t be afraid to confess your sins to him. He won’t turn away in disgust. He won’t turn away at all. He forgives you and offers a multitude of opportunities for you to get life right, even as he teaches and guides you.

You needn’t ever be afraid of your good Father; in fact, you can be brave and courageous in the knowledge that you are your Father’s child and that he loves you more than you can imagine.

5
Just for This Time

If you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?

ESTHER 4:14

It takes courage to tackle some of the challenges that come your way in life. Some of those challenges arise from tasks God calls you to handle. Has God given you a job that feels too big or too dangerous or even beyond what you have the capability to accomplish?

Queen Esther felt that way. The task before her was very dangerous. She could have been killed for doing what she was asked to do. If she was successful, she would save the Jewish nation. If she wasn’t, they would die and so would she.

What can you learn from Esther? She accepted the challenge but asked her people to pray for her. She didn’t go into the challenge without their prayer support. Esther accepted the reality that facing this challenge might have been the very reason God put her on earth: “For such a time as this.”

God has a purpose for your life—work he wants you to do for his kingdom. He won’t send you into that work without walking beside you and equipping you with what you need. The prayer support of others certainly strengthens you too. You aren’t alone, so be courageous and go boldly into what God calls you to do.

6
The Hardest Thing

Wait for the LORD;

be strong and take heart

and wait for the LORD.

PSALM 27:14

Are you familiar with the expression “like a bull in a china shop”? It’s a description of someone who rushes into situations without thinking things through, without preparing adequately, or without having all the information. Rushing into anything in this manner seldom ends well.

When a crisis arises in your life or when a difficult situation is in front of you, is it your tendency to rush in and try to handle things yourself, without God’s guidance or power? Sure, you pray, but if God doesn’t move or direct you quickly enough—well, waiting is hard. In fact, one of the most difficult things God may ever ask you to do is . . . wait.

It takes courage to wait for God. But waiting means you trust him. It shows that you believe he will either handle the situation or give you wisdom and direction to know what to do. Even if the crisis goes on for a long time, you wait...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Contents
• Words of Courage for Women
• 1. The Source of Courage
• 2. Perfect Love
• 3. Guarded
• 4. The Love of a Father
• 5. Just for This Time
• 6. The Hardest Thing
• 7. Courage to Face Temptation
• 8. God’s Restoration
• 9. What’s Your Goal?
• 10. Peace and Courage
• 11. World-Changing Courage
• 12. Courage to Love Others
• 13. Courage to Heal Relationships
• 14. Courage to Share Your Faith
• 15. Focused on God
• 16. Love Song
• 17. Courage When You’re Discouraged
• 18. Be Prepared
• 19. Courage While Waiting
• 20. Uniquely You
• 21. Taking On the Big Guy
• 22. Courage in the Dark
• 23. The Rubber Meets the Road
• 24. Take a Risk
• 25. Courage to Forgive
• 26. Courage to Walk Away
• 27. Courage to Let Go
• 28. Courage to Ask
• 29. Courage to Grieve
• 30. Courage to Not Judge
• 31. Fueled by Love
• 32. Power from Vulnerability
• 33. Courage to Be Still
• 34. Courage to Share Your Life with Others
• 35. The Future
• 36. Courage to Love Yourself
• 37. You Matter to God
• 38. Showing Kindness
• 39. Standing Bare before God
• 40. Never Alone
• 41. Controlling Yourself
• 42. Painful Times
• 43. Prayer
• 44. Deep Thoughts
• 45. Stay Focused
• 46. Just Believe
• 47. In the Wilderness
• 48. Loving When It’s Hard
• 49. God-Honoring Conversation
• 50. Courage to Stand Strong
• 51. Your Shining Life
• 52. A Powerful Presence
• 53. Courageous Honesty
• 54. Coal or Diamonds
• 55. Courage to Try New Things
• 56. God Asks You to Pray
• 57. Getting Out of Your Comfort Zone
• 58. Courage to Answer
• 59. Complete Trust
• 60. Courage to Rejoice
• 61. Controlling Your Thought Life
• 62. Growing in Godliness
• 63. Courage to Praise
• 64. A New You
• 65. Never Changing
• 66. In the Tough Times
• 67. No Fear
• 68. Work to Do
• 69. Nothing in Return
• 70. On Guard
• 71. Courage to Honor God
• 72. The Only Salvation
• 73. Courage When Things Look Hopeless
• 74. Brave Changes
• 75. According to His Will
• 76. Brown Sugar Giving
• 77. Trusting God to Provide
• 78. Waiting for God’s Timing
• 79. It’s Not Over
• 80. Eternally Alive
• 81. Jumping Out of the Boat
• 82. The Power of Change
• 83. Courage to Obey
• 84. Greatest Faith
• 85. Courage to Face My Sin
• 86. Courage to Be You
• 87. Courage That Makes You Creative
• 88. Greatest Commandments
• 89. Guard Your Heart
• 90. A Step at a Time
• Words of Hope for Women
• 1. Hope of Heaven
• 2. Hope Comes from Trust
• 3. True Joy
• 4. Hope in Fighting Temptation
• 5. Hope in God’s Comfort
• 6. Ask and You Shall Receive
• 7. Promised Refuge
• 8. Hope in What Jesus Says
• 9. Jesus Cares
• 10. Hope for the Future
• 11. Hope for Better Times
• 12. Hope for the Helpless
• 13. Hope of Forgiveness
• 14. Hope for Growth
• 15. Hope for Guidance
• 16. Hope in Your Advocate
• 17. Hope for Knowledge
• 18. Hope for the End of Pain
• 19. Conqueror in Hope
• 20. Hope That God Hears
• 21. Part of the Big Picture
• 22. All You Need
• 23. Hope When All Seems Hopeless
• 24. A Life of Blessings
• 25. Life’s Guidebook
• 26. Hope in a New Attitude
• 27. Growing Older and Wiser
• 28. Hope in a Strong Finish
• 29. Hope for the Growth of the Kingdom
• 30. Hope of Purpose
• 31. Hope through No Prejudice
• 32. Firewall of Hope
• 33. Hope in Being Heard
• 34. Hope in Closeness
• 35. Hope in Secret Giving
• 36. Hope in God’s GPS
• 37. Blessed Hope
• 38. Reflecting Jesus’s Love
• 39. Hope of a Clean Slate
• 40. Don’t Be Afraid
• 41. A Humble Heart
• 42. A Servant’s Heart
• 43. No Half-Hearted Searching
• 44. Hope in Another’s Prayers
• 45. Hope in the Stillness
• 46. Hope in Weakness
• 47. Over-the-Top Power
• 48. Hope in Grace-Filled Speech
• 49. Life Dreams
• 50. Hope in Silence
• 51. Hope for Contentment
• 52. Hope from Living Water
• 53. Hope in God’s Power
• 54. Hope of Loving a Difficult Person
• 55. Hope of Family
• 56. Clothed in Love
• 57. All In
• 58. Hope for Rescue
• 59. Hope in God’s Nearness
• 60. Stay Alert!
• 61. Lavished with Blessings
• 62. True Love
• 63. Hoping for What You Don’t Have Yet
• 64. Hope for Victory over Death
• 65. The Feast Is Coming!
• 66. Getting through Stress
• 67. Hope for When You’re Tired
• 68. Heartsongs of Music
• 69. Hope for a Purposeful Life
• 70. Hope for Restoration
• 71. Hope for Wisdom
• 72. Hope for Peace
• 73. God’s Best
• 74. Serving Jesus
• 75. Hope for Defeating Fear
• 76. Blessings of Obeying
• 77. Hope for Sure Feet
• 78. Hope for Equipping
• 79. Material Blessings?
• 80. Hope in Nourishment
• 81. Hope from Discipline
• 82. Hope for the Faithful
• 83. Hope in God Showing Up
• 84. Hope in Your Importance to God
• 85. Where Is Your Treasure?
• 86. Praise to Almighty God!
• 87. Hope in Keeping On
• 88. Hope in His Protection
• 89. Hope in Community
• 90. Hope for a Rich Life
• About the Author
• Back Ad
• Back Cover