UPDATE: An Unexpected Aspect of My Cancer Journey
My newest book (my 59th!) was just released two days ago. It’s a women’s Bible study on courage: “Heart of Courage: Daughters of the King Bible Study Series”
“Heart of Courage” is a 10 lesson women’s Bible study examining God’s instruction and encouragement for trusting Him more and obeying Him regardless of the obvious or perceived danger. And in this crazy world today, we need greater courage. Each lesson has:
- questions based on the Bible and space for writing in answers
- commentary giving insights into the text
- practical application and instruction
- “Letter from God.”
Many of the stories about biblical characters are focused on women, making it a unique study. It’s perfect for individual or group study. It is available both in print and Kindle.
Here’s the connection with my breast cancer journey.
I worked on that book for a year before my cancer diagnosis. Looking back I can see how studying biblical principles about growing in courage prepared me for boldly facing the diagnosis and surgery. Of course, I’m not saying I didn’t have struggles but I truly believe thinking about courage in different aspects of life did strengthen me when I needed it most!
That’s the power of studying God’s Word! Being prepared before you even know you need courage! TWEET THAT!!!!!
And guess what? My husband, Larry, has now been diagnosed with prostate cancer. The Lord is again being faithful and leading us to His method of healing and treatment. We say, “We love doing things together.” But as one of my friends said, “You might want to reconsider your definition of ‘togetherness.'” I thought that was cute. For sure we are together in being committed to believing God only has our good in mind.
Although I’m considered cancer free (only God knows), the study of God’s ability to provide courage, boldness, and strength continues to give us confidence God knows exactly what He’s doing. And He never allows anything that you and I can’t handle in His power–even if imperfectly (I Corinthians 10:13).
So I’m rejoicing in reflecting on God’s wisdom in preparing us even though we had no clue what He was doing. Thank you for continuing to pray for my journey and now for Larry’s journey.
If you’d like to put your name into a drawing for winning a copy of Heart of Courage, please go to my latest blog post on my usual blog CLICK HEREYou can enter the drawing there. The drawing ends Monday, March 28, 2022. And as my gift, I’m including Lesson 1 below as my FREE GIFT.
Here are the topics of the 10 lessons:
- Lesson 1—Courage Representing God
- Lesson 2—Courageous in Serving
- Lesson 3—Courageously Overcoming Discouragement
- Lesson 4—Courageous Within My Family
- Lesson 5—Courageous in My Church
- Lesson 6—Courageously Standing Against Popular Opinion
- Lesson 7—Courageously Standing Against Evil
- Lesson 8—Courageously Standing for God at Work
- Lesson 9—Courageously Facing Temptation
- Lesson 10—Courageous Jesus, Our Inspiration
Here’s Lesson 1 of “Heart of Courage.”
I hope it encourages you.
(PS If you buy a copy, please consider writing an honest review on Amazon. Thank you!)
Lesson 1—Courage Representing God
Copyrighted material.
Influencing our world means representing God in everything we do. We don’t have to be in full-time Christian service or in any leadership position to do that. We can courageously represent God in the simplest or most complex activity of each day.
Every one of those activities involves choices requiring courage to some degree. We might need God’s courage to discipline our child with patience. Or bring up a touchy topic with our husband. Or tell the difficult truth in the workplace. We fight fear and wonder about the consequences of following God, especially when the people hearing us are those who have no interest in God or his kingdom kind of living. Even those claiming to be Christians can react defensively.
The fabulous news is God wants to empower us with his courage. He will not leave us without his resources. He is the wisdom needed to fulfill his plan for our every choice no matter how difficult.
In this first lesson, let’s look at an overall view of being courageous for God and empowered by him for representing him. And then, in our other lessons, we will explore specific topics in more detail. In this study, we will look both at what courage is and how to view it with a godly perspective.
Can we have confidence living with courage is possible—and God’s will? Absolutely. By seeking him more and more through studying his Word, we will grow stronger in obeying and drawing closer to our loving God.
- How do you define courage?
- Do you think it takes courage to serve God? Why or why not?
- What does it mean to you to represent God
- In what ways have you represented God?
At home:
At work:
At church:
In the community:
5. If you don’t think you represent God, why do you believe that?
Courage can be defined as the ability and persevering strength to act regardless of the obvious or perceived danger. As Christians, we would include taking the godly, correct action that represents God in truth.
Every person has a different level of ability to act courageously when faced with challenges and difficulties based upon temperament/personality, culture, childhood experiences, belief system, training, and physical health. Yet when God tells us in the Bible to take ahold of his courage like in Joshua 1:9, he never mentions any limitations or influences. His courage is strong enough to overcome anything hindering us. He tells us nothing is impossible with him (Luke 1:37).
6. Read 2 Corinthians 5:9–21.
- What are at least five motivating factors for representing God (vs. 9–14a)?
- How do you think living courageously for God relates to no longer living for ourselves (2 Corinthians 5:14–15)?
- How do you think being a new person in Christ relates to no longer living for ourselves (vs. 17)?
As with all Bible passages, there is always context and background history occurring “behind the scenes.” Almost every epistle (a New Testament “letter” to a group of believers or an individual) is intended to address some issue. In his first letter to the Corinthians, Paul addresses the problems the Corinthian believers are experiencing, one of which is not standing up courageously against false teachers. These false teachers have begun to influence the believers with lies about Paul’s methods and his message of salvation through Jesus’s death and resurrection (I Corinthians 15:3–4).
In this section, 2 Corinthians 5:9–2, Paul is trying to point out how he himself has the courage to stand up for God in the face of misunderstanding and opposition. The same reasons he gives are ones that can encourage us to stand strong for God.
These reasons are desire to please God (v. 9), God’s judgement (v. 10), fearing God (v. 11), having a conscience (v. 11), knowing how to stand against false teachers (v. 12), willingness to be called crazy (v. 13), and being empowered by God’s love for others (v. 14).
Paul risked everything in his ministry in many ways—often even facing endless difficulties and leadership challenges. Empowered by God’s courage, he was willing to serve at the cost of his own comfort. What a wonderful reminder of Jesus, who experienced the same things and gave his innocent blood for our salvation (vs. 14–15).
Often, we begin to be discouraged realizing our needs aren’t being met. Then we must remember Jesus, who sacrificed his own needs. Instead, his only desire was to selflessly and courageously please his Heavenly Father and fulfill his purpose of saving his chosen people. Such sacrificial obedience cost him leaving the joys of heaven, suffering as a human with human emotions and trials—being misunderstood, wrongly accused, and rejected by his disciples. And then, finally, dying on the behalf of sinners even though he had never sinned.
7. In the dictionary, look up “reconciliation” and “reconcile.” Write the definitions here.
- How do those definitions relate to what Paul is talking about in 2 Corinthians 5:18–21?
- Based on the definition of the word “reconciliation” and the information given in verses 18–21, how would you explain the concept to an unbeliever who wants to know God yet feels she must earn reconciliation with God?
One beautiful definition of reconciliation is restoring harmony. The need for reconciliation between God and humanity began in the Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve disobeyed God. Before they disobeyed, they were naked and experienced no shame. When they sinned, they knew they were guilty. Then they tried to cover their shame with fig leaves.
Of course, God knew everything occurring in his garden and reached out to this hurting couple—covered with ineffective leaves. They hid—he pursued them. He pursued them!
Because God always knew his created beings would sin, he planned the reconciliation. He killed an animal and clothed this man and woman with something more permanent. The animal’s spilled blood represented the coming Messiah who would shed his blood as the totally effective and permanent means of reconciliation.
Jesus’s sacrifice is the means of reconciliation Paul wants the Corinthians to remember. If they do, they can fight the lies from the false teachers who had devised their own self-righteous ways of gaining acceptance from God.
8. How did the following women represent God courageously?
Exodus 15:20–21; Micah 6:4
Judges 4:4–6
Judges 4:17–22
2 Kings 22:14–20
Esther 4:12–16
John 4:28–30
Acts 16:14–15
9. Do you relate to any of those women? In what way?
- What is the most important encouragement or instruction you gain from these women?
- What foundations for courageous service for God are named in Colossians 3:17, 23–24?
We might tend to believe only certain responsibilities are valuable for serving God. We sometimes think being “in the ministry” is only what’s valuable. We conclude “just” being a mom, or having a job, or being available for the needs of grandchildren can’t count as God’s service. We also might value certain “spiritual gifts” as more important than others. We can think gifts like hospitality can’t offer much value. But everything God gives as opportunities to represent him are significant in his plan and require focusing on glorifying God and diminishing making it about “me.”
10. What wrong attitudes do these verses warn us about?
Numbers 12:1–2:
Proverbs 24:1–2, 19–20:
Mark 12:38–40:
Galatians 6:3:
Ephesians 4:31:
Philippians 2:3:
2 Timothy 2:16:
God is interested in the motives of our hearts. What energizes our service is as important as whether we are obeying. We should evaluate our hearts and be teachable. We should be willing to allow the Holy Spirit to reveal any jealousy, pride, envy, insecurity, and self-protection. When we ask for his forgiveness, he forgives and cleanses us (1 John 1:9). Out of our renewed pure heart, we can rightly discern how he wants us to courageously proceed.
11. How do these verses indicate God wants to strengthen our courage to serve him from a purer heart? What does each passage mean to you in practical terms? The first one is completed for you.
I Corinthians 3:10
I Corinthians 9:22–23
I Corinthians 9:25
Ephesians 6:10–11
I Timothy 4:12
I Timothy 4:14–15
II Timothy 2:15
II Timothy 2:22–26
II Timothy 3:16–17
First Timothy 4:15 offers a unique perspective of the journey of learning courage. Verse 15 tells us, “Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress.” The Greek word for progress, prokopē, is the idea of “cut forward” or “advance.” God is encouraging us to continue growing a little at a time. Often, we become discouraged (a lack of courage), because we experience failure or not having the results we think God expects from us. We haven’t arrived, and we think God is impatient.
Some of us believe God wants us to attain perfection on earth. But God didn’t cause Timothy to write, “so that all may see your perfection.” God inspired him to write, “so that all may see your progress.” Knowing God’s realistic expectations strengthens our courage to persevere and trust God for little-by-little growth.
12. Since we can’t perfectly live in God’s provision of courage, how do these verses encourage you to continue serving God?
Philippians 1:6:
Hebrews 4:15:
Hebrews 10:14:
I John 1:8, 10:
I John 1:9:
13. From the following verses in Romans, what attitudes and instructions help you influence your world more effectively as you courageously represent God?
1:16:
8:26–27, 31:
12:1–2:
12:9–10:
12:14–15:
12:16:
12:17–21:
14:10–13, 19:
15:1:
15:5–7:
- How will these attitudes make you more courageous?
- Which one is most important to you for your current challenge?
Let’s focus on Romans 14 as an example of influencing others. All of Romans 14 is a guidebook for loving in wise ways as we courageously represent God. The apostle Paul is helping Jesus followers correct their wrong practices of passing judgment on those who believe differently about what kinds of food are allowed for believers. They aren’t being kind, patient, and loving.
God is not glorified by their impatience. They may think they are being courageous, but they aren’t representing God accurately. They are putting a “stumbling block” and “hindrance” (v. 13) in the way of some Christians. The Greek word for a stumbling block, proskomma, is the visual of something in the road. If a person’s foot hits it, she could stumble or fall. This visual describes what can happen in a person’s heart when she is feeling peace about something, but then she hears someone’s criticism, and her courage dissipates. She condemns herself and might even doubt her salvation or her commitment to Christ. Her faith falters, and she spends time worrying about her walk with Christ over something insignificant.
Silence is sometimes the wiser course (verse 22). If we truly are courageous, we will have enough trust in God to know God can create change in someone’s beliefs—even without our input. If we have confidence in God’s power, we will be able to hear more clearly how God wants us to interact with that person.
14. Is there any way God wants you to be courageous for him, yet you’ve hesitated?
- What attitude(s) do you need to obey God?
- What will you do to demonstrate your courage for God in that area this week?
We have begun the journey of being more aware of the motives at the root of a courageous heart. The foundation is based on wanting “an audience” of one, our Lord God Almighty.
We are not without help in this journey. God wants to strengthen our selflessness through the instruction and empowering of his indwelling Holy Spirit. The foundation begins by being assured we are reconciled with God because of the sacrificial death of Jesus, his Son, our Messiah.
Then we can courageously serve our God with joy and confidence knowing our reward is waiting for us in heaven, even if we aren’t applauded here on earth.
My Precious Princess and Daughter:
I see and know the courage laying within your heart, which I put there. It delights me to use you and your special gifts in unique ways I have planned uniquely for you. Don’t compare yourself to others. My plan for you gives you freedom in the way you will tell others about me. My greatness is not destroyed by any inadequacies of my children. I have given you abilities and talents, which I will use in the best possible way.
You represent me. I am pleased with you my daughter, my princess. I know you sometimes fail. But I also know the desire of your heart to show others my love for them. Do not doubt my desire to have you represent me.
I am working in your life as you grow ever wiser in being my ambassador. I give all my children courageous hearts. But some refuse to accept my courage as the foundation for all they do. Let me supply the courage you need to stand for me.
Lovingly,
Your Heavenly Father, the King