The Fruit of Sincere Yieldedness is how Courage Multiplies | Northlands Church

The Fruit of Sincere Yieldedness is how Courage Multiplies

July 25, 2017 | Kristine Wendt

The Fruit of Sincere Yieldedness is how Courage Multiplies

by: Kristine Wendt

The exhibition of one courageous person with action builds testimony for more. Might your story encourage another person?

“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NIV)

We have considered how courage isn’t necessarily an activation or an act in a circumstance, but rather a soundness of mind, a steadfastness within us. In this way, courage and peace are quite associative. When peace is manifesting, we find less need to act courageously.
When we feel the calling of courage, we are challenged by circumstance and we are wondering, “Do I have in me what this circumstance calls for?” or “Am I enough?” We graze the conditions and look within to find an equilibrium that assures us that we are meant to be right where we are. And so, we begin moving forward on the highway of belief that we know why we are moving, where we are going, or Who we are following.
We see great examples throughout the Scriptures of those who acted courageously and yielded themselves to Him:
+Gideon (Judges 6 and 7): Found timidly in a winepress with wheat, Gideon led a distinct army to victory over the Midianites.
+Esther: A Jewish woman in Persia, chosen to be queen, given the opportunity to save an entire people group. She left royal custom behind and moved forward for a greater good.
+Thomas (John 20:24-29) had courage enough to doubt Jesus was again alive, and then courage to yield to belief.
+Mary Magdalene (John 20:10-18): A woman whose loyalty gave her a front row seat to her Savior’s death and His resurrected life.
+Paul encountered the astonishing love of God to turn from his tormenting ways (Acts 8) and into a life of yieldedness (Galatians 2:20).
+And more champions like: Noah, Hannah, or Mary and Joseph.
What you and I see demonstrated in the Scriptures are those who lived moment by moment knowing their God is bigger than the circumstance in front of them. For some, sincere yieldedness was needed before they understood the scope of the situation. Courage multiplies through the generations of storytelling to bear for us an anthology of examples that we, too, have the same Spirit in us to graciously step by peace or step from courage.

The exhibition of one courageous person with action builds testimony for more. Perhaps Father invites you to share your courage stories with someone this week. What, to you, now, looks like molehill behind you might just help someone else speak to the mountain they see in front of them. Your sharing will likely encourage someone right into courageous action.
“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NIV)

Prayer

Thank you Father for multiplying boldness, ensuring courage and your resounding Presence of Peace. You show me the way to everlasting Life, for your Name’s Sake. Grant me wisdom to speak out and share when I hear your nudge to do so. Tune my heart to your pace and shift my eyes to your Story today, that I might yield and respond.


Amen.

© 2024 Northlands Church and Kristine Wendt. Permission to share so long as credit is given.