1 00:00:02,720 --> 00:00:15,240 Speaker 1: Life Audio. Thank you for listening to your daily prayer, 2 00:00:15,440 --> 00:00:17,880 Speaker 1: where we help you find the words you need to 3 00:00:17,920 --> 00:00:20,840 Speaker 1: connect to your Father in Heaven. No matter what's happening 4 00:00:20,840 --> 00:00:23,480 Speaker 1: in your life today, you can trust that God wants 5 00:00:23,520 --> 00:00:26,240 Speaker 1: to hear from you. Right after this short word from 6 00:00:26,280 --> 00:00:29,920 Speaker 1: our sponsors, we'll pray through today's prayer for Courage to 7 00:00:29,960 --> 00:00:51,239 Speaker 1: Step into a New Opportunity. A Prayer for Courage to 8 00:00:51,360 --> 00:00:55,600 Speaker 1: Step into a New opportunity written by Whitney Hoppler, read 9 00:00:55,640 --> 00:01:01,440 Speaker 1: by Leah Gerard. Have I not commanded you strong and courageous. 10 00:01:01,680 --> 00:01:05,120 Speaker 1: Do not be afraid, do not be discouraged. For the 11 00:01:05,240 --> 00:01:09,679 Speaker 1: Lord your God will be with you wherever you go, Joshua, 12 00:01:09,720 --> 00:01:13,520 Speaker 1: one night, when you stand at the edge of a 13 00:01:13,560 --> 00:01:17,199 Speaker 1: new opportunity, like a new job or a new volunteer role, 14 00:01:17,680 --> 00:01:22,039 Speaker 1: it's natural to feel both excitement and fear. Even though 15 00:01:22,040 --> 00:01:24,960 Speaker 1: the new opportunity God has given you is a blessing, 16 00:01:25,440 --> 00:01:28,800 Speaker 1: you still face the fear of the unknown. What will 17 00:01:28,800 --> 00:01:32,360 Speaker 1: happen if you take this opportunity? Only God knows. But 18 00:01:32,440 --> 00:01:35,440 Speaker 1: God wouldn't have brought you this opportunity unless He had 19 00:01:35,480 --> 00:01:40,440 Speaker 1: a plan for helping you succeed with it. God encourages 20 00:01:40,480 --> 00:01:43,959 Speaker 1: you and Joshua one nine to move forward. When he 21 00:01:44,040 --> 00:01:48,920 Speaker 1: commands you to be strong and courageous. You might think 22 00:01:49,000 --> 00:01:52,920 Speaker 1: courage means not being afraid at all, but true courage 23 00:01:52,960 --> 00:01:58,560 Speaker 1: involves taking action even when you are afraid. God is 24 00:01:58,600 --> 00:02:02,720 Speaker 1: calling you to step into this new opportunity. Despite feeling afraid, 25 00:02:03,120 --> 00:02:05,520 Speaker 1: and even though the new opportunity God is brought into 26 00:02:05,520 --> 00:02:10,160 Speaker 1: your life is intimidating, God will give you the strength 27 00:02:10,200 --> 00:02:13,960 Speaker 1: and courage you need to succeed with it. You can 28 00:02:14,000 --> 00:02:18,160 Speaker 1: be strong by trusting that the talents, skills, and wisdom 29 00:02:18,600 --> 00:02:21,679 Speaker 1: you already have are gifts from God, and that God 30 00:02:21,720 --> 00:02:24,720 Speaker 1: will help you with whatever you need. As you move forward, 31 00:02:25,360 --> 00:02:29,760 Speaker 1: It's important to stop focusing on your weaknesses and start 32 00:02:29,800 --> 00:02:34,640 Speaker 1: focusing on your God given strengths. You can be courageous 33 00:02:35,000 --> 00:02:38,200 Speaker 1: by moving forward despite the fear you feel, and with 34 00:02:38,280 --> 00:02:42,440 Speaker 1: the confidence that God will help you overcome any challenges 35 00:02:42,480 --> 00:02:46,440 Speaker 1: you'll face. God commands you in this verse not to 36 00:02:46,520 --> 00:02:50,920 Speaker 1: let either fear or discouragement stop you. Fear causes you 37 00:02:51,000 --> 00:02:54,520 Speaker 1: to worry about what might happen, while discouragement causes you 38 00:02:54,560 --> 00:02:57,920 Speaker 1: to worry that what actually does happen is too hard 39 00:02:57,960 --> 00:03:03,320 Speaker 1: to overcome. God addresses both challenges. He knows that in 40 00:03:03,360 --> 00:03:06,959 Speaker 1: any new adventure, you'll have obstacles to face. God doesn't 41 00:03:06,960 --> 00:03:09,800 Speaker 1: say that journey will be easy. Instead, he gives you 42 00:03:09,840 --> 00:03:13,760 Speaker 1: permission to recognize the fear, but forbids you from letting 43 00:03:13,800 --> 00:03:17,600 Speaker 1: it control you. He commands you to press on through 44 00:03:17,639 --> 00:03:20,600 Speaker 1: the times when you feel it quitting. God wants you 45 00:03:20,639 --> 00:03:24,200 Speaker 1: to see the obstacles ahead as places where you can 46 00:03:24,240 --> 00:03:29,040 Speaker 1: rely on His help, places where He plans to prove 47 00:03:29,240 --> 00:03:33,120 Speaker 1: his faithfulness in your life. The last part of the 48 00:03:33,200 --> 00:03:36,240 Speaker 1: verse tells you why you can do everything that God 49 00:03:36,280 --> 00:03:40,720 Speaker 1: commands you to do. For the Lord your God will 50 00:03:40,760 --> 00:03:46,280 Speaker 1: be with you wherever you go. It's because of God's 51 00:03:46,320 --> 00:03:49,760 Speaker 1: constant presence with you that you can be strong and courageous. 52 00:03:50,680 --> 00:03:53,520 Speaker 1: God doesn't just tell you to be strong and courageous 53 00:03:53,560 --> 00:03:56,760 Speaker 1: and then send you out alone. He promises to be 54 00:03:57,280 --> 00:04:01,839 Speaker 1: with you wherever you go. That's why you can move 55 00:04:01,920 --> 00:04:07,480 Speaker 1: forward with confidence. God, You're all powerful Creator will walk 56 00:04:07,600 --> 00:04:11,720 Speaker 1: with you into this new opportunity. So look for God's 57 00:04:11,760 --> 00:04:15,280 Speaker 1: presence with you and connect with him. The more you do, 58 00:04:15,840 --> 00:04:18,360 Speaker 1: the more you can trust that God will be right 59 00:04:18,400 --> 00:04:21,480 Speaker 1: there with you as you step into your new opportunity. 60 00:04:22,320 --> 00:04:25,360 Speaker 1: You'll have God's guidance when you don't know the next 61 00:04:25,440 --> 00:04:29,160 Speaker 1: step to take. You'll have God's peace when you're dealing 62 00:04:29,240 --> 00:04:34,160 Speaker 1: with stress. You'll also have God's help to meet any 63 00:04:34,240 --> 00:04:37,760 Speaker 1: needs that come up along the way. God will empower 64 00:04:37,880 --> 00:04:40,880 Speaker 1: you to be strong and courageous as you just trust 65 00:04:40,960 --> 00:04:43,920 Speaker 1: Him and rely on Him to do so day by day. 66 00:04:45,400 --> 00:04:51,559 Speaker 1: Today take God's commands and Joshua one nine personally. God 67 00:04:51,640 --> 00:04:55,680 Speaker 1: tells you to be strong and courageous, and he will 68 00:04:55,720 --> 00:04:58,880 Speaker 1: help you obey that command as you walk closely with 69 00:04:59,000 --> 00:05:03,599 Speaker 1: him into your new new opportunity. God commands you to 70 00:05:03,760 --> 00:05:07,440 Speaker 1: not let fear or discouragement stop you from moving forward. 71 00:05:08,560 --> 00:05:12,320 Speaker 1: You have God's promise to be with you every step 72 00:05:12,360 --> 00:05:15,880 Speaker 1: of the way. Allow this promise to overcome the fear 73 00:05:15,920 --> 00:05:19,440 Speaker 1: you feel and let it fuel your determination to step 74 00:05:19,480 --> 00:05:22,680 Speaker 1: into the new opportunity ahead of you while looking forward 75 00:05:23,000 --> 00:05:28,960 Speaker 1: to what God will make possible. Let's pray, Dear God. 76 00:05:29,000 --> 00:05:33,280 Speaker 1: I confess that I feel both excited and overwhelmed by 77 00:05:33,279 --> 00:05:36,919 Speaker 1: the new opportunity before me. The fear of not knowing 78 00:05:37,000 --> 00:05:40,919 Speaker 1: how everything will turn out is on my mind. The 79 00:05:40,960 --> 00:05:43,880 Speaker 1: discouragement I feel when I think about my weaknesses is 80 00:05:44,360 --> 00:05:48,920 Speaker 1: causing me to hesitate as well. Honestly, I'm worried about 81 00:05:48,960 --> 00:05:53,599 Speaker 1: moving forward, but I know this opportunity is a blessing 82 00:05:53,680 --> 00:05:55,800 Speaker 1: from you, and I know I can trust you to 83 00:05:55,839 --> 00:05:59,400 Speaker 1: help me with whatever I need. So I choose to 84 00:05:59,440 --> 00:06:03,080 Speaker 1: obey your command in Joshua one to nine. I will 85 00:06:03,120 --> 00:06:07,240 Speaker 1: be strong and courageous. I will step into this new 86 00:06:07,240 --> 00:06:11,479 Speaker 1: opportunity with gratitude that You're walking right beside me. With 87 00:06:11,800 --> 00:06:15,919 Speaker 1: every step I take, thank you that your presence is 88 00:06:15,960 --> 00:06:19,679 Speaker 1: with me wherever I go. Please help me overcome fear 89 00:06:19,760 --> 00:06:23,040 Speaker 1: and discouragement so I can keep making the progress you 90 00:06:23,080 --> 00:06:27,000 Speaker 1: want me to make. Please guide me and give me 91 00:06:27,160 --> 00:06:32,360 Speaker 1: everything I need to move forward in faith. Thank you, 92 00:06:32,560 --> 00:06:48,279 Speaker 1: my Mighty God. Amen. Your Daily Prayer is a production 93 00:06:48,480 --> 00:06:51,920 Speaker 1: of Life Audio and Salem Media. If you liked what 94 00:06:51,960 --> 00:06:54,800 Speaker 1: you heard today, be sure to follow our sister show 95 00:06:55,120 --> 00:06:58,839 Speaker 1: your nightly prayer. You can find your nightly prayer at 96 00:06:58,880 --> 00:07:03,360 Speaker 1: lifeaudio dot Com or in your favorite podcast app. By 97 00:07:03,400 --> 00:07:07,320 Speaker 1: following your daily prayer and your nightly prayer, you can 98 00:07:07,400 --> 00:07:11,720 Speaker 1: be sure that your day begins and ends centered on 99 00:07:11,800 --> 00:07:13,960 Speaker 1: the Word of God and prayer.