Day 11: Take Courage -Kristene DiMarco

Would You Rather Self-Help or Take Courage?

Take Courage by Kristene DiMarco is not about self-help. We live in a culture of "self-help" with all sorts of mantras like "pull yourself up by your bootstraps," "you need to have grit" and "success is falling down 7 times and getting up 8." There is some truth to these things and hard work is important but it's not everything. If your confidence comes from your drive and perseverance to overcome then you will eventually be exhausted and disappointed. There is rest in the Lord. But, it's not what rest looks like to this world. It looks like taking courage that you didn't have.

Take Courage in the New Testament

In the New Testament there are many places where Jesus tells people to "take courage" which is an interesting phrase. It means there is a well of courage available to you for overcoming life and it is available. All you have to do is take it. If you think you can self-help yourself into success then you won't take the courage. If you are distracted by sin and entertainment then you will miss it and not grab ahold of the courage available to you. If you look at your past and look down on yourself as unworthy you won't take the courage. But, if you will humble yourself before Jesus and acknowledge that you can't do it on your own, He will give you courage, and your confidence can be in Him because He has overcome the world.

Bible Verses with "Take Courage"

Matthew 9:2
And they brought to Him a paralyzed man lying on a stretcher. And seeing their faith, Jesus said to the man who was paralyzed, “Take courage, son; your sins are forgiven.”
Matthew 9:22
But Jesus, turning and seeing her, said, “Daughter, take courage; your faith has made you well.” And at once the woman was made well.
Matthew 14:27
But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.”
Mark 6:50
for they all saw Him and were terrified. But immediately He spoke with them and *said to them, “Take courage; it is I, do not be afraid.”
Mark 10:49
And Jesus stopped and said, “Call him here.” So they *called the man who was blind, saying to him, “Take courage, stand up! He is calling for you.”
John 16:33
These things I have spoken to you so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”

Take Courage Lyrics -Kristene DiMarco

[Verse 1]
Slow down, take time
Breath in He said
He'd reveal what's to come
The thoughts in His mind
Always higher than mine
He'll reveal all to come

[Chorus]

Take courage my heart
Stay steadfast my soul
He's in the waiting
He's in the waiting
Hold onto your hope
As your triumph unfolds
He's never failing
He's never failing

[Verse 2]

Sing praise my soul
Find strength in joy
Let His Words lead you on
Do not forget
His great faithfulness
He'll finish all He's begun

[Bridge]

And You who hold the stars
Who call them each by name
Will surely keep, Your promise to me
That I will rise, in Your victory
And You who hold the stars
Who call them each by name
Will surely keep, Your promise to me
That I will rise, in Your victory!

[End Tag]
He's in the waiting...

Abundant Life Fellowship Version

Bethel Version

Final Thoughts

There is courage available for you today. He holds the stars and calls them each by name. He will surely keep His promise to you that you will rise in victory. His victory over temptation, sin, anxiety, and the problems in this world. That's your bucket full of grace for today. It's filled with courage available for you.

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Comments

AnonymousJuly 28, 2022 at 6:48 PM
I’m sometimes surprised who worship songs are sung to, with this one addressed my heart and my soul. This sort of self-talk is not something I do much, although sometimes through a song like this one. Reminding your heart of things and your soul of things is such a common theme in scripture and there seems to be a beauty in singing this song communally. Lamentations 3:24 specifically comes to mind, “I will say to myself: ‘the Lord is my portion, therefore I will wait for him”.
-Jeff Coles (who has trouble switching out of the anonymous mode on his phone)
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