Of the 73 psalms David wrote, Psalm 27 is one of the better known psalms. How many times have you read Psalm 27 and reflected on the LORD as your light, your salvation, the strength of your life and your reason to fear nothing? Recently when reading this psalm I was struck by the last two verses and the reference to ‘good courage’. Can you and I have ‘bad’ courage? What does the Bible mean by ‘good courage’?

Psalm 27:¹³ I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. ¹⁴Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.

David was not a perfect man. David was a sinner saved by God’s grace, just like you and me.

As a shepherd, David slew a lion and a bear to protect the sheep.

As a young man, David slew Goliath the giant.

David fled when King Saul tried to kill him.

David fled when his son, Absalom, wanted to take his throne,

David committed adultery.

David had Bathsheba’s husband murdered.

David tried to hide his sin.

When Nathan confronted David about his sin, David repented and sought God’s mercy.

David’s baby, conceived by adultery, died.

David wanted to build God a temple but was not allowed to do so.

David gathered materials for the future temple.

What else do you know about David?

What do you learn about God’s character from David’s story?

Does this reference mean you and I can have ‘good courage’ by trusting in the goodness of the LORD and waiting for His solution in difficult circumstances?

Would trusting in ourselves and our own abilities and resources be ’bad courage’?

What do you know of the goodness of the LORD?

Checking the concordance, I was amazed to see how often the Bible refers to ‘good courage’.

In this series we will examine these occurrences to answer these questions.

Our focus = Hebrews 12:¹Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, ² Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. ³For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

Our challenge = Dearly Beloved,

Run with your eyes on Jesus alone!

Run in faith that Jesus loves you, has uniquely designed and created only one you, has a good plan for your life, runs with you and will accomplish His purposes for you and through  you!

Run in His strength alone!

Run with your eyes on the prize!

Run with the desire to finish strong!

Run with the desire to finish with your lamp burning!

Run with the expectation of being in His physical presence when you cross your finish line!

Run to His glory alone!

Run and keep on running!

Coach Patti