This free church bulletin article was written by Brian Humek from Irving, TX. You are free to use this in church bulletins, church emails and on church websites. No credit needs to be given. Simply clicking the book link at the end of this free bulletin article will help more content to be placed on this site. Donate your own bulletin article here.
Bible Passage: Joshua 1:9 and 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17
Last night, I went into my son’s room to pray for him. He was sound asleep but I accidentally woke him to the point where he said, “Daddy you were right near the gorilla.” My son was dreaming. He can’t remember that dream. But I like to interpret it as I was such a strong courageous guy that I could get right in there next to the Gorilla. I was given an extra bit of strength and courage in my son’s dream, or so I like to think.
After reflecting on that for a while, I began to think about the strength God personally gives each of us. A little wisdom from the Old and New Testaments is in order. God tells Joshua in Joshua 1:9, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” Those are some encouraging words. Knowing that God is with us wherever we go, through all of our difficult times, can be quite a calming influence in our souls. Paul says something similar in 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17, “May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loves us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.” There is no doubt about it, God strengthens and encourages us.
I don’t have to wait until the next time my son excitedly dreams, that I’m in there right next to the Gorilla, for me to have strength and courage. In his dream, I may have been the main course. Nevertheless, I prefer to see myself as a strong gorilla tamer or courageous zookeeper. I am blessed that I can simply have that kind of strength and courage given to me by God. We all can!
—> Support our free bulletin articles ministry by purchasing the 5 Star rated Leave it to God on Amazon today.
Related posts:
My mouth fell open the day I heard a student in a Christian campus ministry pray, "Dear father God, we are terrible people." I thought that person was incorrect and then had to go to the Bib...
Struggles can sometimes make us wish we were dead. They can make us feel like we are prisoners. Struggles can make us blind to the blessing Jesus died to give us. Jesus’ words should be uplifting to u...
The older I get, the more I enjoy time moving slow. Sometimes I wish time could stop. Time is a valuable asset in our lives. Rarely do we ever say, “Boy, I just have too much time on my hands.” Often,...
I can lecture you all day about the importance of staying spiritually active but I think you know that already. My plea is that you keep a record of your spiritual activity. Keep a prayer journal. Kee...
Superman was a mighty strong man. He could leap buildings in a single bound. He was powerful enough to stop a train. Superman was faster than a speeding bullet. Even with all that strength, if he came...
In a column on art restoration, Robert Fulford writes, “A scholar came upon a striking fact: in the year 1516, the Brancacci Chapel in Florence burned half a barrel of oil every day, just to keep its ...
Zacchaeus was a wee little man. If being short is considered a problem, it was the smallest of his problems. He worked for the Roman government as a tax collector and he cheated the people. Even with ...
Paul wrote to the Corinthian church that they should give thanks (2 Cor. 9:15). While I took my son to a breakfast with Santa this morning, we did this. We gave thanks for the food. I heard a lady at...
