Courage and strength... Powerful words in a culture that values independence so highly they are willing to give up everything they have to attain it.

Courage... What is courage?

How can we truly define something that is part of ourselves... Phrases like, 'Courage isn't being unafraid, it's facing your fears anyway.' simply don't fully describe the inner struggle that courage represents. Courage is fighting fear of this most everyone has agreed. Courage is, in my opinion, the ability look at yourself, to stare straight into your own flaws, every dark and evil corner of yourself and fight on. What person wants to look at themselves and declare that they are evil... and yet... it's true. We're selfish, we're lazy, and we're even stupid amiright? Courage takes strength, immense strength that we simply cannot have on our own. If you try to look into your heart and see your problems on your own, you will collapse like a house of cards. Isn't it incredible how our mind diverts us when we want to do something right?

I want to look at my pride and evaluate my conduct... and my mind is already beginning to drift. We're tied to our conviction by a piece of string and all it takes is one thought to distract us let our minds float off in the opposite direction. I begin to play scenes through my head, TV Shows, things that happened in school, or even Mr. Sommar doing the chicken dance... We're easily distract... BUNNY!... See? The truth is that we can't do much of anything on our own. We were born to be reliant on something else.

Where did this conversation start, courage and strength? See how I've drifted? Strength to evaluate our own minds and hearts, comes from only one place. I grow increasingly glad every day for the fact that so many of my friends already know the answer to this question. God. Creator of the heavens and the earth. King over everything that has ever existed and will exist. Don't believe me? I don't blame you but I can tell you without a doubt, he will on judgment day.

If you're afraid, the truth is you should be. I would be afraid if I was in your position. You waste every moment trying to do it on your own, to try and fight the battle without the one you were created to rely upon... That's called fighting an uphill battle. And as if uphill battles weren't hard enough without this, you've got God against you. Looking at his track record... I have reason to be afraid and so do you.

Ultimately what this post comes down to is that we're not made to be alone and separated, neither from God or from other people. Have you ever been encouraged and were able to complete a task because of it? Imagine the perfect stream of encouragement and an endless river of grace and you're getting a picture of what you could have.... So, what I suggest you do, is give up. WHAT? Give up!? Coming from you Mr. Super Competitive? Yeah, and I mean it. However, what you're giving up is the fight with God so that you can begin the fight with the flesh.

Let the fight begin.

Are you ready for the Afterlife?