Wednesday, February 23 – Proverbs 28:1

The wicked flee when no one is pursuing,

But the righteous are bold as a lion.

Do you know someone who has been brave in a scary situation? Some people are gifted when they are under pressure, they can still think rationally, even when the circumstances overwhelm everyone else. For others, it is easy to shrink back in fear, even when there is nothing to be afraid of.

As followers of Jesus, we can have confidence, not because we can take care of anything on our own but because we trust God’s power that is at work in us. Where most people would be afraid of opposition we can follow Jesus, even in the face of adversity. Think about the biblical accounts you know where someone encountered something scary: Daniel and the Lion’s Den, David and Goliath, Rahab and the spies. In a moment that seemed overwhelming, where most people would run away, God’s power was on display. Maybe you fear fully surrendering to God because you are nervous about where He would lead you or to whom you might be called. Be encouraged today in the power of God inside of you! 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 says, “Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer person is decaying, yet our inner person is being renewed day by day. For our momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” As you fix your eyes on what is eternal, may your confidence in the One who holds all things abound no matter what you face.

• Have you ever had a moment when you knew God was calling you to do something, but you were afraid? How does this verse speak to that situation?
• How can you grow in confidence in God, even when you face opposition?
• Pray and thank God for the confidence that comes with belonging to Him. Ask Him to remind you of His promises as you walk in obedience today.