Be of good courage,

and let us be courageous

             for our people,

and for the cities of our God....

             2 Samuel 10. 12

(By being faithful to God

and relying on His strength

extends to others the freedom

            to do the same.

Courage does not mean

                    a lack of fear

    or easy circumstances,

    or something in our skill set,

but relying on God's strength

      and doing it anyway.

                     For His glory.

This world is largely in a mess,

     because we are waiting

     on someone else

                  to take the lead.

We cry out to God, "Do something!"

And He whispers to us,

      "That's why I put you there.")

O LORD,

We are surrounded by the overwhelming,

      and our hearts are weak.

Help us to know we do not go forth

                     on our own,

      but You are with us.

We can't do everything,

            but we can do something.

Empower us to do what is right

                     in Your eyes.

Grant us Your courage

       to follow You

into what You have placed

                before us today.

And may we discern Your steps.