Scriptures telling us to Be Courageous

“Be of good courage.” (Numbers 13:20)

The failure of 10 of the spies to obey this commandment cost them their lives and cost the Israelites 40 long years in the wilderness.

Deut 31:6 Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.”

We are not permitted to fear our spiritual or natural enemies because Almighty God is the One who goes with us. He will not leave us or forsake us.

Deut 31:7 Then Moses called Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, “Be strong and of good courage, for you must go with this people to the land which the LORD has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall cause them to inherit it.

Anyone called to bring God’s people into their inheritance must be strong and of good courage. And God is expecting us to win!

Deut 31:23 Then He inaugurated Joshua the son of Nun, and said, “Be strong and of good courage; for you shall bring the children of Israel into the land of which I swore to them, and I will be with you.”

Again the idea that we must be courageous because God is with us.

Jos 1:6 Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them.

Jos 1:7 Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go.

Jos 1:9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”

God repeated this a lot to Joshua. He needed to hear it often and so do we!

Jos 1:18 Whoever rebels against your command and does not heed your words, in all that you command him, shall be put to death. Only be strong and of good courage.”

Now the people of Israel are also telling Joshua they expect him to be courageous. The people of God have a right to expect this from their leaders.

Jos 10:25 Then Joshua said to them, “Do not be afraid, nor be dismayed; be strong and of good courage, for thus the LORD will do to all your enemies against whom you fight.”

The people of God are commanded to be strong and of good courage also. God will destroy our enemies against whom we fight, so why not be courageous?

Psa 27:14 Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD!

Waiting on the Lord is tied in with courage. Waiting on God does not mean being passive and gutless. God strengthens us as we wait on Him. “Those who wait upon the Lord will renew their strength” (Isaiah 40:31).

Psa 31:24 Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart, All you who hope in the LORD.

We make a choice to be of good courage. Then God strengthens our heart. The strength comes from God when we put ourselves in a place to receive it.