Are You the Cowardly Lion?

Hi Ladies!
How did you do with the study last week? I pray that you have a gained a new perspective on self-confidence with that perspective being a new focus on confidence in God instead of in yourself! That takes such a load off of our shoulders, doesn't it?!
This next week, we will be taking a look at courage. Thinking about courage automatically makes me think of the Cowardly Lion from the Wizard of Oz. You had to feel sorry for him because he was scared of everything! Poor guy! I just wanted to hug him! But how many of us could say that we have an inward Cowardly Lion? My hand would have to be raised to this question for sure. But let's take a look at what God says about courage vs. fear.

2 Timothy 1:7 (New Living Translation)
For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.

One of the most important things we have to realize is that fear, anxiety and worry do NOT come from God. Fear is not what God wants us to live in. Now, we can experience fear and use that as an exercise in remembering to put our trust in God (and thus gain courage) but He does not want us to live a lifestyle of fear, anxiety and worry. He has given us a spirit of power, love and self-discipline. Here is what John MacArthur has to say about this (from his study Bible):
"power: Positively, God has already given believers all the spiritual resources they need for every trial and threat . Divine power - effective, productive spiritual energy - belongs to believers (Ephesians 1:18-20 NASB: 18I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,
19and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might
20which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, )
"love: This kind of love centers on pleasing God and seeking others' welfare before one's own.
"discipline: Refers to a self-controlled and properly prioritized mind. This is the opposite of fear and cowardice that causes disorder and confusion. Focusing on the sovereign nature and perfect purposes of our eternal God allows believers to control their lives with godly wisdom and confidence in every situation."
(emphases mine)

I hope you can see the alternatives of confidence and courage that God has given His children as opposed to fear. One woman shared in our on-site Bible study group that God had shown her that constantly nurturing fear and worry was actually a lack of trust in God. That is certainly true. Somehow we think we can control the outcome if we worry and fear and cover all the bases "just in case" something happens. It may startle you to realize that we have no control over what happens in our lives other than to submit to God before His throne and lift up our concerns to Him in prayer and then LEAVE our concerns at His feet to take care of and TRUST HIM to take care of them according to His will and purpose. It's prideful, and frankly silly, to think that by worrying we can affect any difference in a situation.
I vote to leave my concerns at the feet of the One that is all-powerful and all-knowing and whom I have chosen to be Lord of my life. I choose to let Him be Lord and to let my courage come from the knowledge and faith that His qualifications for the job are much more impressive than mine. What about you? Will you cast your ballot for you and your abilities or God's? I pray that the Holy Spirit will lead us all into the whole truth about having courage in life's circumstances through trust in Jesus and the Father.
Praying you have a wonderful week in your study and time with the Lord!
In Him,
Tara