They will fight against you
but will not overcome you,
for I am with you
to save you and rescue you.
This is the Lord’s declaration.
I will rescue you from the power of evil people
and redeem you from the grasp of the ruthless.
Jeremiah 15:20-21 (CSB)
All of us are leading in some capacity right now. For some of us, our circle of influence might be our families or our children. For others, it might extend to our communities or our churches or online through our words and images. And in these times when vision is lacking and wisdom is needed in every way, we can become discouraged in our efforts to lead well. It can seem like we’re fighting a battle we can’t win against evil. And when others attack us in word or in body for loving like Jesus loves or for simply being who we are as beloved children of God in our Black and brown bodies, the never-ending anguish and grief can be unbearable.
May these words from the Lord to Jeremiah give you the strength to keep going:
I will rescue you from the power of evil people
and redeem you from the grasp of the ruthless.
Lord, encourage us when we despair and help us to keep leading with hope. Amen.
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Now more than ever, the world needs to hear voices of faith, in a palette of beautiful colors, rising in unity. With our eyes on the eternal prize, let us tell the world why we have abiding joy that the world can’t extinguish, even with every flaming arrow of evil it shoots at us. This is a battle being fought on the spiritual battlefield. We know Who conquers evil in the end. Let that give us confidence and courage to proclaim Christ’s gospel of love and peace to a world desperate for hope. Let us lead, smack dab, in the face of evil…together.
Blessings sisters,
Bev xx
We have big big might Father in Heaven who loves us. This world can be a very scary place to us. People can be very cruel to one another. We especially if a Parent. Teach your kids to love all people off all walk of life all skin colors especially when at school No matter who they are. Like Jesus did in the Bible when he walked on earth. He didn’t care about people skin color he love them for who they were. He still does today. There are people today being horrible because of what skin color you have. They some of them have kids. It runs of what they say and to their kids. Then their kids begin to think the same way. It leads to them thinking evil about people. When God is all about Love. We especially if saved have to be very careful what we say and do. Especially if have kids in front of them as they copy what you as parent do. God see everything we do and say. If we are followers of Jesus. We have to show we have that love in us. If we have kids. By the way we live our lives in front of them. Teaching them to love all people of walks of life. No matter what skin color they have. What especially if the parent what we say in front. Not say especially if people come from other countries to live in our country. Why don’t they stay in their own country. We don’t know the life they had. We are not to judge. We if followers of Jesus should be praying for them. Not judging them. As Jesus would want us to do that. As when they come into our countries they are scared. When we are scared like in Jeremiah 15 verse 20. We can go God in prayer and he we save us. His Holy Spirit will tell us what to do. Be there for us. Like kids when they are scared they go their parents for help their parents will keep them safe. So it is good to pray for people from other countries who come into our countries not judge them. Plus pray for prayer to be brought back into school’s. As when I was small. At school we said a simple prayer at school. I asked my Nieces and Nephews do you say a prayer in school. At break time. They said no. I think it sad to hear that from them. As it could be only time they could hear about Jesus or give Jesus thanks as school kids. It was this simple prayer. “Thank God for the food we eat thank you God for the birds that sing thank you God for everything”. It was so lovely to say it. We need to teach kids to pray. To keep evil away. For everyone to kind to one another. Like Jesus was. Jesus hands were kinds hands doing good to all. We the saved are to do the same. Thank you incourage for another excellent reading as always. Love Dawn Ferguson-Little xxx
In Courage,
The song “For Such a Time as This” is appropriate for today. Here is the first verse & chorus Now, all I have is now To be faithful To be holy And to shine Lighting up the darkness Right now, I really have no choice
But to voice the truth to the nations A generation looking for God For such a time as this I was placed upon the earth To hear the voice of God And do His will Whatever it is For such a time as this For now and all the days He gives I am here, I am here And I am His For such a time as this. Let’s all stand in unity & proclaim the love of Christ to those hurting people. This worlds needs Him now more than ever!
Blessings 🙂
Speaking of beautiful song lyrics: from “For the One” by Bethel Music (it is like a prayer for us to say)
With kindness, and compassion for the one
The one for whom You loved and gave Your Son
For humanity; increase my love
Help me to love with open arms, like You do
A love that erases all the lines, and sees the truth
Oh, that when they look in my eyes, they would see You
Even in just a smile; they would feel the Father’s love
Oh, how He loves us
From the homeless, to the famous, and in between
You formed us, You made us carefully
‘Cause in the end; we’re all Your children
So help me to love with open arms, like You do
A love that erases all the lines, and sees the truth
Oh, that when they look in my eyes, they would see You
Even in just a smile; they would feel the Father’s love
So let all my life, tell of who You are
And the wonder of, Your never-ending love
Oh, let all my life tell of who You are
That You’re wonderful and such a good Father
Oh, let all my life tell of who You are
And the wonder of, Your never-ending love.
Curious as to why the author wrote “Black and brown” bodies? And no, I am not caucasian. Evil is real and it is our faith in Christ that should unite us. So why not say “all our bodies” which have each been made in God’s image, regardless of race or national origin?
This was my sticking point as well. Yes, I am white but have always strived to love ALL people, to respect them, to seek justice, love mercy, walk humbly. Do I fail at times? Absolutely. It hurts my heart to be told by many that all the evil of the world stems from white people and/or conservative, religious people. Guess walking in the footsteps of Jesus isn’t easy.
I agree. I stumbled there, as well. I am caucasian and have always been aware of the racial injustice that continued to fester in our communities. I, too, have encountered it many times in my life & realize that’s just a small taste of what others live with daily. Evil doesn’t see color – it attacks all.
Sometimes it does feel like a losing battle, so I do appreciate the intent of the message. We are not alone. God will rescue us and give us victory. And we know by His WORD that love is always the way.
In context, I’m pretty sure it was just stating that some people attack those of us who are in “Black or brown bodies” simply for the fact they *exist* in “Black or brown bodies” – which is true and worthy of mourning. People also attack other people for other reasons, but there is some specific vitriol towards those with specific skin tones which does not get applied to, for instance, me (pasty-white, middle-class). There is some specific vitriol towards all those who are female, as well, which is also wrong; to those who are single mothers; to those who cannot work due to disability; there are so many things that are wrong and we can’t list all of them, but the ones that an author is mourning specifically should be allowed to be written about whether or not every person who reads the post identifies personally with every one of them – there is communal mourning, and it is good to be a collective body?
(for instance: I don’t have kids, and yet I did not get offended about “our children” earlier in the passage; but we are a collective body, and some of the pains and challenges are faced uniquely by some part of the body or another, and if we are getting cranky about some other parts’ pains being addressed directly, something is substantially wrong?)
(unless you read that portion as limiting the whole thing to be *only* speaking on behalf of those in Black or brown bodies – in which case, yes, that would be a plausible misunderstanding or reading comprehension problem; if you came to that conclusion, then frustration at being excluded is more understandable, but it might ease your mind to read it again [and, if you like diagramming sentences, diagramming it out! 🙂 ] and see if that clears things up?)
Thank you In(courage),for your beautiful message, and prayer this morning.
Blessings to all,
Penny
Thank you Sharon for sharing from your heart and honesty. I stumbled on that line even though I am caucasian, I felt like it was meant to sting those of us who do not have a “brown” color to our skin and this whole (in)courage post is becoming difficult to read at times. I hate what is going on in our world right now and it brings such pain to my heart, as a Christian I am constantly praying for peace and the Lord’s will to be done. When I read such lines as the one above I wonder if all of us as Christians, regardless of our color are remebering God is taking care of all His children together and at the same time. I just think God does not want us stressing on our color but on Him instead and we as women should be able to cover each other in kindness and love and not worry about color but love.
Beautifully said and much agreed, Judi. Thank you for reminding us that Christ is taking care of all HIS children together and at the same time. We don’t point out that our Jesus has “brown” skin, being of Jewish descent. Thank you for sharing honestly!