Prayers and Thoughts

for Reflection

Lenton Devotional

2008

February 15

Courage is the first of human qualities because it is the quality which guarantees all the others.

Winston Churchill

To be courageous requires no exceptional qualifications, no magic formula, no special combination of time, place, and circumstance.  It is an opportunity that sooner or later is presented to us all.  Politics merely furnish one arena which imposes special tests of courage.  In whatever arena of life one may meet the challenge of courage, whatever may be the sacrifices he faces if he follows his conscience – the loss of his friends, his fortune, his contentment, even the esteem of his fellow men – each man must decide for himself the course he will follow.  The stories of past courage can define that ingredient – they can teach, they can offer hope, they can provide inspiration.  But they cannot supply courage itself.  For this each man must look into his own soul.

John F. Kennedy

Keep your fears to yourself, but share your courage with others.

Robert Louis Stevenson

Because the hand of the Lord my God was on me, I took courage.

Ezra 7:28

Dear Lord, Thank you for the promise of Your word.  When I have questions or fears, let me turn to You. When I am weak, let me seek your strength.  Thank you for your gift of courage.  Help me share it with others when needed and may they see they only need to You for help.  Amen.